Belly trap vs back trap.

[heartlandbowyer]

What are your guys thoughts on both on glass bows? Is one way better than the other? Do you gain any performance with either or is it just a way to hit target weight when ya miss it. Does it make since to trap the belly on a compression strong wood and the back on a tension strong wood.

My thinking is that a trapping the belly would make a bow less stable because your pulling towards a smaller surface. Or does the wider back overcome the smaller belly to stabilize the limb?

I'm sure there are a couple different thoughts on this, what are your guys?

[Bowjunkie]

I've done it both ways on glass/wood laminated bows and haven't noticed a difference in lateral stability or speed. I don't have a chronograph, so perhaps there is a difference that it could detect?

With glass on back and belly, they negate a wood's relative compression and tension resistance abilities. Dont even worry about it.

I narrow the back and leave the belly wider when I trap glass bows.... or any other kind of bow.

[kennym]

hAD A PRETTY REPUTABLE BOWYER TELL ME TRAPPING IS GOOD TO LOSE A FEW #S , BUT HE DIDN'T THINK IT MADE A DIFFERENCE BACK OR BELLY FOR PERFORMANCE......


dAMN yOU CAP LOCK!!  LOL

[Roy from Pa]

NEVER NOTICED kENNY OLE BOY:)

[jsweka]

In Jack Harrison's book, he advocates for trapping toward the back.  Since materials are generally stronger in tension than compression there is more unnecessary material on the back which you can lose to decrease mass in the limbs and pick up speed.

I can't really speak from experience.  I only ever trapped one bow and that was because I was way over weight.  When I did it, I followed Harrison's advice and trapped toward the back.  It seemed pretty quick but I didn't have a similar bow (same weight/design) to compare it too. A friend of mine now has it.

[Crooked Stic]

I don't like trapping at all. But trapping to the front will get weight off quicker than the belly I think.

[MoeM]

X²- trapping a Hill`s belly f.e. does have nearly no effect on weight I experienced.

[Dmaxshawn]

COrey wait till Sixby sees this he can break it down pretty easily for ya.   There was a big thread a while back on this and the outcome was determined that back trapping was better.  I cant remember how far back or I'd search it for ya.

Sorry

[Dmaxshawn]

Oh and for the record I back trap mine.  according to the chrony it was faster.  but a few FPS doesnt amount to a hill of beans to me.

[BigJim]

It's not always about speed, but speed can be a by product. Lighter limbs mean less shock...oh and more speed even though mostly insignificant.

It can certainly be used to reduce weight, but I trap my bows before I even weight them. They will all be trapped on the back or they don't go to the spray booth.

BigJIm

[talkingcabbage]

Here's a question about trapping - and I don't mean to steal a thread, but I've always wondered and haven't gotten a chance to ask - but how far into the back to trap?  I mean, looking at the back of the bow, how far in from each side is the trap?  1/8"?  1/4"?  Does it depend on how much weight you need to loose, or the look or performance?

Sorry again.  I've never had to trap a bow, and was just wondering what everyone else does.

BigJim, you said you trap every bow.  Is it mostly just an aesthetic thing for you, or is it mostly to improve performance?

[rockkiller]

X 2 what talkingcabbage asked.

[Swissbow]

I make the stack always approx. 10 lbs heavier than the target weight. From there on I go narrow on the tips and trap the limbs towards the back. As a starting point I start trapping at the end of the riser with ⅛" and then I go slightly thinner towards the tips. I do it to improve performance and I think it looks cool.
__________
Andy

[BigJim]

I feel that the bow draws smoother, there is also studies that state better performance on bows trapped on the back....and it is my belief that they look better that way.
 I also trap my recurve limbs.
I have no lack of sales so something must be working.

I don't measure my exact amount of trap as it is done completely be eye and with rhythm. I typically trap the same all the time (about 1/4" deep). If I need to reduce weight, I may trap a little deeper.

BigJIm

[Dmaxshawn]

I"ve been trapping all mine lately as well I just eye ball mine too.  i just take my file or orbital sander and hold it at a 45 go down the limb. I take off till I get though the veneer.  So its roughly 3/16 ths of an inch off the .040 glass and through the edge of my .025-.030 veneer.  thats generally anywhere from 6-7 lbs of loss.

[JamesV]

trapping is a way of reducing weight and works quite well but inhancing performance I don't think it has many positives. If I hit weight you have a nice shooting bow without trapping.

[Bowjunkie]

There are other 'performance' benefits to be gleaned besides speed. Narrowing/reducing the size of a powerful backing like bamboo can keep it from overpowering a belly wood that might otherwise fail.... so trapping can allow combinations to survive that likely wouldn't otherwise... hickory/cherry for instance.

I don't shape my bows trapezoidal in crossection to reduce weight. I shape them like that from the beginning, long before I check weight or even draw it... heck before I even cut in the string grooves.

Even in glass bows, I trap them, then worry about weight. That crossection is 'figured in'. If it's too high, I'll narrow the bow, and reestablish the trap shape.