building a childs bow

[ChuckC]

Does anyone have experience with this ?  Specifically... I am thinking out loud.  Can I build a D bow and back it with .040 glass, but not have glass on the belly ?  I guess...an answer is...certainly, I can do anything I want to... but realisticly...  what are the pro's and con's.   Will they hold up ?   If I do this I can use  less material per bow and make maybe more bows to give away ?   Maybe ?   I am thinking up to about 35 # bows here...

Any experience shared would be appreciated.
ChuckC

[vermonster13]

Give Mike Mecredy a PM Chuck. He builds them all the time and is a real decent guy. I bet he'll give you all the answers you need.

[ChuckC]

Thanks Dave.
ChuckC

[imskippy]

when you get the info you are looking for be sure to let us know.

[Mike Byrge@home]

ChuckC,
I've made several adult bows using glass on the back only and it is a good way IMO of making a durable, easy to make bow.

For kid sized bows though you could back them with linen or something that is easier to work and less expensive then fiberblass.

[ChuckC]

Mike... When you say adult bows, are you talking bigger size ? or bigger draw weight ?  or both ?

I can make laminations easy enough and enjoy shaping these bows.   If I can feel good about giving away a bow that has only one piece of glass in it, then I can make a few more.  But I am not interested in cutting corners if it means worrying about someone getting hurt.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience in a laminated glass BACKED (but not glass bellied) bow and hear if the bow holds up well.

I have some friends that we visit on occasion. Nearly every time we go a few of us bring a bunch of bows and arrows.  The next thing you know darn near evey child (and young adult) is out back flinging arrows.   I want to make a handful of bows and leave them there so they can do this all the time.  but...  I also don't want to go broke doing it.
later
Chuck

[Mike Byrge@home]

Chuck,
Both..larger dimensions and heavier draw weight. I've made probably a dozen glass backed bows in the 50-60# range.  All 64-68" long and 1.5" wide.

For the core I used a single blank of osage, hickory or bamboo flooring.

I agree with you...a glass backed bow would be less likely to break than a hickory or bamboo backed bow.

You can save a few $$ per bow by using core tuff glass...I've made a few using coretuff and they are still shooting.

[imskippy]

mike, do you have any pics of these bows? I'm very interested in seeing what you did and how they look. Jason

[Mike Byrge@home]

This is the only glass-backed bow that I still have in my possesion.  It is 68" long, a little under 1.5" wide and close to 60#@28.  I used natural core-tuff with a hickory belly on this one and glued in about an inch of reflex.  Unstrung it has less than an inch of string follow..a good shooter.
 
 
 

[Mike Byrge@home]

The glass-backed bows that I've made are on par performance wise with hickory or bamboo backed bows.   All the glass is doing is adding protection to the back of the bow and allowing you to glue in some reflex which will add some speed.  

You still have to make them to "wood bow" dimensions or they'll take set just like a any other natural bow.

I do think it's a good way to make a durable, inexpensive bow if not being "all natural" doesn't concern you.

[ChuckC]

Thank you Mike.  I am not yet into "all natural".. so glass backing is no big deal for me.

I will try making a few soon.  I have a couple more yet I need to work on before I get started.

ChuckC