Glass Cloth Backed Maple (defies logic)

[WILL CAROTHERS]

This is the cheap, badly grained maple that i had extra. I posted a while back about using glass cloth. Everyone said no, it wouldnt work, but my god were they wrong, i did hsve porblems with tillering, so it came out to low when it was 72" long, so i kept spiking it, finally hit ~50# @27 when it was down to 52"
 

at brace height of 7"

 
And full draw @ 27-29"

 Pics are oversized, Stiks

[WILL CAROTHERS]

Oh and it only took 3 inches of set, which to me is better than it breaking, it barely stacks, but there is finger pinching, which i dont mind because it shoots an arrow faster than any of my other shooters.
PS: Here is how the clear cloth came out---

[Pat B]

Only a very small portion of each limb is doing all the work. Can we see an unbraced profile pic?

[soopernate]

The way those limbs are bending it wont last long.  Enjoy it while it lives and get another one going ASAP.  The next one will always be the best one buddy....you are well on your way.

[WILL CAROTHERS]

i expect it to break, it was just a little experiment with some scrap wood, so there is really no loss, i have some left over walnut and cherry scrap, with fairly bad grain i was thinkin about gluing up a walnut backed cherry bow, with pre tapered walnt that will become thue center lam after the glass is added, i expect set, but with good tillering and a long stave to start, i think its worth a try

[tenbrook]

I think you did a GREAT job Will.

Good for you on trying the cloth glass.  Glad it worked out.

Keep it up.

Tenbrook

[rover brewer]

the glass cloth you used is it the same as you get to do body work and how did you glue it on?

[WILL CAROTHERS]

I used the glass weave from a store called west marine, it is woven like a cloth, but it is tightly woven unlike drywall tape. For the gluing i used west system epoxy (the clear variety also used for cedar canoes) but any other boat building epoxy will work, just look at the specs and make sure that they say it is made for joining wood and glass.

It really doesnt need to be that clear, as im planning to use a snakeskin or black matte color on top of it for my next bow. these tequniques will also hide the weave.

You shouldnt get as much set as i did if you tiller well and use a wood stronger in compression, like ipe or well tillered cherry

[John Scifres]

Cool.  Making bows is fun!