Take Down Recurve Help

[NRudder]

I am totally new to the bow making world but would really like to get into trad building. I'm 16 years, have won several awards at school for wood working and have a vast supply of machines available to me, but I have never got to build something like a bow before and I’m really interested in getting started.


I have a series of questions.

Bow over

1) What is the dimensions of one used for one TD recurve form

2) Should it be lined with anything?

3) What is a cheap way to control temperature, does it need to be controlled

Bow form

1) What are the steps you have to take before pressing the limbs?

2) After you have the shape of the form what needs to go down

3) After gluing the limb material together what do you do, ex. what do you need to tape, what do you need to saran wrap

Material

1) What glue is use for riser handle?

2) What glue is used for limbs?

3) What material is used for limbs and glued in what order

Riser

1) Best shape

2) Tips?

3) Limb pads, how to make sure the go on right

4) How to drill holes


I know a bit of thing from looking on the trade gang site for months but I would just like to double check some things before I get started and learn anything that I can use in the future


If you have any tip or secrets or anything that would help me out could you please inform me of them?

 
once i get my blue print ill will be starting a build along

[Bradford]

If you can get a hold of some foam insulation boards from like home depot and 3 100w light bulbs your in business for an oven.  Mine gets to about 170 degrees and stays there.. if I need to cool it, I will crack the lid.  I use the aluminum insulation tape to seal it up.  you could get away with 40" long, 16" wide and about 2 1/2' tall.

Smooth on epoxy for fiberglass limbs.. you can also use this for the riser.. or can use tight bond 3 for the riser.. but has to be smooth on for the limbs.

Clean all your wood with acetone twice before glue up.  Need to get all the oils off.

I don't have anything down on my form.. just the wood.. I wrap the limbs ups with saran wrap before I put it in the press.. but some guys like to use a piece of fiberglass or similar.

Oh.. and tape the fiberglass smooth side off before glue up.. helps protect it.  I tape twice.. makes it easier to get off.  And I take the tape off still warm.. also helps.

There are some tricks I have learned doing this on the cheap.. I know others will post here as well.  Good luck and have fun

[StoneAK]

That is very interesting thanks for the insight  Bradford

[NRudder]

Thanks Bradford... anyone else have some insight

[highplains55]

also helps to put down some brown wrapping paper on your bench ,keeps everything clean,use blue painters tape on smooth side of glass first,then you can use the tape to mark where you are going to cut on bandsaw when it cools,put a metal strip on both sides of limbs before the hose is inflated,lay the glued up limbs on saran wrap in the form then tape securley,bolt on the top form then ready for hot box,good luck.