Bow Kit

[KeithG]

if you were going to build a glass bow. Would you start with a recurve or longbow? I have been looking at bingham kits. which would be the easest for a beginner?

[heartlandbowyer]

Longbow by far a lot less chance of limb twist.

[Roy from Pa]

Longbow.

[jsweka]

Yep.  Longbow.
And I'll add that a straight limbed longbow is the easiest sort of longbow.

[Mad Dog]

I got a longbow template from Kennym and it is a lot easier to make a super smooth form following his instructions on his website than prints from bingham's in my opinion. I'll soon find out about putting together the bow. He just sent me all the materials (lams, glass, glue) Friday. Wish me luck. Also great guy to deal with, answers questions and fast shipper.

[Mike Most]

I started with Binghams recurves, and soon found that the longbows were easier.

The difficulty for me was getting the laminations of the recurves into the forms by myself. Lots of tape and glue everywhere.

[NormanDale33]

Single piece longbow. I am finishing a 3-piece and it is doable, you just have to take your time on it.

[onemississipp]

Depends what you want.

Either way you go remember to do dry runs on the glue up. Do two or three just to make sure you have everything you need where you need it.

Heck, buy two sets of lams glue one set up without the glass. Just so you can see how it looks and how your going to shape the profile afterwards.

[mike hall]

1 piece Longbow and when its time for glue up don't do it in an ice cold garage. Smooth on will not be so smooth.     It is a fun project for sure.

[LittleBen]

Longbow hands down. The tillering on a recurve can be a PITA because of limb twist. I haven't made glass bows only wood, but I assume its the same deal. Recurved tips cause instability.

Straight limb longbow is going to be easiest. The more R/D you add the more tricky the tillering becomes; both because of potential limb twist and because the profile is not a simple arc anymore.