Glue question

[eflanders]

According to the Three Rivers website, Titebond III is a wonderfully easy to use waterproof glue suitable for bow building.  Will this stuff work to glue up wood to wood riser AND limb laminations on an R/D longbow and/or recurve?

[OkKeith]

I am sure LOTS of others will get in on this, but here are my feelings.

TB3 is a good glue, TB1 is better. I have read in several places that the stuff to make the glue waterproof makes it weaker. I have built several laminated longbows and R/D bows with the TB1 and have never had a failure due to the glue (had them fail for EVERY other reason, just not glue). It's very important not to starve the glue joint and ensure even application.

I always put some sort of waterproof finish on my bows (poly, spar or etc.) so why trade strength of glue for waterproofness I don't really need.

All that being said, I switched to 2 part Smooth-On two or three years ago.

OkKeith

[Pat B]

If you are going to use any glue in the same bow that needs heat curing then don't use titebond. It will release at 150deg(F).

[4est trekker]

Yes, Titebond III will work well.  But, in addition to Pat and Keith's warnings about heat and starving the joint of glue, you must know that it requires a different preparation of the mating surfaces than most epoxies.  With epoxies you generally rough the surface a bit to give the epoxy something to bite on.  TB III, on the other hand, requires a very smooth and perfectly flat mating surface.  Also, it will NOT fill gaps like epoxy.

Hope this helps.  Best of luck.  

[Rattus58]

Originally posted by 4est trekker:
Yes, Titebond III will work well.  But, in addition to Pat and Keith's warnings about heat and starving the joint of glue, you must know that it requires a different preparation of the mating surfaces than most epoxies.  With epoxies you generally rough the surface a bit to give the epoxy something to bite on.  TB III, on the other hand, requires a very smooth and perfectly flat mating surface.  Also, it will NOT fill gaps like epoxy.

Hope this helps.  Best of luck.    

and so do you then prefer epoxy of some kind instead of titebond III? I see a lot of these boyers with TightBond on the workbench...

I think I read that you use epoxy correct? What is the best for these jobs?

Much Aloha...Tom  

[Bradford]

I have built one all wood bow with TBIII and seemed to work fine.

But yes, epoxy is the way to go.  I use Smooth On.. I have read to many horror stories about other epoxies, so I stick with the smooth on epoxy.  Binghams has it, 3 Rivers has it (I think) and I have found a few other places on line that carry it.

the one quart size (2 cans to make 1 quart) will do 3 to 4 bows depending on the size and number of lams you use.

[Rattus58]

Thanks Bradford.... Smooth-On... hmmmmm is it flammable? Bein here on a lily pad, some things are next to impossible to get here without bein on the QT....

Aloha...  

[T Folts]

Urac 185 is also used but will leave a black glue line. Extremely tough.

[Diamondback59]

iv bulit many bows using tibound 3  no fialurs  however u do need to keep in mind it releases at 150 it works well in several places but if im guling a raiser id much rather use urac 185 or some type of gap filling epoxey  good luck brock

[avcase]

According to the Tightbond web site, Tightbond III has a bond strength of 4000 psi and the original tightbond has a bond strength of 3600 psi.  TBII has a bond strength of 3750 psi.

TBIII provides gives the best water resistance and BETTER bond strength of the Tight bond lineup.  This has been my experience also.  TBIII also works well with oily woods such as ipe.
 Alan

[Bradford]

They have no problem shipping it within the states.. and no special packaging.. So I think it will be all good.  Give Binghams a call or email them and find out if they ship over there.
The one quart system is 28 bucks.

I have never used Urac 185, but have read to many people that have had problems with delamination.. also have heard people use it with great success???

I have had nothing but great results with the smooth on.. and I am a cheap bastard (hehe), so I have looked for something cheaper.. but not willing to sacrafice quality on the glue.

[Benner]

I've had one failure with TBIII and no failures with Smooth on. I'm sticking with smooth on.

[vanillabear?]

[Roy from Pa]

All I use is urac 185 for wood bows, never had a problem.

[kerryb]

Smooth on is the way to go imo, Kennym offers this along with everything else you need to build laminated bows.

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

I have just used TB III for the first time building 4esttrekkers board bow. Wood to wood seemed to work well but what I liked was the wood to backing.  I backed the bow with burlap using TBIII.  THe color and texture are great.  I have shot the bow about 25 times. I had to quit because of an arm injury.  The backing seems fine.  I cant imagine any problems.

pete