Bow Form question

[NightHawk]

has anyone ever tried to make a glass bow using a wood bow reflex/deflex form?? If so what were your results? and how'd you go about it

[Jason Scott]

If you are talking about the kind of form that is just a board with uprights on the end for the tips to sit on and a block for the riser and clamps mid limb to hold the deflex down then I am sure it will not work with good results. The type of form I am picturing has voids between the riser/midlimb/tips and probably weighs ten pounds or so. It has to be solid contact all the way down on a level and smooth flowing serface or you will have a disaster. It has to be at least clamped or banded every 2-3 inches or so with a backing strip for even pressure. The most popular method is to use a fire hose between top and bottom sectional forms. Any shortcuts here and you will definately have a failure. I could be picturing a different type of form than you are thinking though.

[NightHawk]

that's the one Jason. I've used the full form before but what I have in mind is to wrap the bow good and use a different clamping method such as rope and wedges? then put the bow on the form you mentioned.

[Jason Scott]

That works for an all wood bow because you can tiller wood here and there to get hinges and twist out but with glass back and belly you will not be able to do it. Any gaps caused by slightly thicker glue lines will leave you with twist and stiff spots you will not be able to remedy and your limbs will be really heavy because of the glue left in there by not sqeezing it all out. If you want to build a glass bow without much time and $ in the form you can build a straight bow on a good straight 2x6 pine board. You should still check the edges for square all the way down the board and sand if needed.