It begins again...

[Pointed_stick]

I appreciate any pointers from you guys. While woodworking is definitely not new to me, bow building is. I am bound to make some of the rookie mistakes as I try new concepts etc. New fades, much more gradual, finishing with a very smooth transition into the Ipe.

[Pointed_stick]

Long string tillering done today....took way longer than I thought. Got a nice looking arc to the bow going, and currently at 56# @ 28". Next to finish carving the tips, and make an actual string to get it dialed in the rest of the way. So far it's looking good!! Taking on 2 materials I have never worked with before has been quite a challenge....

[Pointed_stick]

[Mad Max]

Looks good 
show us the belly of the string nocks

[Pointed_stick]

Still a little light finish work smoothing the shoulders into the belly side of things to be done

[Mad Max]

Nice

[Pointed_stick]

Unfortunately this project ended in failure today. Looks like the experimental epoxy was to blame here. Marketed for golf club repair, 5600psi strength, 20 minute working time. Able to withstand dynamic force, also means it is very rigid when cured and does not offer the flexibility needed to be successful for limb lamination. Among many lessons learned during this project. Soon to start the the next bow project with piles of new knowledge gained from this one under my belt. Looks like I will be ordering some ea40 this evening...

[Flem]

Thats a bummer Where you trying to save money using that epoxy?
I take risks with adhesives also, but have not tried to do a complete glue up with short pot life epoxy.
You must have been moving fast!
Any pictures of the failure? Would be nice to see how it failed.

[Pointed_stick]

Thats a bummer Where you trying to save money using that epoxy?
I take risks with adhesives also, but have not tried to do a complete glue up with short pot life epoxy.
You must have been moving fast!
Any pictures of the failure? Would be nice to see how it failed.

Not really a question of saving $$, not a super cheap product based on quantity. I just like trying new things in general. This one sounded really interesting based on the specs and description. Here is a pic, you can actually see glue residue on both pieces. Down towards the lower part it also seems to have torn a lot more fibers of the ipe iin the process instead of just delaminating, I assume this is where the force of the separation became much more dynamic, and adhesion must have been stronger... heard like a small tick....and then a few seconds later stuff got more dramatic and there were parts on the floor. Fortunately just strung to view the arc with a short string, and not under the tension of full draw.

[Flem]

Looks like you might have run out of time and got incomplete bonding. You can double the gel time by lowering the temp of the epoxy by 18deg, not that it would have helped if the epoxy is too brittle, which most quick set epoxies are. The one exception that I am familiar with is PC Clear. I have not seen an epoxy with more flexibility and still have good adhesion. You can literarily twist a dried piece into a noodle.

[Pointed_stick]

The upside is the string I made is a good upgrade for my Wing bow which was due for a nice flemish twist anyway. The smaller long bow loops aren't an issue since the Wing tips/limbs are very slender for a recurve on this model to begin with.

[Flem]

Got to love a Flemish twist........ it's my signature move

Yer gonna throw your back out ole timer:)

[Flem]

OK, was my signature move

[Pointed_stick]

Got to love a Flemish twist........ it's my signature move

Yer gonna throw your back out ole timer:)

Gotta make the bows look good enough to provide a distraction they don't notice yer hunched over strugglin a bit...nice black and silver twist should help

[Flem]

Yer gonna throw your back out ole timer:)

Somebody with magical abilities piggybacked my post