Hickory backed trilam build............Pictures Up!

[tenbrook]

I'm building a new tri-lam bow and want some input from everyone.

The plan is to use a Hickory backing of 1/8" a Walnut center lam of 1/8" and a tapered Maple belly.

I would like to have a draw weight right around 50#@29"

They bow will be glued up with about 2" of reflex starting at midlimb.

My questions are:

How long should I go?

How wide at the fades/tips?

Is the thickness of my woods right (Back & center lam)?  How thick would you reccommend on the Maple belly?

Is this a good choice of belly and center lam wood for a Hickory backed bow?

thanks

tenbrook

[Art B]

Being laminated you can go narrower than, say a stave bow. Longer you make it the narrower it should be also. At 66" ntn and an 1 1/2-1 5/8" is about where I would start. Total thickness at mid-limb at 1/2" will get you close.

Backing and center lam sounds fine. I like a compression strong wood such as osage or mulberry for the belly myself, but you should be able to get the maple to work for you. Make sure your maple is well seasoned.........Art

[tenbrook]

Thanks Art.

I cut my lams out.  Went 1/8" on the Hickory backing and the Walnut center lam.  3/8" on the Maple belly.  I'm planning on letting the lams sit in the hotbox for a while and then taper the Maple belly wood and glue it up.

The thermostat in my hotbox is set at 175.  At this temp how long would you let the wood sit.  I dont have a moisture meter and its store bought lumber.

thanks

tenbrook

[tenbrook]

Also, I have access to Cherry.  Would this be a better choice for the belly then the maple?

[Art B]

You need to dail down that temperature for what you're doing Tenbrook. You need some way to monitor moisture content of your wood and only use enough heat to maintain proper levels. Between 35 to 45 R/H will get you to 7-8# MC. You can achieve that at room temperature under the correct humidity level. You can go a little lower on MC with that hickory backing. For a few bucks you can buy a temp/humidity monitor at Wally World or a hardware store.

Your lams will probably dry out enough in about a week under the conditions I mentioned. Usually the conditions inside your house will surfice when using AC or heat.....Art

[Art B]

I meant to add, I like cherry much better than maple.........Art

[wildbill001]

Wow, it's like you read my mind on this build.  That is almost exactly what I'm hoping to build in the coming months.

I'm very interested is watching this progress, final dimensions, etc.

Are you going to use Smooth-On or something else?

Bill W

[tenbrook]

Glued it up with TBIII.  In the form now I'll be pulling it out this evening and clean it up.

I'll post some pic's if I get a chance.

thanks

tenbrook

[tenbrook]

Here are some photos.

1/8" Hickory backing, 1/8"x16" Hickory power lam, 1/8" Walnut core, Belly lam of Maple tapers from 1/4" at the fades to 1/8" at the tip.

Hickory, Walnut, Maple handle

70" long 1.25" at the fades straight taper to the tips at 1/2"

2" of perry reflex starting mid limb.

I'll keep you posted

 

 

 

 

[Osagetree]

When going to the tree, I'd get the fades bending before anything else..  Looks good!