Narrow Longbows

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Hey Tradgangers-
  I am looking to start two new bows for the upcoming hunting season. One is going to be a tri lam of my usual "Roy" style.

  My question is for my second longbow tri lam. I have some great looking osage lams that I got from the good man Kenny which is 3/16 at the thick end tapering to 1/16 at the skinny end. I was going to use that as my core material. Now I have a piece of Ipe that I have had for about a year now which is 1 1/16 inch wide and 3/4 inch thick. Perfectly straight and just itching to be turned into a beautiful weapon. So my question is if I keep the bow around 66 tip to tip and a straight taper from the fades, IS THIS BOW GOING TO WORK OUT?

You guys here who have more experience with narrow longbows what is the best formula for this kind of bow? I really like to see this ipe work out...

Thanks guys!
Justin

[D]

I built a boo backed ipe that was 3/4 of an inch at its widest point.  I ended up giving it to a buddy.  I seen it the other day and its still shooting just fine.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Cool so it can be done! I'm attempting to locate other narrow longbows in the search area but haven't come up with anything as of yet. Guess I will just have to ask some questions and see if anyone points me in the right direction. Thanks D!

[LittleBen]

I'm with D. Ipe is ridiculously strong stuff. It can't even be compared to most any other woods.

I built a bow for a buddy that was a BBI 67" ttt, approximately 1 1/8" wide, for his 29" draw. and it was approximately 65# @28". Can't remember the thickness but I believe aroung 5/8" or a bit more.

Glued in 1" of reflex, stands nearly perfectly straight when unstrung. Spoke to him the other day and he says it's still shooting strong and fast as new. I always liked the look of an osage core or powerlam on a BBI bow. Other woods might be faster but the osage is a great contrast for the ipe.

Depenging on what weight you want, you could also rip that ipe into 2 strips of ~5/16" thickness and get two bows out of it. If the first comes out a bit light, just make the core on the second slightly thicker.

1/8" bamboo tapered to 1/16" at the tips, 3/16" core tapered to 1/16", and ipe of 5/16" gives you approximately 9/16" at the fades and 3/8" at the tips. I dunno maybe thats a 40-45# bow roughly. depending on riser length, reflex, etc.
Probably very little tillering required.

Going to a 1/4" tapered to 1/8" core lam (or adding another parallel core lam of .060" -.070") would bring the weight up quite a bit too. maybe 25% or more.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Thanks Little Ben-

I am hoping to start on the bamboo tomorrow. I thought about the design of the bow and hope to make it 1 1/8ish wide at the fades and hold that width out 6 inches past the fades. Then taper it to a 1/2 tip which will later be thinned down. My osage core as stated is 3/16 tapered to 1/16. I was going to rip the ipe to a straight 5/16th parallel the full length. I will not be adding a power lam to this. I am hoping to get low 50 poundage bow. I will reflex it only an inch so that as you say will have a straight profile once unstrung.

Hopefully this sounds like a good plan of attack.

[LittleBen]

Definately sounds like it. Worst case scenario it comes in a bit under weight and you can pike it an inch or two.

I know D has made some short, narrow and heavy weight ipe bows so he'd be your expert as things get more and more extreme.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Ok well got my boo thinned and ready... It is actually an inch wide carried six inches past the fades and then tapers to 1/2 inch tips... The boo had a crack so it is 64 inches long... The ipe has been tapered from 1/2 center to 5/8 ends... How's that sound so far... Ipe too thick still? Figured I keep it slightly thicker to make sure I had the poundage still there

[Bob at Work]

"tapered from 1/2(4/8) center to 5/8 ends..." ?

[LittleBen]

SOunds like you're on track assuming you meant 3/8", or 5/16".

Either way, with that core lam I think you'll have alot of wood to remove, but thats no biggie. I say glue that bad bow up and start tillering.

[Bob at Work]

I made a hickory backed ipe in an ELB style a few years ago...the first and only ELB style I ever attempted...anyway...it's like less than 3/4" wide at the grip and the tips might be 1/4"... pulls at least 50# and looks like an arrow more than a bow...  
Bob

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Opppsss... Typo from my phone... We are tapered from half inch to 3/8 tips... Not a great idea to try and make a post the moment you wake up lol

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Well worked on getting the tri lam ready for glue up today. Everything was set and then went to go measure out my Unibond glue.... Another OOPPSSS!!! Forgot to rally make sure the can was closed and when I opened it up... all dried up!!! Now I have to wait for my new stuff to come in.... dang I was looking forward to really making some progress this week.