2pc fiberglass longbow socket?

[Mad Dog]

Anyone tried their hand at a 2pc fiberglass longbow socket like Big Jim makes? Any pointers if so? I'm thinking about trying it, after getting a little aggressive on my longbow with a spindle sander.  :(   I'm thinking I could build the handle back up with fiberglass and have the benefit of a 2 pc bow. Right now it's structurally okay just not real comfortable.

[Swissbow]

I just have done it for the first time recently on my swap bow.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=009363;p=172

I found a good build along on pirates of archery and it worked out well.

 http://piratesofarchery.net/bb/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=8014&sid=b1e68734ea71a136f9862a8a4ccb1cc0

It takes some confidence to cut a perfectly working bow...     :D  

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Andy

[Jason Kendall]

Big Jim has some great how to videos on his site. I have everything in the shop to do it, I just have had the time to try one yet. Good luck!

[TroutGuide]

I have one about to go. It is actually two broken attempts I am going to try and join in the handle and make a two piece. What do I have to loose but 15 bucks worth of materials.  But I have no advise to give yet.

[Crooked Stic]

I have done two so far. I watched the vids 4-5 times and pretty much done it like Big Jim. The only thing I done different was leaving the blank square and relieving the tenon with a table saw. You just figure out how thick you need it to be. .800 in my case. I did the front with the saw also and you shape the throat with spindle sander or rasp. The part where Jim talks about the pilot area and getting good measurements is a very important step.  
 

[Mad Dog]

Thanks for the info guys. Swiss that's a great looking bow. You've got more guts than I, cutting a great looking bow in half, but I really like the 2 pc option. I'm going to think it over and maybe do it next week. If I mess up, I've got another reason to call kennym and try again  

[Mad Dog]

Stic, is that osage and walnut? I love the color combo. Is the handle covering painted or a sure grip? It looks like a perfect fit.

[Crooked Stic]

Ipe ibeam off center for strength. After I shaped the socket section of the grip it was coated with a layer of smooth-on then sanded smooth. It has several coats of truck bed paint and wet sanded with 600 grit.

[BigJim]

It is really quite easy, but I can't stress enough how important it is to be patient and double check your measurements.

I do them in my sleep now....or maybe I should be sleeping and instead i'm working but anyway, be meticulous with the measurements.

My belly to back measurements on the tennon (male portion) are incredibly close to parallel (with in .003"). Side to side will taper ever so slightly, usually not more than .010 -.015.
The "REAL" important detail is to make sure all edges are straight and not concaved (hour glass shaped).

One thing I have done differently that has made life a whole lot easier was to make a solid sanding block that is as wide or wider than the tennon. I made mine out of a huge block of phenolic and it is 2" wide. I put two sided tape on it and change the paper freguently. This allows me to keep all surface square. With a file (narrower than the tennon) there is a unavoidable tendancy to file unevenly leaving you with concave sides on your tennon.

best of luck and if you need advice, feel free to give me a call.
thanks, bigjim

[Mad Dog]

bigjim, I watched your videos a while back and don't know how you crank out all those bows with the time and attention to details it takes making the handles. I'm starting to think i may just use the fiberglass to build up the handle since it was made of actionwood without an i-beam.
Thanks for all the tips everyone.
Bob

[Crooked Stic]

Good idea on the flat sanding block Jim.
My guess is that you should be sleeping more--I know I have been guilty of that myself.  :(

[LittleBen]

Now .... which bow do I take off the rack and saw in half!?

[matt_w]

What are the dimensions of the actual socket/sleeve portion? Looks to be about 4 inches or so....just wondering how much area on the grip needs to be removed.
Thanks

[Crooked Stic]

Yeah 4-4 1/2