Power strip in Limb tip

[dcmeckel]

I make a few R/D, glass laminated longbows and was wondering if an 8" power strip of .030 maple would have a positive effect? I have seen power strips in recurves,but never noticed them in longbows.And also,would a reverse taper do the same thing as a power strip?

[ChristopherO]

Yes, a thin wedge built in makes the tips static, in effect, allowing the mid limb to work more creating a snappier limb recovery on release of the string.
This is done commonly in some bowyer's circles to keep the a long bow from being whip tillered.  
Wood bowyers has been incorporating this, as well, whether in all wood lam bows or self bows.  The last hickory bow I made I left the last 5" of the tips a bit thicker.  Tim Baker has been a big advocate of this performance enhancer.

[kennym]

Like Chris said, it does help performance,2-3 fps in my design. If you use a reverse taper, it moves the bend thru the whole limb whereas the tip wedge only stiffens the tip.

Making the tip stiff bends the limb a little more in the midlimb,somewhat reducing string angle,and for lack of better term,adds leverage when the limb returns . Mine are 4-5" inside the string nocks with a .009" per inch taper.

You can also manipulate the bend away from the riser with a power lam,basically the same deal on the other end at the fades. Mine run out 3 - 4" past the fades with a .009" taper.

I have started grinding them with the .001 taper on the belly so I have 4 less things sliding around in the gluey mess! LOL

Oh, after grinding, the tip and butt get run thru the sander without sled to parallel the very ends down to a bendable thickness of .080 or so to help in fitting the riser. I forgot to do that on one bow,it took some xtra wedges to make those .144" thick butts fit those riser belly ramps!