What's the best Performing Tip Overlay Material?

[PopeandYoung_51]

What's the best performaning tip overlay material (assuming a bow/string/ setup needs overlays)?

I've been looking data sheets for different types of Micarta and G10, and it seems like G10 would be the better option due to it's significantly higher crosswise flexural strength. Even though it is more dense than the Micarta varieties, I'd assume a person would use considerably less volume (and therefore less mass) of the G10 to produce the same strength tip overlay as a Micarta tip.

Or am I missing something, and am I comparing apples to apples?

Thanks!

[Dmaxshawn]

i use G10

[Roy from Pa]

I use buffalo horn. Hard as a rock.

[bamboo]

bullet proof and glue able

[LittleBen]

Phenolic IMO

[monterey]

How are you definig performance of overlay material.  What features are you looking for?

[Al Dean]

Performance to me would be the lightest and still maintain the needed strength.  .050 glass plus lightest hardwood available.

[PopeandYoung_51]

Thanks for the input guys.

As far as performance, I'm wondering what material will produce the the "lightest" tip overlay with sufficient strength.

[mikkekeswick]

Well you don't NEED tip overlays in the first place   .....a well designed self nock (even on a glass bow) will not fail. Overlays simply allow you to cut a groove across the back.
Use anything you want    A lot of these dense materials are way overkill.
I genrally use woven carbon/hardwood combo because it looks nice.

[BigJim]

I went to G10 a long time ago because of how easy it is to work with let alone it's superior strength.
It flexes less than standard phenolic yet sands and files much like wood.

The average hardwood tip overlay with no other material would weigh about 3 grains...if I did the math correctly. With half G10 and half hardwood, it should weight about 4 grains.
BigJim

[die_dunkelheit]

Since we're talking about G10...
I need some pretty big pieces of G10, 1/8 or 1/16" thick and 18" x 6". Where do you guys get it?

Big Jim, I only saw what looked like core tuff sanded on both sides, no G10, am I just not seeing it?

[stickmonkey]

I order sheets of G10 from eplastics.com or mcmaster carr. depending on the dimensions of the sheet one company can be cheaper than the other. you are looking for FR4 G10. Its also called garrolite FR4

[stickmonkey]

alpha knife supply is where I purchase thin sheets of g10. jessica  wil take good care of you and ships quickly. I can order .020 or .030 g10 and glue it with wood for a lighter tip. It molds very easily and loctite 324 and 7075 activator it holds for life.

[Crooked Stic]

The shape of your groove is just as important if not more so than the material you use. for instance if you cut the tip off right through the center of the string groove and look at the end of it should be tear drop shaped and smooth. Then your overlays are insurance.I use G 10 and .080 glass first layer then hardwood on top.