TEST BOWS (pics p5) DATA P6 (NEW TEST P11 )

[2treks]

Send me the bow kenny, I have a four gpp arrow.
(I think ibo is 70#@30" 350grain arrow)

[ChristopherO]

Kenny, If I am reading this correctly the Black Walnut limb lams give the most zip to the arrow of all tested.  
Sounds like the glass powerlam did a bang up job of upping the fps, as well.
Thanks for the hard work and giving us a report on it.

[AkBillyBow]

I agree with Bocote.  I love Bocote with black glass!!

AkBillyBow

[kennym]

The walnut seems to give just a bit of edge on speed but you have to add about .005 to .010 on these bows to get weight.

[eflanders]

Kenny,

In reviewing all of the pages I never saw anyone suggest Ironwood (lignum vitae).  I read or heard somewhere that it is the densest of all of the natural woods and it has been documented by some self bowyers to be an awesome bow wood rivalling bamboo for strength.  Can you get your hands on this stuff?  I would also like to know from the arborists out there if the lignum vitae is the same "ironwood" we find here in WI?

[eflanders]

Well I did some additional research on Lignum Vitae and it is not a native species in the US.  It also looks like it is the hardest and heaviest of all the wood species.  That doesn't sound like it would make a good core wood, but it does sound like an excellent riser wood!

[kennym]

Eric, in the selfbows it may be really good, I'm not up on them too much.

But on glass bows, weight is not desireable in a lam , only light and stiff.

It does sound like great riser material.

[Roy from Pa]

Good stuff Kenny

[Buemaker]

The real Lignum Vitae is VERY difficult if at all possible to glue. The wood is self lubricating and was used as bearings for boat propeller axels. Today only smaller pieces can be found. Very heavy and strong in all categories. Bue--.

[kennym]

Roy, I saw that before the edit. I am mortifided.....


 

[tenbrook]

Kenny I see where you were getting some pretty impressive numbers by adding a powerlam and tip wedges to you design.

Are you still liking this option?  I notice you have not built your more recent bows with either one.

thanks

tenbrook

[kennym]

Yep still usin em, guess I just don t take time to mention em cause they are builtin to a .001 taper. That way I don't have to keep track of em during layup.....

[Crooked Stic]

This has been a very good read. Kenny you da man.

[kennym]

Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed!

[Crooked Stic]

Talking about wood and it is native here (it just dont as a rule get too big)is sassafrass. It is light weight like elm and I am bettin would perform just as good using edge grain.And it smells nice when you grind it. But for consis tency from lam to lam A-boo or actionwood is hard to beat.

[Furtaker]

Sassafrass is all I use for core anymore.I can get it for next to nothing and makes a smooth quick shooter.

[kennym]

"But for consis tency from lam to lam A-boo or actionwood is hard to beat."

That is fact for sure! I can't tell that aboo is any smoother, faster, etc,etc, but it is easier to hit same weight with than wood lams...

I've heard sassafras is good core wood also! Just can't get it here locally.

[Nativestranger]

Originally posted by kennym:
OK, gettin close! Gotta build one more due to a brain fart in the shop. Went to trim the ends of the walnut core bow,cut the 2nd end on the nock line instead of cutoff. It is now a 62" bow,I trimmed it down to 50 # and will chrony it along with the others.

Just a few pics to let y'all know I'm still workin on em!!

 


 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to revive this thread but may I know from the picture which bow is which?

[Buemaker]

I think it was a good revival, don't mind seeing nice bows again.  Bue--.    

[bigbob2]

Here's one I did with black glass Kenny front  and back. the black accent is ringed gidgee, but wenge would be similar and any lighter wood would look okay as well