Looking for advice from pro glass bow builders

[DavidWood]

Greetings Fellow Bowyers,

After making selfbows for a few years, I've decided to start making glass laminated bows.  While it will be for myself and some friends, I would like to set up a business and sell them as well.  I'm not really looking at this as a way to get rich or make a living, more as a second income or as a way to support the hobby.  One of my questions is in designing the bows and forms.  It seems that by now almost every bow design has been made.  Has anyone had any problems with a bow looking too much like someone else's design (even if you designed the form all on your own)?  I know a Hill style bow can only look like a Hill bow but what about in the case of reflex deflex bows or recurves?  When people make their forms, there are two piece forms with a fire hose and one piece forms that use C-clamps or straps & dowels.  I'm wondering what peoples personal preferences and the reasons why.  Off the top of my head those are the questions I can think of right now but I'm sure there's more.  Additionally, I do have a couple of more questions for anyone that is in Ontario Canada and makes glass bows to sell or even for their personal use.

[fujimo]

i am by far not a pro- but do love building bows, glass, board, self bows-love em all.
1.i think most things have been tried- and i am sure it would be pretty hard to make a bow- that didnt look a bit like some body elses- after all we all would probably use existing bows for reference or motivation for a " new " design.
2.i prefer the air hose- so simple and quick and fool proof- and at the end of the day cheaper than buying a pile of clamps- but if you have the clamps already...
i have also use the rubber band method- it was good- just prefer the air hose. with the air hose over the others i think you can be absolutely sure that you are getting the same pressure everytime- with a band or clamps, it can vary somewhat- and clamps might be an issue in a hot box    
good luck mate
wayne

[monterey]

So far as I know, nobody is making a Glass lam penobscot bow.

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by monterey:
So far as I know, nobody is making a Glass lam penobscot bow.

http://***********.bowsite.com/TF/pics/00small31406860.JPG

Sad ... I know.

[fujimo]

wonder how that beast shoots ben?
starting to look like a wheelie bow- tough to get thru the bush i bet!!

[takefive]

I made my first glass bow a few weeks ago, so obviously I'm not a pro or even a semi-pro.  I leaned very heavily on the guys who are pro's on this site and thanks to their good advice, managed to make it through the glue up and wound up with a bow that I really like.  I used c-clamps and a single form just because that's what I had available from my wooden bow glue ups.  
Wayne makes a good point about c-clamps in the hot box.  I didn't let the temp rise above 140 degrees, but I noticed that the clamps had lost some tension when I took the bow out.  The glue up turned out good, though, no air bubbles or excess glue built up under the clear glass.  If I planned on making more than a couple of glass bows, I'd go the air hose route with a top form as well.
If you use c-clamps, let them cool down a bit before you grab hold of them.  They get pretty hot.  Around 140 degrees I'd bet.  

[Pago]

I'm using inner tube bands currently and will convert to fire hose as soon as I can.  My riser slid on my first glue up barely saved the bow.  Would have switched already but it was retool or make another bow, of course it was make another bow!

[halfseminole]

I'd buy that Penobscot if it were longer.  Fun target bows.

[monterey]

That is a cool bow!  Not my cup of tea, but cool.  How about a Penobscot ASL?   :eek: