longbow taper

[harry 62]

What is your favorite taper rate rd longbow 62" mid reflex close to kenny's  any thoughts on width and thickness taper it is a one piece with a 14" riser would a power lam or tip wedge have any benefit.

[Crooked Stic]

Why a 14 in. riser on a 62 in. bow? Even with a long draw 16 or 17 would be good
. For average draw an 18 in. with .003 on D/R bow

[monterey]

Im on the same page as stic.  Eighteen inch, 62",  .003. Width at fades 1.5 to 1.25.  I use a tip wedge but still playing with how much.

Here's one currently in process.

[harry 62]

I can extend the riser with a power lam, the 14" riser because I am using a press for a 58" bow. I have a 29" draw. on width 1 1/4 to 1/2 or 1 1/2 to 5/8 any advantages one way or the other.

[Shredd]

I am with these guys on a .003" taper...  I may be wrong about this but I think just about every bow can benefit from power lams and tip wedges...  Trick is proper use of them...  Too much power lam and she will stack on you too much tip wedge will make her draw smoother but will slow her down...  I suggest that you show Kenny your design and possibly get a pair of his super lams...  The guys seem to be having good success with them... But that lam has to be positioned correctly... 

   Just read your latest post..  If you are gonna go with Kenny's Super lam...  I suggest you go with a power lam to extend your riser to 18" and use the super lam also...  Or if you are slick, just extend that power lam out to about 13" to 14" from center and add a tip wedge...

   Nice Lines Monty...

[Mad Max]

I had a piece of riser wood but  is was only 14" long and a power lam added to it made it 18"
I'v had to do that several times.

[Crooked Stic]

I dont think a PL is the same as a longer riser unless it has a really steep taper.

[kennym]

I like .0025 to .003 per inch on d/r lbs. if making real narrow .004

I made a 62 off my 58/60 form and seemed to have some vibration which I think was from too much limb and not enuff riser.

I use 18” riser plus the superlam even in my 58” d/r and it wirks well . It also will draw to 29.5 before starting to stack .

[monterey]

I like .0025 to .003 per inch on d/r lbs. if making real narrow .004

I made a 62 off my 58/60 form and seemed to have some vibration which I think was from too much limb and not enuff riser.

I use 18” riser plus the superlam even in my 58” d/r and it wirks well . It also will draw to 29.5 before starting to stack .

What is the total formula for that bow?  I think there may be a lot to learn from it.

[monterey]

I guess mostly I don't clearly understand the super lam.  Does it vary in length for different length bows??

[kennym]

Which bow Mike? The 62" ?  It shot ok but just didn't seem as smooth and quiet at the shot. Might have been only that one cause I never repeated it.

The SL has a wedge on each end very similar in length, about 11 - 12" so most gets cut off on the tip end, and shorter bows get less length on the tip.  You can also trim the butt end if you see the layout needs it.

My original plan was a .001 taper with wedges built in so less loose parts at glue up.  It was built for my D/R designs but works well in others also. I know one pro bowyer is using it in static curves.  And I think crookdstic  uses it some as well in various models…  So that would make 2 pro bowyers.

[monterey]

i was referring to the 58".  You are definitely doing something right there.

A lot of the Damo Howatts had a dual taper at the tip end but none at the fades.  I always thought it was a good way to do a tip wedge for the same reason as yours.   Less stuff to wiggle. 

[Crooked Stic]

Kenny I do the D/R 62 on the 58-60 form and like it real well. Never tried the SL tho. The SL works well in the FHLB

[harry 62]

Thank you for the replies. I am going to use a heavier power lam to extend the riser to  18" and go with the .003 taper. Go with a 1 1/2 width.

[Mad Max]

i was referring to the 58".  You are definitely doing something right there.

A lot of the Damo Howatts had a dual taper at the tip end but none at the fades.  I always thought it was a good way to do a tip wedge for the same reason as yours.   Less stuff to wiggle. 

I have a 1968 Damon Howatt Hi-Speed 58" Recurve.
It has a .005 coming out of the fades and then goes to .002 , No tip wedge, No dual taper at the tip on this one.
The .005 makes the tight recurve tip open up.
Those guy's were smart back in the Day.

[harry 62]

A local bowyer Bill Kerner built his recurves with a .002 taper with a thin parallel ending a couple inches before the curve they were fast and stable.

[Autumnarcher]

Im running .004 taper on my longbows which includes Kennys SL.  My finish tip witdth is 9/16" at the string groove.
Bow shoots very smooth and quiet. I bought a SL sled from Kenny, took me a few knocks on the head and a few calls to Kenny to get my hard head wrapped around understanding it, but I sure do like the way the bows shoot. I am going to build one and drop down to ,003 taper just to compare, but I do not think there will be much difference.