White Oak backed Ipe, An update and a repair.

[scars]

Ben I have never seen a bow you built that I didn't like. Amazing workmanship. I think you must see it shooting as you build.

[LittleBen]

Thank you all for the kind words.

[wakolbinger]

Looks great man. I always find is funny how shocked people can be when you make a glass lam looking bow from just wood. Killer work. Corners of your limb edges make me nervous from the pics tho. Rather sharp looking.

[chackworth3]

I just now saw this. That is a sweet lookin bow!

[LittleBen]

Wakolbinger, the belly side is rather sharp yes. I could definately round them more, but I've never had a problem so I don;t worry too much.

The backing is actually very rounded over on the corners. I stained the backing, then rounded the corners, so the edge between the stained back surface and the unstained rounded edge makes a very sharp looking line, but actually it's rounded to about the radius of about 1/8". You're right on though, always round the corners of the backing well. I guess its also safer to round the belly more as well.


Chackworth, glad you approve, I was inspired by a forward handle bow you had posted which was a nice bocote handle. I had never done a forward handle before so I drew a little inspiration from your bow.

[Ironfist_Canada]

A work of Art.

[LittleBen]

Though I should post an update on this one.

The oak backing served well for maybe 400 shots but eventually started developing a crack across the back of the bottom limb. Still can't believe it didn't just explode.

Anyway, this bow really got me started on tri-lams and I love it so I needed to come up with a fix. Also the draw weight settled in to about 38# after many days of shooting in hot humid Virginia weather. Lastly it was sitting at 1-1.5" of set at rest.

Three goals:
1) make it shoot able again.
2) make it huntable again (50# @ 25")
3) give her back some reflex

I calculated that I would need to add approximately .040" of limb thickness which I determined was too thin for a hickory back to be applied over the oak. I thought about removing the oak backing with heat (TBIII was used) but I was worried about complete delamination.
I finally decided to sinew the thing with 1 good course and add some reflex in the process. I strung the bow backwards into about 2" reflex IIRC, and applied the sinew with hide glue. I also added some water based leather dye into the hide glue to give it a darkened color so I could just leave the sinew with no skins or anything and it'd be semi-camouflaged.

Here are the results ...
She holds a hair of reflex at rest, probably less than 1/2", draws 51-52#@26" and doesn't explode when you draw it so I'm happy. Being as cold as it is, it's not been shot since reworking it, but will be soon. I will chronograph to determine if any arrow speed was gained, or if the added limb mass negates any gains.

   

   

   

   

No assistant, so this is probably 22" draw
   

[Zradix]

Looks good Ben.

Hope your fix is in fact a FIX.

[LittleBen]

Me too. You can see a small fret on the belly there at a know, but it hasn't been progressing.

I can't imagine that sinew letting go, so I'm hopeful.

[Zradix]

Yeah..I noticed that too.

fingers crossed...