Lets talk rubber bands and forms

[Puckaway]

Today I recieved a piece of 68" box iron in the mail 1.5" x3" with rounded corners. I plan to build a couple asl's with this set up with rubber bands. I stopped at the tire shop and got some semi tire tubes.I cut and the strips full length about 10 feet and maybe 3/4" wide. Does anyone have any experiece with this set up? recomendations and advice are very welcome!

[jess stuart]

First bow I ever built used that method and a few since.  Be sure and use a pressure strip on your stack to spread the pressure out, otherwise your limb might come out cupped in shape.  The rubber band system works very well only draw back is you can't tell if something slips.  I usually use at least two layer of bands and wrap them in different directions.  I also used semi truck tubes and made mine about 1.2" to 2" wide and about 10' long.

[monterey]

What is box iron?

[KenH]

I use bicycle innertubes cut into rings, as you can see below where I was gluing up several core pieces prior to adding glass on back and belly of this Scythian style bow  

 

[JamesV]

I spiral cut a tractor inter tube and double lace the bow in the form. Always get good glue lines.

[Puckaway]

Monterey- I don't know that I used the correct term. Its rectangular steel tubing. I plan to double wrap it.

[monterey]

Ok, I get it now.  If it has rounded corners and is exactly 1.5" you might want to rig up a piece of hardwood or something substantial on the top of it to keep anything from rolling torqueing down into the rounds.

[Puckaway]

I was kind of wondering about that..

[monterey]

Yeah, you want it flat edge to edge.