LVL bow form?

[stringstretcher]

I am still trying to find some LVL locally but as of yet have not been able too.  I have some cut off pieces (3 to be exact) that are only a little over 48 inches long.  Is there a good way that I could cut these pieces and join them together in the middle and make some forms from them, but keeping them alligned through the center?  Sure could use some info about the rather than just waste these nice shorter pieces.  And yes, I know I could make take down limbs out of them.

[rmorris]

That is a hard one. I would think that the form would not be rigid enough if you attempted to join them. For a one piece bow, I would do everything I could to keep the form one piece. Another option to LVL is glue and screw 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood together to make a 1.5" form.

[tenbrook]

no

[canopyboy]

stringstretcher, HD up here sells 'em, but you have to buy 20' at a time.  I've given up and used double 3/4 plywood which is plenty strong.  The others are right though, I don't think there is any good way to join them and keep their longitudinal stiffness up without some fairly special joinery.  At that point it just wouldn't be worth it.

[stringstretcher]

Thanks everyone.  Canopyboy, where is the HD up there located?  Did I go by it when I came up there?  I will be needing at least 2 forms so I would rather go with the LVL if I can.

[Bob T.]

Yes,If I remember right. When Shawnee tratitions was in busness he had several 3 piece forms for one piece bows. He used 2 end pieces that were the same size with a removeable middle piece insert. He used 2 long pieces of angle iron along the bottom and top as rails and had different size inserts to change the size of the risers. Ed Barwick was the owner. You might try to contact him as he could explain how he did it better. He goes by the handle of CEB on trad gang & letherwall.

[canopyboy]

I hadn't thought of putting the pieces together with angle iron and then you'd have interchangeable riser configurations.  Hmm....

stringstretcher - I know they have them at the Fairlakes HD out on 66.  You wouldn't have driven by. It would have been another 15 minutes.  I would bet they have some down in Woodbridge or even in your neck.  Same with 84 Lumber.

[dnovo]

A local lumberyard would be your best choice. Much easier to deal with than HD. You should be able to buy any length you want in increments of 2'.  Maybe a contractor needs some and you could order a longer piece and get a cut off from him. They make them from 9 1/4" up to at lest 18" wide, so you could get a couple out of one piece

[Ceb]

Stringstetcher, I sent you a PM, Bob T. has a pretty good memory. By using a frame to adjust length and doweling the inserts I fabricated. I had no problem with the form staying straight and rigid. But if your going to build bows of one length, I would build the one pc form. Much less work and far less to go wrong.

[stringstretcher]

Well I have called 6 different HD in my area, and they are no longer carrying the LVL.  Just my luck.  Now to find a supplier.