Bow help

[Tyler Langston]

What do you guys use to make your bow form out of so it will hold up?

[Pat B]

Tyler, are you talking about a wood bow of glass lam bow?

[Robertfishes]

I used cabinet grade birch plywood to make 4 form blanks, I have used two of them for forms and have two glued and screwed for future forms
. No problems so far, I would use LVL if available. What does BW use?

[Tyler Langston]

Im not really sure what they use. I made some out of just normal chip board plywood and the clamps ripped up through it so I guess i will use higher grade plywood

[Jason Scott]

Don't use the paper board or chip board. A good sheet of cabinet grad birch plywood should be around $40 and will last. Don't skimp on the form, it is the foundation. There are also some laminated floor joices that are extreamly strong and durable but cost a little more. These joices actually come in 1.5" wide pices too, I believe.

[Robertfishes]

The LVL laminated veneer lumber  is used for floor joists and headers. I understand you can get it in 1 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 inch wide widths.

[Big-un08]

Another vote for LVL here. It can be ordered from any lumber yard. With 1.5" thickness and 11 7/8" wide, it goes for about $4 per ft. out here in Cali.

[Blue EagleBum]

LVL is great. I ran around the local lumber yards and found a piece of leftover for a really good price. Got my TD recurve form out of it, and goig to get a r/d full form out of whats left.

[Dick in Seattle]

I use clear fir plank with either 1/4" aluminum on top or aluminum channel, depending on the width of the bow.   Just recently tried a piece of 1 1/2" square alum. tubing, 3/16" wall thickness, for a straight longbow... no question, that's now my favorite form!   If you're doing glass laminated longbows, you can see my forms at:

 www.dickwightman.com     click on traditional archery activities

[Dick in Seattle]

I use clear fir plank with either 1/4" aluminum on top or aluminum channel, depending on the width of the bow.   Just recently tried a piece of 1 1/2" square alum. tubing, 3/16" wall thickness, for a straight longbow... no question, that's now my favorite form!   If you're doing glass laminated longbows, you can see my forms at:

 www.dickwightman.com     click on traditional archery activities

[NRudder]

nice

[IdahoCurt]

I like using cabinet grade 3/4" plywood

[eflanders]

I do all-wood laminated bows and I use URAC glue.  My forms all started out as clear 2" x lumber.  This was inexpensive and easy to work with.  Some of my first forms have been modified somewhat for various amounts of reflex and/or deflex.  Once I got the desired form shape I liked, I transferred the shape over to LVL material for stability.

[nschlag]

Robertfishes,
I was at BW a couple of months ago and Roger showed me a form. If i remember correctly it was solid metal, milled on their cnc mill. probably aluminum,because stainless would be quite heavy. it was well used to say the least and i never asked exactly what it was made from.