Recurve limb press

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Quick question, what are the presses used to form recurve limb shapes?  I've seen them on the build alongs and it looks like 2 pieces of plywood  and then some form of fire hose in the middle.  Are these home made jigs or are they made commercially?  If they are home made, is there a pattern available for them? Thanks

[Glunt]

You will need to build them.  Binghams Projects has patterns and hardware.  I use good grade plywood laminated to the correct width.  There is a good tutorial to using the router method at Kennys Custom Archery website.  Works pretty slick and eliminates a bunch of hassle getting the bumps and valleys out of the form.

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Thanks Glunt, I looked around on Bingham yesterday and didn't see any patterns,  I'll check again though.  I did see the router tutorial and I have a router already so I'll try that.  Thanks again.

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Nevermind, I figured out the bingham site now, thanks!

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Do you need a seperate oven to use the laminating press?

[NormanDale33]

Usually you do. They have a strip system that heats the bow instead of an oven. We built the oven and works great, especially for other things like your riser, etc.

Take your time on the press and make sure it stays square. Make sure to have correct spacing on each side. Don't want to ruin limbs while laminating, and the press will move if not completely square. Ask me how I know:)

[kennym]

When you make your template for the router, bend a pc of glass or a metal yardstick around the curves, it will show flat spots and humps that will be in the bow limbs .  Easier to get em out of 1/4" stuff than 1.75" or 2" on the form.


A lot of these I've found I couldn't see or feel without bending something around the template.

The router makes the form face perfectly square to the side too, if you take your time and hold it tight down on the template.

Good luck, and HAVE FUN!!  :D

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Thanks Kenny, I will make sure to do that!