Question about building an ASL from a real beginner.

[sam barrett]

Hey all, I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I've never built a bow and would like to try building a reverse handle ASL.  If I build a straight limb version of this bow...do I need a form or can I just lay everything out and clamp it all together when I glue?  Also, If I wanted to build a string follow or slight backset version of the same bow could I get away without a form as well?  Thanks, learning a lot from this forum.

[Flem]

Short answer is yes. Check out the thread below; "air hose bow form without a top"
Your going to need a lot of clamps and a way to keep everything flat while the glue cures.

[Forwardhandle]

When I was building & exspermenting with the topples fire hose form I remember thinking how easy it would be to make a ASL form with that system I would just use cheap dimensional 1x6 strait boards glue 2 together & rip to 5 in. and I was just going to cut or route a series of Chanel's in the bottom of the form for wrapping the mule tape around , drill some holes in the sides for zip ties and good to go you could build a form like that in a couple hours for cheap and it would hold your lams solid ,I'm sure it could be done on a flat surface with clamps but epoxy gets real slippery & makes every thing slide around the form would be more solid option it would minimize a lot of risks for you, just my 2 cents !

[sam barrett]

Thanks for the replies.  I went and looked at the topless fire hose thread and it helped a lot.  I think I can build a form pretty easily like that.