Black Glass

Hornseeker · March 09, 2009, 09:24:00 PM

I love to build and look at black glass, clear glass and brown glass bows... would even love to do green if I could get it...

I have not noticed any significant differences in performance.... but... when Im building for speed I'll use carbon anyways..

I've heard many rumors that "S" glass was better than the standard "E" glass... anyone else got experience with that?

I know the "s" is harder to get...

E

DBerrard · March 09, 2009, 09:27:00 PM

I wasn't too sure how I'd like the looks of black glass...but I love it. Hard to believe it drops the price of a bow..but I won't complain

72highboy · March 09, 2009, 09:46:00 PM

I'm love the colored glass too. I would love to see more of it in use. I think my next bow with be either a bacote riser with black glass or a zebra wood riser with brown glass. I am still undecided.....but then again I always love gray action wood with black glass.

For those of you inquiring about other colors Brandon Stahl (from rose oak creations), fowlarcher, and myself looked into that back in Sept. and came up empty handed. Through emails we found out Gordon's has to make too large a batch to make it feasible. Elmont from Bingham's doesn't think he can sell the quantity that Gordon's has to make. If green glass came back I would place an order tomorrow.

Jason Kendall · March 09, 2009, 09:48:00 PM

Hi Dave, I am glad you are liking it, I think Chad said it all in his first post. Simplicity is the biggest factor. I save about $20 on black per bow since I can buy it in bulk. The last time I bought clear in bulk half of it was the really bad stuff that was everywhere about 5 years ago, I dont want to get burned like that again! Finding good wood for veneers, grinding it and throwing half the wood in the burn pile due to flaws also adds considerably to the cost of a clear glass bow. I dont know if I can go away from clear forever because I like veneers too but time will tell. As of now Black is about 80% of my orders.

Jason Kendall · March 09, 2009, 09:50:00 PM

72, I remember that post, I think you had to buy 1000 or more pieces to do it, it would be nice though!

Hornseeker · March 09, 2009, 09:50:00 PM

Jason is on the money there... Makes me think about raising clear glass prices more yet...

PV · March 09, 2009, 10:06:00 PM

Clear glass makes a lot of mighty expensive sawdust......

Jeff Strubberg · March 10, 2009, 11:26:00 AM

I prefer black glass, myself. Black is classic and classy. It's simple and straightforward.

I find beauty in the lines of a bow moreso than the the materials.

rooster77 · March 10, 2009, 12:11:00 PM

I have one of Jason's black glass bows. Its a shooter and I really like the look of the black glass.

Night Wing · March 10, 2009, 12:28:00 PM

I also like the look of black glass. On my second Blacktail TD recurve I ordered last September, I talked with Norm over the phone and tried to get him to put black glass over the bamboo limbs, but he didn't want to do it that way because of the flaws that might happen. My Belcher Longhorn hybrid longbow has black glass covering the limbs.

Ssamac · March 10, 2009, 12:29:00 PM

If you think of all the Pearson and Bear bows that used black glass over the years and how they have held up, it sure says a lot for it. And that stuff was probably not as good as what we get today in terms of technology. Maybe the QC was better, however.
However, I do agree that the clear glass looks awfully sweet and I prefer it.

sam

Walt Francis · March 10, 2009, 01:09:00 PM

My thoughts:
Colored glass works as good as clear glass, time has proven that. Beauty, or good looks, is in the eye of the beholder. Plastic counter tops and furniture were popular in the 1950's and 1960's. Wood countertops and furniture were popular in the 1980's and 1990's. I guess bows followed the same trend. While I was growing up my mother told me, keep my skinny ties; "they will be popular again in ten to twenty years and you won't have to buy new ones". She was right. Might the same thing be happening with bows?

Personally, I prefer the look of wood, even if it is covered with glass, and buy and make all my glass bows with clear glass. However, my all time favorite bow to shoot was made in the 1950's, has brown glass on the back and green glass on the belly.

Randy Morin · March 10, 2009, 01:13:00 PM

72highboy...I hear ya, I just built (4) 3 pc. takedowns from Black (silvertone) Dymondwood with Osage flare in Riser and Black Glass limbs over Actionboo cores with dymondwood wedges. The first time ever using Black Glass (and Dymondwood for that matter) but they are gorgeous. I love-em. gonna have to order some more materials of same. Only catch is Black glass shows every little "flaw" after you spray it. Gotta do some x-tra hand sanding until you get used to it.

Holm-Made · March 10, 2009, 03:26:00 PM

Overlays on black glass really stand out. Black glass also compliments many of the exotic riser woods that have black streaks in them like Bocote.

PV · March 10, 2009, 04:05:00 PM

Nice work Chad!

Sant-Ravenhill · March 10, 2009, 05:56:00 PM

I have a Bear Polar recurve that my dad bought new in 1962. Zebra wood and yellow glass. Very nice looking in my opinion.

I made a simple longbow 15 years ago, with brown glass, maple core and a walnut riser. I thought it too was a good looking bow.

All that said, I sure love seeing all those gorgeous veneers under clear glass!

March 11, 2009, 09:45:00 PM

Jack Howard used black glass for a reason-- for its consistancy - when it is made --the resins are more consistant--- giving you more consistancy-- he always claimed to make the fasted bow--- he never did anything without a reason-- and tested everything he did---
something to think about ! Classicbowman

SERGIO VENNERI · March 12, 2009, 07:27:00 AM

I also like Black glass and a shiny finish!

Rob DiStefano · March 12, 2009, 07:47:00 AM

i really like a longbow with limbs draped in black glass and a woody lammed riser.

but i also like a darkened cane limbed longbow with nodes showing under matte clear glass.

fickle me.

WildmanSC · March 12, 2009, 08:03:00 AM

I really like the RER Arroyo I received last week with the Mahogany riser, Actionboo limbs and black glass.

This bow will be inside my blind with me when I go turkey hunting in a week or so.

Bill