need help and assistance with new "fiberglass" bow

[WILL CAROTHERS]

Im only fourteen and i would love to start building glass bows, ive build all wood bows, but with the cost of producing them and the high percentage of them that dont work,i want to have he durability of fiberglass. Because of my age, i dont have the funds to purchase lams, and the ususal fiberglass. I do however have the materials and means to make parallel lams of jatoba, black cherry, black walnut, hickory, and white oak.As well as very thin jatoba veneers. The only type of fiberglass that i can find is bondo fiberglass cloth with the resin and hardener. since it doesnt bond to wood, i was thinking that i could glue up the lams and the riser with tbII and the adding the cloth to the back. After all the glue would be done curing, i would tiller to my drawlentght, aiming at a lower weight, then adding jatoba veneers to the belly until i came to about 5 pounds of my draw weight, after gluing the veneers i would then add the fiberglass cloth to the belly as well.


I know that this is very unconventional, but i have unlimited wood to use, and this type of fiberglass isnt expensive. The only roblem i can think of this method having would be that the fiberglass isnt unidirectional, but i dont believe it would matter becaues i would only be using it as an extra "line of defense".

Any advice from anyone out there, again if i had the resources to do it the conventional way i would, but i just cant manage it.

[Dick in Seattle]

Will....   Don't know the answer to your question, but it strikes me that if you have access to the woods you name, and are actually able to process good quality parallel lams and veneers, you could probably sell them or trade for glass with guys who have the cash to buy glass.  I know there are quite a few guys who build who are not able to grind their own lams.   Something for you to think about.

[fujimo]

yea for sure - good idea dick.
Will lets see some of the veneers, and i sure would be interrested in a swap of sorts if you had something i liked.
wayne

[WILL CAROTHERS]

i will probably be able to get pics in the next week or two. I decided to test my idea on a hickory backed cumaru bow that came in underweight, it also began geting small cracks in the backing. i havent shot the bow in fear of explosin, so i have nothing to lose in trying this new technique. I just put on the fiberglass cloth backing, the directions say drying time is two hours, but i'll give it overnight to be safe.

[KellyG]

will,
Make sure you stand way back and use a rope to pull that thing on a tree. If any of it give lose you don't want to be close. I admire you will to experiment but stand way back, this craft does not need to lose a up and coming bowyer. I bet if you look you could find a mentor on here too. Someone who had some of the stuff you don't have and help you along.
Have fun and be safe,
Kelly

[Aznboi3644]

I don't see how a five dollar board costs more than all the materials needed for a glass bow.

Have you followed any tutorials/build a longs for wood bows?

Jawges site is very helpful along with Sam Harpers build a long.

[WILL CAROTHERS]

ive done a bunch of all wood bows, and i love making them, i dont want to stop either, i just want to expand my knowledge and try something new. both the sites youve named ive used, and countless other tutorials/ build alongs. the main reason i want to do some glass bows is because i would love to see some pretty, exotic, and figured woods on the back and belly, instead of having just straight grain. I again i still love making all wood bows, just wanting to broaden my knowledge.

[WILL CAROTHERS]

By the way i was looking over prices for fiberglass/epoxy prices and found some .040 unidirectional glass cloth for about $30 a roll, would this be usable?

I also read on one build along of someone who used west system epoxy on his riser with out a hot box, he mentioned that he used to use it on full bows but he used smooth on for that bow build. It would be great if this epoxy/ fiberglass was usable because theres a west marine store right next to the mall my mom shops at and the prices arent bad.

[wood carver 2]

Will,west system epoxy is designed to work with wood,it being made for boat building.I've used it and it's excellent stuff plus it doesn't stink like some fiberglass epoxies do.Make sure you wear gloves when using it (or any epoxy) because it will make you allergic after a while if you keep getting it on your hands.
I'm just beginning to learn to build bows, so I can't be much help to you,but I have built a boat using west system.
Good luck.
Dave.
P.S. the resin by itself makes a heck of a good sealer.

[critter69]

Why dont you sell some of the bows youve made,it dont sound like the wood cost you much,if any thing.Then buy the glass from binghams or somewhere.I just got some and there like 40 bucks(two pieces 72" long) .A pint of smooth on is 18 or so.I would think one bow would cover it?

[Pat B]

If you use glass cloth you won't get a clear backing like you would buying clear bow glass. You probably won't get the see through effects you are looking for.