static limbs vs. working limbs

[String Cutter]

I understand that on a static limb the curve of it does not bend . Where as the working limb the whole limb works. Was wondering what the advantage of one over the other would be??? And what drawbacks also. Did a search here but couldn't find any real good answers on the subject. Any help would be great.

[Pat B]

Just my thoughts but I believe a static recurve is faster because of the lever action of the statics. This puts the working part of the limb under more stress. A working recurve would distribute the stresses along the entire limb.
   I build wood bows and for me a static is easier to build.  
  Pat

[overbo]

Had 2 very static glass curves and both where very quick but both I could never get a bareshaft to shoot clean out of.

[String Cutter]

Well, If'n the static shoots faster and allows shorter bows for longer draws???? Then why would you want to have a working limb bow??? Seems from what I'm being told that the static is much better? But, there must be a reason for the working limb or all recurves would be static????

[Otto]

Bjorn

It means a short static would be LESS of a finger pincher than a working limb bow of equal length.

As for whay we don't see more static limb bows is that the static limb is much more difficult to make than a working limb.

Heck, I made a working limb bow once.

[String Cutter]

So the only gain is that they are easier to make for the bowyers???? H I believe there has to more to it then that.Any full time bowyers have any info.????

[ChrisS]

I think the primary reason you don't see many statics, is that they would be very difficult to do in fiberglass. When I say static recurve I'm talking about a good 45 degree bend at least... not just a stiff tip. It can be done with a wood bow of course, but fiberglass bows tend to be too thin in cross section to handle the stability issues of a lever on the end of the limb.

If I take my wooden static recurve that I  built and try to twist the static part, it feels at least twice as stiff as my working recurve fiberglass bow. A working recurve glass bow will become more geometrically stable when the curve 'unfolds', otherwise the limb would want to flop to the left or right.

As for efficiency and speed... I'm not sure on that one. I've heard it both ways.