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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Fishinglink on May 31, 2019, 09:27:53 PM

Title: What next?
Post by: Fishinglink on May 31, 2019, 09:27:53 PM

With the swap winding down/ over I’m sitting here pondering what to build next. Hoping I can get hooked up with some boo at Compton in a couple weeks. Wanna try a glass bow but still not setup for it. Have a form but still need a hotbox, bandsaw, and firehose.

Now a question for the masses. I’ve used smooth on using the 24hr room temperature cure but letting it go 36+hours with temps ranging from 68-72 over that time without issue thus far. Has anyone done a glass bow using room temp?  Pretty soon my pole barn will be a hotbox and I may be able to hit 90-100 in the rafters. Thinking about trying an ASL for my first glass build before I try using my fhlb form from Mike aka crooked stic. Will 90-100*F be sufficient to cure at? How long should I let it set?

Trying to get a line on a good Osage or hickory stave for a selfie but so far coming up empty.


Anybody else got builds planned for the summer?


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Title: Re: What next?
Post by: goobersan on May 31, 2019, 09:41:40 PM

Planning on asl form. Hotbox can be super simple. I may have a chunk of fire hose you can borrow :saywhat:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Flem on May 31, 2019, 10:37:42 PM

EA-40 will cure in around 12hrs at 90-100

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 01, 2019, 05:39:22 AM

I have an osage, cedar, and boo ready to glue up.

But I dont do much bow work in the summer.

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Forwardhandle on June 01, 2019, 05:49:26 AM

I think you will be fine I cured 1 bow at 105 F for 10 hrs & a overnight set and had no issues  you can make a cheap hot box using electric blankets & a couple light bulbs & get 190F top end , thought about using black heavy plastic & make a little tent for a solar hot box !

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: kennym on June 01, 2019, 12:28:31 PM

My hunting bow was an experiment cured at70 for 24. Because I heard a couple of big bowyers were not heat curing . It’s two years old and going strong. That said I still heat cure all others .

BTW if you lay a heat cured string bow in the back of a truck with black bed liner it will still come apart. Nope it wasn’t me but was my bow loaned out...

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: monterey on June 01, 2019, 12:35:26 PM

I have done a room temp cure with no issues.  Also have done a 130* cure with a light blanket thrown over the form and a small space heater blowing mildly warm air through from one end to an opening in the other.  That worked good too.

then there is the cure in the car method on a sunny day.  Done that three times with good results.  It got to about 120* in the car.

Yes, I have a curing oven but it's just hard to drag it out of the shed each time I use it!  :bigsmyl:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 01, 2019, 09:54:08 PM

I think the main reason for using heat in the first place is to speed up the cure. My box only gets to about 140. And as long as the temp of everything reaches that 140 temp You would be good to start cool down.

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Forwardhandle on June 02, 2019, 05:33:42 AM

I have a friend that makes horn composite bows that uses EA-40 at room temp and has no issue , I would think the glue line would be under more stress with those bows then glass , I often wonder how much stronger temp cure vs room temp dry is !

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: kennym on June 02, 2019, 11:55:54 AM

""What next?""

Still thinkin on it...  maybe a split limb longbow like Elroy makes... LOL

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 02, 2019, 12:49:09 PM

 :saywhat:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 02, 2019, 01:38:00 PM

The split limb thing has been tried and did not do to good.

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Fishinglink on June 02, 2019, 01:40:02 PM

I’m really leaning towards a glass asl. Gonna break all the rules though. Use a room temp cure, use stretch wrap instead of fire hose. I mean really go for broke. Or..... build another trilam since I am still not master of that domain.


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Title: Re: What next?
Post by: kennym on June 02, 2019, 02:29:26 PM

I know the spilt limb didn’t go too well but I wanted to make one like Elroy’s lightnin longbow ... :)

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 02, 2019, 02:31:09 PM

Lightnin fast, get it right Spanky:)

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: kennym on June 02, 2019, 03:15:19 PM

LFL huh? :)

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Forwardhandle on June 02, 2019, 03:26:14 PM

PLFL  :goldtooth:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: goobersan on June 02, 2019, 04:04:50 PM

Quote from: Fishinglink on June 02, 2019, 01:40:02 PM

I’m really leaning towards a glass asl. Gonna break all the rules though. Use a room temp cure, use stretch wrap instead of fire hose. I mean really go for broke.


I recommend using a dowel cut in half lengthwise or a strip of wood on the limbs to put a touch more pressure in the center.  You can get a slight crown towards the limb tips otherwise.  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 02, 2019, 04:12:12 PM

Pink LFL  :laughing:

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Buemaker on June 02, 2019, 05:02:28 PM

Could always start another swap bow, I guess. Or chase some blondes. :)

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: kennym on June 02, 2019, 05:09:12 PM

Bows be cheaper than blondes here Bue !! LOL

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 02, 2019, 05:37:40 PM

Sides they can out run us old guys now..

Title: Re: What next?
Post by: Flem on June 02, 2019, 06:39:34 PM

I'm starting another swap bow :knothead:
You got some Blondes over there in Scandinavia, Bue?