Want to build a glass bow

[Lee Lobbestael]

Hey guys. I have built self bows for years but have never built a glass bow. I want to get into making them but don't know where to start. It seems like a completely different game than self bows. Any advise would be much appreciated! Thanks

[Roy from Pa]

Here is a good place to start. You can order a complete kit to make a bow. You will also need to build a form and need a hot box.

 http://www.binghamprojects.com/

[KenH]

Bingham's is good, that's for sure; but there are other simple kinds of bows you can build without spending a bunch of money building an air-pressure jig/mold setup.  

It depends on what kind of bow you're looking to build.  I build bendy-handle flatbow using a piece of 2x4 as the jig and bicycle innertube rubberbands to hold things together until the glue dries.   Similar Hill style flatbows can be built th same way.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Bingham's does look great but probably out of my price range right now. I love hill style bows. Is there a simple way to build one?

[Roy from Pa]

Check with Troy, maybe he can hook you up.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=014055

[monterey]

You won't economize much more than using Bingham.  Like Roy says, you can get in touch with Troy and he can provide you with what you need to build but I'm not sure what he might be able to offer in terms of instructions.

Don't get me wrong, I love Troy's stuff and he is a sponsor here while Bingham is not. I will be placing several orders with him in the next few months.  BUT, I'm through the learning curve and know exactly what is needed from the supplier.

If I'm wrong about this, Troy, please jump down my throat and set me straight!

You don't need all the stuff that Bingham offers the first time builder.  You don't need a hot box.  You don't need a pressure hose form.  You can build a straight limbed Bingham long bow on a 2 x 8 form using the rubber band method.

When you take it down to the minimum requirements, you can do the whole project for less than $175.

[7 Lakes]

Maybe this will help.  It's built using a 78" piece of steel bar stock.  This is a little too droopy and needs to be propped up a bit.  It's cheap and has another advantage.  You can build String Follow or slightly Reflexed, Hill Styles.  Call me about clamping up the fades, I haven't taken any pictures and you have to stop the clamps from sliding.  Too many pictures to post here but go to Imjur, I have an album posted there with some instructions.   http://imgur.com/a/E9nFD