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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: simonbradley on May 02, 2022, 08:05:06 AM

Title: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: simonbradley on May 02, 2022, 08:05:06 AM

Hello
I was looking on ebay for veneers approx 2mm thick by 40-50mm wide. I found these iron on veneers in rolls, could these be used or is there something specific about the veneers used in bow making?
Also, what is the best way to get small bubbles from epoxy when making limbs? I have put the tape between two pieces of wood and G clamped the wood shut. I ordered a paddle roller and will try that but there are mentions of clamping pressure, I imagine that is why they use hose for consistent pressure?
Thanks
Simon

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Shredd on May 02, 2022, 10:03:05 AM

 Look up vacuum bagging, perforated release film and bleeding material... Look up vids of this on you tube...

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Robertfishes on May 02, 2022, 04:30:12 PM

The pretty wood veneers used between the clear fiberglass and "core woods" in building fiberglass backed bows are typically 0.025 to 0.040 inch thick. It sounds like what you are looking would not work for bow making.

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: simonbradley on May 02, 2022, 05:20:09 PM

Hello Robertfishes,

What do you mean by "core wood"?  please.
I thought that a laminated bow was made up of, say, two pieces about 1mm or 0.04 inch each and then fibreglass on the back and belly. I can't really understand how wood that thin will provide 30 pounds or so of tension (if that is the correct word)
thanks for the input bud!
Simon

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Mad Max on May 02, 2022, 05:42:36 PM

The core is the wood between the fiber glass on the back and belly.
The thicker the core (farther apart the back glass and belly glass are) the more poundage

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 02, 2022, 06:21:15 PM

Any thickness you add in the stack will add pull weight. So if your design takes. 005 to equal a pound then .030 gonna be 6 lbs.

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Jeff tech on May 02, 2022, 06:44:27 PM

I wouldn't use iron-on veneers... That's not good enough glue.... JF

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Robertfishes on May 02, 2022, 07:07:10 PM

Depending on draw weight...a bow build limb stack might be similar to the following.. 0.040 fiber glass belly.. then a 0.025 pretty wood veneer, a 0.110 wood or bamboo 0.002/inch taper, sometimes a 0.030 to 0.040 wood or bamboo parallel, another 0.025 pretty wood veneer, then another 0.040 clear fiberglass glass back....If building a black glass bow I just use tapers and parallels-no pretty wood veneers used..

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: Kirkll on May 03, 2022, 01:19:40 PM

Sounds to me like you need to do a bit of studying on building laminated glass bows. There are tons of different threads here to read and learn all the different terms used and applications. It's really hard to help you until you have the basics down...

Here is a photo of one of my limb  lay up's.   

Sincerely,   Kirk

Title: Re: veneers, iron on roll
Post by: mmattockx on May 03, 2022, 03:49:53 PM

Quote from: simonbradley on May 02, 2022, 08:05:06 AM

I was looking on ebay for veneers approx 2mm thick by 40-50mm wide. I found these iron on veneers in rolls, could these be used or is there something specific about the veneers used in bow making?

2mm thick is as thick as many core lams. This is a problem because stack height is critical in achieving your desired draw weight. You need to have lams that are accurate in thickness to 0.001-0.002" over their full length. In most bows one or more of the lams are also tapered in thickness and this taper needs to be very precise as well.

Veneers are usually much thinner, often less than 0.030". Aside from the thickness problem, you will find your iron on glue will not be up to the task of holding a bow together when drawn.

It sounds like you are groping in the dark without really understanding the nuts and bolts of making FG lam bows. A good place to start is the bow build along on Kenny's Archery site:

https://www.kennysarchery.com/bow-build


Mark