Increasing bow weight

[Sharp Shooter]

I've talked with kennym about this already but would like to run it by some other folks to see if anyone has tried this before. Im making my first take-down recurve bow. I've finished tillering the limbs and checked the poundage at 38 lbs @ 28". I would like a finished weight of mid forties. I'm thinking of adding another lam of glass on the belly to increase the weight. Has anyone tried this? Thanks Tony

[eman614]

i have no experience with take down bows, but would it not be easier to sand off the tip overlays, and shorten the limb? no doubt your idea would probably work, but it would add more time and money to the project. just a thought.

also i went to college up there in dahlonega. small world.

[bjansen]

I think its been done, but I've never tried it.  I have made tips static by gluing overlays on the back of the arcs and that will increase the weight a bit.  I think I would do what eman said, try to trim them down...might look pretty cool too.   That will change the length and thus the stacking point as well but if your starting point is a longer recurve it might be a good fix.

[jess stuart]

I have done that twice on t/d longbows that came in way light.  I used .030 glass on one and .040 on the otherss real good and cured at a reduced temp.  The bow on the right has the .040 added.


 

[Sharp Shooter]

Thanks everybody for your comments, the bow is a 62" bow with 15" riser. it shoot so smooth that I hate to shorten it. I may just leave them as is and make a second set. I've ordered some more glass for the belly, i guess I'll decide when it gets here. Tony

[Asher]

You could laminate another wood to the back of your bow. something like hickory, bambo, etc.

[legends1]

You can add  to the limb between the limb and limb bed of the riser.I have taken two 1/8" fadouts and added them to the limb.Think of it as the same as a bow tip but between the limb and limb bed of the riser.Run it past the riser so it really looks nice when it is finished.This can add about 4-5 lbs.It moves the limb forward of the risergiving more draw of the limbs.If you need to add 3/8" to get the poundage your looking for you can do that also.Good Luck

[Sharp Shooter]

Well I decided to add the fiberglass lam to the belly of the limb. It added about 6 lbs. to the bow. The thickness of lams was .015, and the bow finished out at 42 lbs. @ 28". Tony

[ChristopherO]

Are you happy with that?  Did is still shoot smooth?  We would love to know the end results.

[Sharp Shooter]

Yes, it shoots great. If I knew how to post pictures on this site I would. I'm very happy with my first attempt at making a bow>

[jess stuart]

Good deal.  The two times that I added glass to the belly, they both came out nice and shoot real good.  Much happier with them than if they would have remained at the original weight.  Gald it worked out for you.

[Sharp Shooter]

I shot this bow through a chronograph today, a 5 shot average was 162 fps. Tony

[Sharp Shooter]

I forgot to mention that was with a 575 grain arrow. I'm well pleased.

[jess stuart]

Sounds mighty fine to me.  Got a good shooter.