HELP...questions before I glue up!

[canshooter]

I am ready to glue my bamboo backing onto my hickory board bow.

A) is there a significant benefit to putting it in a form to reflex, deflex the bow? ( I screwed up the final tillering on the last one I did that way)

B) I have both Titebond III and Urac 185. is one better or easier to work with than the other. What do you guys recommend.

[Dano]

A) yes there is, added performance.
B) I've used both, if you have good tight glue joints I'd use TB III just because it's easier to use and clean up. Poor glue joints will benefit from Urac.

[canshooter]

Thanks Dano, I'll go with your recommendations.

[Pat B]

You should pre tiller your belly a bit so it has a nice even bend when you put it into the form. An even taper should do the trick.
   I have used both glues with good results. Like Dano said, each performs best with different glue surface preps.

[bigcountry]

Only tip I can add is if your going to add reflex, floor tiller that belly enough to bend fairly easy.  The boo will add alot of wieght I found out.  But you don't want so much material of the belly to counteract the boo reflex induced.

[Steve Kendrot]

What Pat said! I am working on a BBO bow now that did not take the R/D I expected out of the form. Then I realized I forgot to taper the limbs before gluing up. I now will be making a checklist to follow for each bow!

[canshooter]

Thanks to all you guys who responded. In my estimation the greatest thing about the web is the fact that you can ask for help from others with more expertise and experience, and so many are willing to offer a response. All total strangers who enjoy a common pastime. The guys on this forum are great!  

[canshooter]

Oops, I forgot to mention, I did floor tiller and the bow is now glued up with TB3 and nicely clamped into my form.

[Dano]

We will expect pictures.  

[canshooter]

I just took it off the form and cleaned up the excess glue. Here is the picture as requested. I would love to get some input from you guys at this stage.

 

[Dano]

Looks great. Is the handle glued on or part of the stave.

[canshooter]

The handle is part of the stave, but I am going to glue on a block of ash to make the riser thicker. I intend to make a handle that is shaped similarly to a recurve grip and that can have a shelf cut so that it is nearly centre shot.

[Dano]

Sounds good, when you cut in the shelf make sure and leave at least 3/4" of wood, less than that could break.

[mike fisher]

Nice job,Mike

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

Nice looking bow.  I have one that is similar.  It is quite a shooter.  Just tiller it slowly.  The first one hinged on me all of the sudden.

pete

[matt g meyers]

Hey guys,
  I'm new to the art of the glue up/reflex/forming wood. Can I assume that all of the curve in the bow is a result of glueing the pieces while it is in the form and then the glue locks the position,or is there wet wood shaping involved?