Newbie help

[dixiearcher]

I am seriously considering attempting a glass backed bow. I want to keep it really simple, and as bombproof as possible. I am thinking of a straight limbed longbow and I would like to hit 40-50 pounds (preferably closer to 40). I am looking at a .006 total taper, .050 glass, and 66" long. My draw is about 26.5". I am going to use a 2x10 for my form with dowels and inner tubes/clamps for pressure. I am also planning on curing it in the house at room temp. What I am having trouble deciding on is lam stack thickness and riser length. I have small hands so I was thinking of a 14" riser. Can someone give me a lam stack thickness guesstimate that will get me within my target range? I am also thinking (for simplicity my first go round) about leaving it a full 1.5" at the fades, down to .5" at the tips. Any and all advice needed and appreciated! Thanks

[dixiearcher]

I am thinking one parallel sandwiched between two .003" tapers, and .050" glass on the back and belly?

[Dazzad]

Hi mate, Congrats on getting your first bow underway. Good choice to make it a straight longbow too - it will go well.
I build my longbows to 68" for a 28" draw and using an 18" riser, so any stack thickness I could tell you may be more misleading than anything....there are others here who will be better guides for that.
There are two things I would mention though - for 40lb draw weight, you will probably find that .040 glass suffices - plenty strong enough and providing a lighter limb than one with the thicker glass.
The other point is regarding your proposed thickness and width taper rates: The thickness taper is appropriate (although probs at the 'most tapered' end of the thickness taper scale), but I would make the widest part of the limb 1 1/8", tapering down to 1/2"at the tips. If you tapered your width from 1.5" wide, my concern would be that the limb would be overly 'whippy', and that the inner limbs would not be working or flexing enough.
All the best - remember to post photos!
Darren

[kennym]

Maybe ask John Sweka or canopyboy on here....

I'm a D/R guy...

[dixiearcher]

Ok thanks...If I made it 68", with an 18" riser and cut limb width down to 1-1/8" tapering to 1/2" at nock, and used what stack would you recommend for a 40-45# bow?

[dixiearcher]

Is there a way to leave it 1.5" at the fades or even just beyond the fades, and taper it less at the nocks? Would that help with the whippiness?

Almost like a flatbow or recurve limb width...

[Dazzad]

To answer your first query, perhaps I'd assemble a stack of .340 (inc .040 glass back and belly)with an overall thickness taper of.005. This would probably get you close.

Regarding the second query....i guess that could work... just not sure what would be the upside to such a wide limb and wider (heavier) limb tips. The above mentioned stack thickness wouldn't be applicable either. Width taper from 1 1/8" to 1/2"works well - they're the proven guidelines for the hill-style ASL.

[dixiearcher]

Thanks...I didn't think about the limb tips being heavier, I was just curious.