Just wondering what I could expect as a general guideline for building my first glass-lam
1 piece recurve bow...nothing fancy, just a start...

The material for just the bow will be around 150.00. If you have to make the oven, forms and buy hard-wear add several more hundred. And if you don't have any tools just figure a thousand bucks. So for about 1500.00 to 2000.00 about right. But the material for the bow is only 150.00......stabow

Also figure that the first couple will be prototype through aways.  It takes at least 3 bows to get a press adjusted that way it should be.  That is if you know what you are doing.

LOL

Mike

Hey, it's all a learning experience for me anyhow.....I might learn something. And I'm all for that!!

Listen to Wingnut, last winter I built 4 Bingham pronounced 3 piece TD longbows.  All four are good shooters, first 2 were way light in draw weight, so I shortened them, but the 3 piece limbs & risers are a dang site easier than the one piece LB to build. The band saw, belt sander, & tools, I already had. The heat box, the limb form, fire hose, extra gadgets to make it all work, fittings for the press and limbs/risers, limb lams, all cost money.  For me it was money well spent, I learned a lot, and really enjoyed it.  Be prepared to give some bows to family members so you can keep on building them :-) I don't build glams anymore right now, but still have all the stuff stored in my garage. Bill G.

QuoteOriginally posted by wingnut:
Also figure that the first couple will be prototype through aways.  It takes at least 3 bows to get a press adjusted that way it should be.  That is if you know what you are doing.

LOL

Mike

AMEN !!!  Bill G.

What Mike said....
Build the first as lowbudget as you can,black glass,lowpriced lams etc. Save the boo and highdollar lams and clear glass for the #2 or 3 bow!!
Good luck!!

Mine usually come out at around $150 as well, that includes clear glass, nice vineers and overlays.  I buy the smooth on in bigger quantites, so that reduces the per price bow.  Everything everyone else said is true!  If your first bow comes out just right, retire right then and there, because it just isn't any fun without a failure or two.  
Mike

You can improvise on some of your tools.  I made my hotbox as lightweight as possibe so I could easily move it.  I used two sheets of 1/2" foil-backed foam insulation and cut 3/4" square strips of wood for the corners.  I use two 60 watt and two 100 watt bulbs wired through a light dimmer.  I can get a maximum of 160 degrees with this.  Everything but the foam and light bulbs was scrounged material.

Dennis