I'm building a stack for a recurve and my target is to hit between 0.250 and 0.255, a target stack total determined based on other builds and results with this particular form.
I'm also trying to use up what I have on hand without having to order more or different tapers, veneers, etc.
My question is this:
Can I stack with just one taper layer or do i NEED to have two layers?
My proposed stack would look like this:
Glass
Veneer
Taper
Veneer
Glass
This would get me close to my target of 0.250.
All the charts I reference show two layers of tapers. If two layers of tapers is absolutely necessary, I'll probably have to order new tapers at a different thickness.
Thanks in advance for any expert advice on this, it's my first time building a bow entirely on my own.
Using veneers you could most likely get away with one center taper, but two would be better. Why? Adds torsional stability and it has less spring back coming out of the form and holds its recurve shape better.
Can I assume you do not have a drum sander, and do not mill your own tapers or lams?
If so that's a tough one to pull off.... If that's the case and you are jus5 starting out building recurve bows, I'd recommend just using parallel lams until you ge5 the hang of it.... Recurve limbs will be challenging compared to long bows. Kirk
Thank you, Kirk!
Yeah, you assume correctly, no drum sander.
I appreciate you sharing your insights and advice.
Thanks and take care!
I knew a guy years ago that came into a huge quantity of . .025-.030 veneer stock and built some recurves with no tapers at all. He just used veneer stock... I was seriously impressed with the finished product and the bows performance too. He brought over a half dozen bows to test on my shooting machine using the chrono. With some tinkering with his tip wedges and using a power lam to push the fades out, he could have had some seriously high performance out of his limb design.... But he was into working recurve limbs, not static tip.... Those veneer lam bows were rock solid torsionally.
Kirk