New bow questions

[Don Armstrong]

I have all the componets to do an osage with hickory backed reflex-deflex bow. I have made about 10 bows and they all survived except the two I tried reflex-deflex on. One was made from bamboo flooring with hickory backing and I couldn't keep the handle on. The second one was a hickory with hickory backing and I think I had a dry glue spot so it went boom. I am using URAC 185 and don't have complete confidence in it but I am going to do this bow with it. I got some inter tubes from the bicycle shop today. Should I do a spiral wrap on the glue up. How much pressure is to much when using rubber strips. I am going to use a hacksaw blade to groove the backing and the osage, clean with acetone before glue up. Should I cut the tubes in a spiral to get long strips or cut long strips. Thanks for any help and sorry for the long ramble. Don

[John Scifres]

I use a C-Clamp every 4-6" and then the rubber between.  I alternate wrapping direction.  My rubber strips are about 12" long.  You can use a pretty decent amount of pressure.  Just make sure you don't pull things out of alignment. Here's a pretty poor pic of what I mean.

 

Here's the partial buildalong:  http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/dayoff2.html