New guy with form questions

[Kindo]

Good evening everyone and thanks for having me! I decided during this quarantine to try my hand at making my first bow.

I’ve made my lower portion of my form by screwing 4 pieces of 3/4” plywood together and making them all identical. I’ve squared them all up to make my form and everything should be good to go there minus a strip of aluminum or melamine to give a nice flat surface.

Tonight, I traced out the upper portion for above my air hose but have not cut out the riser portion yet. My question is: should I cut the riser portion out a little larger/longer to allow for the hose to apply enough pressure? Should I just cut along the line I traced out?

I don’t have any plans for this as it all started with a wild hair and a piece of 3/4” plywood laying around. I’ve since been researching materials etc but I want to make sure I get this form correct. I cut (5) 1” spacers to stick between and everything looks pretty consistent.

What should be my next step or two or three steps?

I’ve been reading/searching as best I can but figured I better just ask my specific question before I screw things up!

Thanks for your time!

[Kindo]

In hind sight, I shouldn’t say I don’t have a plan as that is not true. I’ve been reading some of Kenny’s information that I’ve stumbled upon as well as Binghams and a gentleman over in the UK.

My goal is a 62” R/D long bow in the 40-50# @ 28” realm. My current plan calls for a 16” riser to give more working limb and perhaps give me more flexibility if I have to tweak anything?.

If anyone has ANY recommendations at all, I’m all ears as this is quite the endeavor for me but I feel up to the challenge.

I should also note that I have very limited tools for this and plan on purchasing my laminates/tapers pre-made for my first few attempts.

Thanks!

[Crooked Stic]

If you do it like Kennys instructions you cant go wrong. Make your self a riser template to use for tracing you spacing.

[Mad Max]

I wait and get my riser on the form C clamped ( 1 clamp on the riser with half the stack) to the bottom form.
Now you can push the belly stack to the riser with your thumbs to the belly ramps to make sure all is good.
You need to get your Limb locking hardware bolted on the form next.
when everything looks good is when I cut the top form around  the riser. I think kenny goes to 1-1/4" with the locking hardware on the form.

[monterey]

Just looking back at first post and I'm guessing that you are making a form 1.5" wide?  If that's the case,  the width of your form will be an actual 1 7/16".  I've always used spacer to get the exact width of the form and materials to match.   

Maybe it doesn't matter.  I'll leave it to others to comment on this.   Maybe I've been over thinking it.

[Kindo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do feel like I'm overthinking this as well. The form is a true 1.5" wide and "should" work for 62-64" bows.

I've been looking through Kenny's build but feel like I'm over analyzing his steps between reading his instructions and then looking at his pictures. I've refrained from contacting him or other bowyers simply to try and not be a pain in anyone's side.

Max, thanks for the input on putting the locking hardware on next. That's what I was thinking but didn't know if I needed to get the riser cut-out taken care of first, but your post makes more sense and I will go that route. I guess that means I will need to order my components next. That should give me some time to build my hot box over the weekend as well!

Stic, I'll get going on that riser template as well. I was hoping to have my bandsaw by this weekend but will only be wielding a jigsaw until I can can back home to my parents house to snag my bandsaw.