Experiment with oak

[passion for knowledge]

The last bow I finished was a maple Holmegaard.

Shoots really well.

Decided to try something out. I had some 4"x1/4" and 4"x1" oak pieces left over from a desk I built a long time ago. Decided to build a recurve.

It started as a takedown but ended up a one piece.

Limbs are steam bent and backed with fibreglass fabric and epoxy.

Didn't want to be to adventurous in terms of draw weight - going for #40 - #45

Strung it up for the first time - only with paracord - last night. Need to make a string for it.

Pulled #45 @ 28 when I put it on the tree last.

I plan to iron stain it. The glass on the back will maintain the natural colour. Should look good, I think.

Hope it shoots OK!

Here's a few pics.

 http://s25.postimg.org/xdigi1nf3/riser_L.png

 http://s25.postimg.org/uylzjvhsf/Steam_chamber_02.jpg

 http://s25.postimg.org/cmvc2q95b/First_Oak_Bend.jpg

 http://s25.postimg.org/a6tiovr2n/First_Bent_Piece.jpg

 http://s25.postimg.org/66mdcn0lr/Laminated_Limbs.jpg

 http://s25.postimg.org/4va0qffm7/strung_01.jpg

[BenBow]

Looking good

[monterey]

Very nice looking riser.  You are making a rather pedestrian wood species look glamorous.

[passion for knowledge]

Got everything bending nicely - #42 at 28"

Time to put a finish on it.

I used an iron stain - easy, cheap and very cool looking, but only works with woods with a lot of tannin. 1/4pint white vinegar, 1 pint water, one ball of steel wool - Place in a jar, leave for a week, strain a couple of times.

The back, with glass & resin didn't stain, obviously.

Put on a few coats of satin varnish.

looking good.

     

Grabbed the string & stringer and BANG!

Glue failed in the lamination of one of the limbs.

 http://s25.postimg.org/rj3il6g9b/failed_limb.jpg

Obviously disappointed, but I learned a lot.

Only question now is what to do next!

I think I've been badly bitten by the bow-making bug.

[Pago]

Condolences, it was a great build and thread

[PEARL DRUMS]

I cant tell you what to do next, but I cant tell you to not try that again without many refinements. It looks neat in the pics, but structurally your missing a lot of things that make it safe and effective.

[passion for knowledge]

Suggestions are always welcome.

[mikkekeswick]

On a wooden bow you need the backing (ideally) to run full length. Yours failed because the tension forces literally ripped the wood apart where there was an abrupt stop. You can make bows like this but you would need to extend the backing further into the non bending section of your riser.
Also where your riser ends it is again abrupt. This internal angle is a stress riser and therefore concentrates stress (compression this time) in one spot. Again either make this more gradual, or use a short taper to stop the bow bending so much here.
Also forget the drywall tape - it's not a great idea. Just look for a straight grained board and it won't need backing. IF you can't find a board with perfect grain then rawhide would make a better backing, or you could use bamboo/hickory/maple etc as a backing again straight grain is essential though.
Personally I would go away from the '3 piece' route as it raises a lot of problems that you must understand to get a working bow. Much better to make your lams full length and make your riser the same way as most 1 piece glass bow risers are made.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Mike gave you a bunch of good pointers. Also, your limbs are too short. I have no idea how long they are, but I can see by the pic your all of 4 or 5" short each limb. You also need a wedge of sorts where your limb would attach, it was a true 3 piece. In essence your making a fade there. Which is essential on all handle bows. Not sure how the grain runs on your riser, but the riser on a 3 piece is VERY critical. If you have a 50# bow each limb only holds 25# while the grip or riser area holds the full 50#. When you shape and cut a riser to look like you did, you need an I-Beam and or proper grain orientation. If not, the riser will simply snap right in half somewhere. You'll notice multi lam risers and I-Beams are very common, and for a lot more than just killer looks.

[passion for knowledge]

Thanks for the input.

Most of what both you, MK & PD, have said I kinda thought.

I have a terrible tendency to have an idea and just run with it.

Sometimes I get away with it!

On the bright side, I learned to steam bend wood in the process of doing this.

The limbs do fade a bit into the riser.

The failure was in the laminating of the 2 pieces of oak in the limb.

The backing goes almost all the way.

I'd pulled it to full draw quite a few times before it failed - a bit more glue in the lamination and this might have been another time I 'got away with it'!

I had fun and learned. That's the main thing.

[mikkekeswick]

Trust me it wasn't a glue issue!!  

[PEARL DRUMS]

I was no different than you PFK. Its the artsy fartsy side of your brain imagining/visualizing something and trying to simply replicate it in front of your eyes. I did the same until I finally realized I have to learn a lot of other things before I can safely build what my minds eye can see. Bows are simply functioning art projects.