This is my first build and I'm hoping some of you guys will chime in with some pointers and words of wisdom. Will post a bunch of pictures. This is on another site but was hoping for more feedback from guys who have experience. Thanks for looking.
Jed in Michigan

Slow progress learning to like the rasp.

Trying to create a hydraulic press for the overlay using dense foam and a 2x4 contoured close to the bows shape. Please chime in on this as I plan to try this soon.

Overlay glue up

Looks like a plan, let us know how it works! 

What have you got going for limbs? I usually mount the limbs on the riser block and get them balanced prior to shaping a riser. It Makes the limb hardware easier to get machined and installed and get your limb alignment dialed in.... Looking forward to see how you pull this off....... Kirk

Drill guide for center alignment. Also have access to a granite table with height gauge. I wanted to Make some different limb configurations for this same riser. Not possible to put the horse before the cart? Appreciate the feedback first time and have a lot to learn.

Overlay turned out, jig is ready for the next step. Limbs are next but haven't been happy with the limb wedges I made yet.

Nice.

Looks like that went well!

Quote from: kennym on June 06, 2025, 04:18:15 PMLooks like that went well!

Yes sir it did. I talked to a friend who is a very accomplished bowyer and he said the overlay contraption might be overkill  but it worked so all is well. Should have bought my limb wedges from you as well Kenny. I've taken a few stabs at it but I'm using a oscillating edge sander against a fence and haven't hit my numbers yet.

If your title hadn't said "first bow build " I would have thought this was an instructional "how to". Looking good.

Double threaded inserts installed today. Pins are fit very tight not epoxied.

Here's one more, got sick of tripping on my tools today.

In the future you may want to think about capping those limb pads with phenolic or even hardwood. It helps tie all those laminations together and makes the rise4 stronger.    .02 cents worth....

Another suggestion is using 2 location pins and oversized the limb bolt hole on your limbs a fuzz. I go to  11/32 hole size on the limbs and they fit better without adjustment.  What you'll find is the plus or minus tolerance on those threaded inserts are not as close as you think they would be. Also, you can get tap drift and get them off center easily.  The 2 location pins eliminate the variance in that threaded insert, and keep the limbs straight.   


  Kirk

Quote from: Kirkll on June 06, 2025, 11:19:08 PMIn the future you may want to think about capping those limb pads with phenolic or even hardwood. It helps tie all those laminations together and makes the rise4 stronger.    .02 cents worth....

Another suggestion is using 2 location pins and oversized the limb bolt hole on your limbs a fuzz. I go to  11/32 hole size on the limbs and they fit better without adjustment.  What you'll find is the plus or minus tolerance on those threaded inserts are not as close as you think they would be. Also, you can get tap drift and get them off center easily.  The 2 location pins eliminate the variance in that threaded insert, and keep the limbs straight. 


  Kirk

Kirk, I can see what you mean two pins makes a lot of sense. I actually was considering a lamination over the limb pads but decided to go with the Binghams book.

Thinking more about using two pins...... I could very easily add another hole to my jig and up size the 5/16" hole. How about using a bushing inside the limb bolt hole? I see some do and some don't, is it a good idea?

Quote from: Jegs.mich on Today at 06:18:32 AMThinking more about using two pins...... I could very easily add another hole to my jig and up size the 5/16" hole. How about using a bushing inside the limb bolt hole? I see some do and some don't, is it a good idea?

Years ago when I was first getting geared up for TD bows, I used brass sleeves in my limbs and a single location pin, and constantly struggled with decent limb alignment. Then I came up with some lateral limb adjustment hardware I mortised into the outer limb pad.  This worked well for the bowyer getting things perfectly aligned when building the bow.....  But.... It left something for a customer to mess with and completely ruin the limbs getting things out of whack. I  Did a few and used epoxy so they couldn't be adjusted after it went out the door to avoid issues.... I actually still have quite a few sets of those adjustable plates....

Then I bought my vertical milling machine and started using 2 location pins and oversized bolt holes in the limbs.....,  Problem solved. When milling the limbs I mill a slot for that outer pin and give myself .040 to play with. No more pins binding up and the limbs fit first time , every time mounting them.


Kirk

One more thought on limb alignment ...... Hands down the easiest way to get perfect alignment on your limbs is to just mount your limbs using the limb bolts only, straighten the limbs, then drill your location pins clear through the limbs into the riser, and use an overlay to cover the holes....

The down side to this approach is building extra limbs to fit the riser isn't an option. Kirk

Hey Kirk, is this a typo?

Seems like .040" would be quite a bit when you get out to end of limb?  Just curious what I can get away with...

Or is that the bolt hole with .040" extra?

""Then I bought my vertical milling machine and started using 2 location pins and oversized bolt holes in the limbs.....,  Problem solved. When milling the limbs I mill a slot for that outer pin and give myself .040 to play with. No more pins binding up and the limbs fit first time , every time mounting them.""