anybody still use C clamps in their fiberglass glue ups

[Justin Falon]

does anyone still use the c clamp method when glueing their fiberglass bows up (that is c clamps versus air hose method)

justin

[lovethehunt]

I still do. I build a couple a year and invested so much in clamps is hard not to. Works fine for me..

[Jason Scott]

I started out that way. Now I just use them on the riser and fades but rubber band the limbs with inner tube strips. I had a few bows that you could see dimples in the limb glass where I overtightened some clamps so I find the banding to be better. I dimpled the limb glass even though I use an aluminum pressure strip w/rubbers padding strip. I have twisted off a few bolts thinking a little tighter is better too. I don't do the hose method yet.

[Kenboy]

I still use C-clamps on my 18" riser, straight (no reflex or deflex at all) long bows of my own design. I use a total of 25 clamps over 72" with up to 6 laminations, including 3 strips of wood, 1 strip of graphite and 2 strips of glass. I also use a steel pressure strip, which doesn't bend or dent like an aluminum one, and I get no dimpling on the glass. It helps, I think, to really slop on the Smooth On.

I also use clamps on a 72" board bow, reflex/deflex long bow with a glue-on riser.

I use an air hose on my 22" riser Bingham recurve, which has a much more complex shape and a jig according to the Bingham plans.

Clamps is good. I buy a bunch of 3" clamps every time I see some at a garage sale, and now I've got a whole box full.

Good luck.

[Justin Falon]

Ive got about 45 C clamps of very good quality. I hate to invest any money in the hose system.  Ever tried the rubber band method?  Is there any way to guy some rubber bands that would work insted of using old innertubes????????

justin

[JJB]

I've used C clamps on a few longbows I made several years ago.  I just glued up one for my son and it turned out pretty good.  I also used a steel pressure strip and a rubber padding so I didn't damage the fiberglass.  It sure is fun, hope to post pics in a few weeks, time permitting.

[Jim Dahlberg]

Best rubber bands you can use as far as I am concerned are old bicycle inner tubes.  Cut each side of the stem and away you go.  Talk to any bicycle enthusiast or shop and you should be able to walk away with as many as you need.  1 or 2 per limb works great.

[Justin Falon]

Jim,

You rascal!!!  Missed you at the bowjam this year at Leon's.  I gotta get him to build me a bow and soon for my ground blind.  I will see about getting some inner tubes.  Cheaper the better in my case!!!

justin

[Jim Dahlberg]

Justin:
Missed you too!  22 shooting bows in a weekend ain't bad!  You should have been there.
You will love the bike inner tubes.  You can apply as much tension as you want/need, space them as you like ( I overlap them) and use as many as it takes to cover the limbs.
Jim

[Dick in Seattle]

just posted this pic on a thread above re ovens:

 

lots of info and a couple of clamp buildalongs on my site:

 www.dickwightman.com