making a laminated recurve

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

ok, so me and the boys thought wed try our hand at makin recurves that are identical. only question, well lots actually, but WHERE DO I START!?!?!?

i need a form and i have a 60" recurve that im going to use as a pattern, but, what thickness laminations do i ned to use, (and seein as how im lible to fail miserably, whats a cheap wood to start off with) all the goodies.

my specs, 60" Recurve 50# @28" draw.  any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated!

[SOS]

Work with Binghams for your plans and materials and lam thickness.  If you want to keep the price down, search for my TD Longbow build along I did a couple of months ago for some ideas.  Search "PowWow" for "El Cheapo" in the title and you'll find the threads - it was about as cheap as you can build one unless you can find someone to grind laminations for you.  I blew up the riser on a dry fire (and a design flaw), but am rebuilding it, the limbs are still good.  Also, TBM had a build along for a one piece long bow last March.  Send any questions along.  My bow has turned out to be a pretty hard shooter.

 

[SOS]

I meant to say that this is the replacement riser roughed out.  Still some shaping then final sanding and finishing.  Cheers

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

i looks good!
thanks, ill be doin that!

[charvaxe]

I've also had great success using binghams. I've built a couple of recurves, and quite a few longbows. I changed my longbows from the 68" that Binghams offers to a 64", and the people at Binghams were very helpful with the changes that needed made.

Good luck

[tim-flood]

the other site has a how to called laminated bows check it out

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

ok, yall keep talkin about Binghams, but can you give me a link or somethin??

[OconeeDan]

http://www.binghamprojects.com/features.htm

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I noticed you said recurves...as in plural...I would highly recommend using the fire hose clamping method. You can save a bunch of money by just buying the hose and plugs. Then use scrap steel and bolts for your forms instead of buying the whole kit they offer. i have a Binghams bow building video I'm sharing out there amongst the Trad Gang somewhere that could be very helpful too. please pm me your address if you are interested in watching it. I've got all kinds of pictures i took as i built my first one piece long bow, and my first take down i could share with you also....let me know if i can be some help....it's quite an adventure the first go round....i had a ball with it. Kirk

[sidebuster]

As a place to start Binghams is probably responsible for the majority of  beginning glass bowyers to include probably the current established bowyers.

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

thank you for the link!

geesh!  :eek:  the more i look at this, the more i realize i know kinda what to do, but still dont have a clue! :D

ok, so heres my thoughts on woods. simple is key, but here it is. iono, 2 yellowheart lams on the outsides, and a Rosewood center for the limbs, fiberglass backing of course, and Osage/Cedar laminated riser.

course that may be too thick, but do you think i can make it work??
besides, at most for the time being i plan on makin maybe 4. probably only 3 though, nah, 4 cause im bound to screw SOMETHIN up.. :D

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

oh, thats clear fiberglass btw...

and my smilies are not workin, oh well...

[OconeeDan]

Since the glass does most of the work, you can use any woods you want, you have a clean slate.
For the riser, make sure the glued areas are not violated when you shape it, that leads to weak spots.
Call and talk to them at Binghams before you get started, they'll let you know if you have a good plan.
Dan

[TRADITIONAL ONLY]

well i acutally broke down a and actually added up a rough cost of just limbs, im sticikng to just two lams! and probably cutting out the cedar/osage hande for somethin a little less on the pocketbook. instead, maple with a oak center with zebrawood accents on either side of the oak inbetween it and the maple.

(did i forget that three 15 year old boys are undertakin this project? and im the only one that has any basic tools and skill???)