Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bowmaster12 on May 14, 2022, 09:36:34 AM

Title: Adding weight
Post by: bowmaster12 on May 14, 2022, 09:36:34 AM
Can weight be added to finished glass laminated recurve limbs?
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Shredd on May 14, 2022, 10:05:44 AM
 I am assuming draw weight added...
    If so you can cut off the tips and shorten the limbs... That may add about 5 lbs. but it may stack sooner also especially if it is a short bow... If it is a 3 pc. you could shim the limb pads up to about an 1/8" inch on one side of the pad...
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Mad Max on May 14, 2022, 10:27:09 AM
Yes making a 62” bow 60” will add 5/6 pounds like shredd said
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Longcruise on May 14, 2022, 08:25:44 PM
Can weight be added to finished glass laminated recurve limbs?

I was thinking about this just yesterday.   I'm  playing with past mistakes these past few weeks with mixed results.

This particular mistake was inadvertently leaving a lam out of the stack.  So far i have shortened the bow to near kid bow length and retained more width than originally intended.   For clarification,  this is a flatbow.  Not hill style however.

It occurred to me that I "could have" added another layer of glass to the belly.  Really too late now.
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Shredd on May 15, 2022, 01:36:45 AM
I am no expert on this... But glass on glass may not be the best adhesion...    A thin wood lam between the two may be the way to go...  Just my gut feeling...
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: jess stuart on May 15, 2022, 09:39:12 AM
I have added a layer of glass a couple of times to bring the weight up.  I was sure to rough up the glass very well and cured at a lower temp. Worked well and have lasted several years not ideal but better than losing a bow.
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: kennym on May 15, 2022, 11:10:23 AM
I've ground glass thin to do this for a couple guys and done one myself.  Like Jess , I roughed the glass really well and low temp cure in same form as the build.

Not a preferred way but works.

BTW the glass was just as clear as first go on limbs.
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Longcruise on May 15, 2022, 10:22:15 PM
I've ground glass thin to do this for a couple guys and done one myself.  Like Jess , I roughed the glass really well and low temp cure in same form as the build.

Not a preferred way but works.

BTW the glass was just as clear as first go on limbs.

Not sure this will come up again in the future  but if it does this will be the remedy.
Title: Re: Adding weight
Post by: Kirkll on May 16, 2022, 08:26:47 PM
I've done it myself a couple times on youth bows that came out way too light. But i put the other layer of glass on the back of the limbs. I used .030 glass and sanded the working portion to bring it back down a bit.

i had issues with doing it on the belly side one time experimenting with a glass power wedge overlay on one of my prototype bows. I feathered out the glass to the fade tips using epoxy. Came out looking good, kicked up the draw weight and eliminated the hinge i had going.....but.... It started to lift a couple years later after about 5000 arrows.  I loved that bow....   Kirk