fire hose form

[where wolf?]

I've acquired some 1 1/2" fire hose from a guy I work with.  Anybody have the how-to's to use it in a form?  Do's and dont's"

Nate

[kennym]

Heres a bit on forms,anything else you can find out here,I'm sure!!

 http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/Bow_forms.html

[where wolf?]

Thanks Kenny-

I did a search on here, but didn't find anything that went down this road-  

Nate

[kennym]

I like to make the form for the back of the bow,and use the hose on the belly side,thats just me.

About 1.25" is what I use with 2" hose,might tighten up a little for 1.5" hose. Be sure to use a metal pressure strip on top of the lams before the hose goes on or all pressure will be in center of limb.

I cut the form for the back of the bow,then figure the riser shape and cut the top 1/2 of the form for the riser(making a fake riser blank helps). Lay it all out on the bench and mark 1.25" from the bottom 1/2 up onto the top 1/2 of the form,including the riser part.
Then,dry run to make sure you can get the form bolts in with all lams in place and that everything tightens up good for best glue lines.

Good luck!! And we like pics!!  

[where wolf?]

Quick question-

It will be awhile till I get everything I need (including the courage) to actually do this.  I was wondering- It probably makes sense to do a few fake bows out of pine first so I don't ruin good materials.  Any place I can get pine lams cheap?

Nate

[Greg Szalewski]

If you can muster up the courage to make the hot box and form you can glue up a bow. Really, there is all the info and help you will ever need right here. Check out some builds and don't be afraid to ask. And besides, if you do all that practice and make your dream bow on the first try what will you do with all the stuff you just got?

[kennym]

"If you can muster up the courage to make the hot box and form you can glue up a bow. "

Greg bout said it all there!

I won't do pine gums up my belt,but the red elm edge grain are about as cheap as you can find and you have a shooter if you take your time and check everything twice!

[where wolf?]

This is good therapy for me... I live in fear.
I suppose I need to just jump in and do it.

Thanks guys

Nate

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah make sure your form is 100% true. No dips or spots that aren't 90 degrees to the sides of the form. Any imperfections will be transfered to your bow. I spray a guide coat of cheap spray paint lightly over the form (top)then run a sanding block with 150 grit over it using even light pressure just to see if there are any low or high spots. The low spots (if any) can be filled with bondo then re sanded smooth. High spots must be removed.

Kenny's instructions were very easy for me to follow. Take a gander at his site.

[vanislebowyer]

pine lams will break