When making laminated bows with the fire hose system, what do you use for the pressure strip?

You can use Sheet metal strips, 1 1/2" wide, or 1 3/4" wide depending if making a Long Bow or Recurve. Formica strips will also work.

Rick send Me an E-Mail, I live in Overland park, Ks. maybe we can get together. I know a few other Trad. Gangers here in Eastern Ks. and Western Mo.

I'll show you My Bow Shop downstairs....ONE SHOT...  :D    :D    :D

What gauge sheet metal do you recommend?

Can someone explain to me why you even need a "pressure strip"? I am just curious and don't understand why the hose isn't good enough. It seems the hose, by itself would actually be better, as it would more easily conform to the curves and bumps and humps more evenly. Maybe I just need to make a bow and see for myself, but I just don't understand in the mean time.

A couple of thoughts I have is that the outside of a firehose is rather knotty or course and with 60-7o pounds pressure I guess you would actually make small dents in the material you are laminating, that is if you are not using a pressure strip. Since we often use a heat resistant tape on the fiberglass a pressure strip will  make a much smoother or slicker surface for the firehose to glide on and will prevent any buckling of the thin laminates.
Bue--.

All the above is true, although the name say's it all.The preasure strip will cause even preasure.The fire hose as you know is round.As the air enters the hose the center of the hose preasure is grater.The preasure strip helps even out the prteasure to the limb.I like the sheet metal.

I've made over 30 bows without using any pressure strip and no problems. I'm talking about laminated bows with fiberglass though. I get little dimples in the tape that is on the fiberglass but they are only in the tape. Once that comes off, the glass is fine. Maybe the glass acts as it's own pressure strip.

What gauge sheet metal do you recommend?