First R/D glass bow... build along (Finished)

[kennym]

70# for me, and a lil squirt after checkin the pressure, even tho I know the pressure will go up with heat. It just makes me feel better!! LOL

Lookin good Justin!!  

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Thanks john and kenny! Just waiting for my metal to show up. I did grind off my tip overlays on my hill bow today because it looked like a kindergarten kid made them... It's in the hot box now and has another hour to go at 150. Gonna close the lid tight and let it cool slow over the night. Will shape them and the handle tomorrow. Pics of that bow will be up tomorrow.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

About 1.5 hours-

So today I got the bow all glued up and in the oven. Hopefully everything will look good when I take it out in the morning... I will put some pictures up of the bow blank in the am.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Well the bow is off of the form and it doesn't look half bad. I am going to clean it up in the am and start laying everything out!

 

[Razorbak]

nice curves Justin..gonna be a nice one

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Day 5- Roughly 4 hours

So today I took the blank out to work once I woke up from a nap. I drew the profile out on the limbs according to plans that I received from Kenny. After everything was drawn out it was to the band saw, sander, and hand tools to get the taper smooth.

   
   
   
   

Just look at that zebra under glass... Ow Ow!
   

So one question and maybe fatal problem I noticed. I have no clue if it is my eyes staring down the roller coaster but it seems as though my tips may be off just slightly. When I placed a string between the tips after everything was all said and done, I noticed right at the middle of the handle the string is not in line with my black marker. I drew this line out before gluing it up so I know that its is dead straight.I even checked twice before the glue up. I had washers along the entire length of the form so everything stayed in place...It is off to one side of the line about 1/8 of an inch or so... What gives???

Do I have to wait until I string up the bow the first time to see if it possibly is a slight prop twist in the limb.... How would one go about and check this? I am hoping I did not just ruin all of this work for nothing...

Tips and advice is needed please!!!!

[Robertfishes]

how did you draw the center line? did you check the glass for straightness before glue up? Earlier this year I bought a stack of glass and had a couple of pieces of glass that were banana shaped and I could not use them. I always string check center before I sand limbs to shape, just in case I need to change something..on the last half dozen I have even drawn out the profile before the glue up..if everything checks out after glue up I can start sanding to shape limbs. I grid my glass every inch and number it from center out to tips. when sanding I check it with a compass, *example* line #12 on left limb should be same width on both sides of center as line #12 on right limb...I always get tiller to within 1/8" and work timing (if needed) from there. one day I may aquire some natural skills like some other guys have and be able to eye ball tiller..      

[kennym]

Hey Justin,

I have very little luck drawing bow centerline before glueup, I don't even do it anymore. Just glue it up and then mark center at both nocks and at center of bow and string it.

You will probably still be ok, go ahead and mark center at nocks and bow center and see if you can shift limbs to the side a bit, and gring to new profile on the wide side.. Looks like the tips are still fairly wide from here. And you should have a little weight to take off too.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Ok guys.... Your right Kenny they are still quite wide.. about 5/8 inch wide. I think that you are right that I will be able to shift the center square. I will take off the tape tonight and put new on. Put the string back on her and lay out a new line.

I did make the bow 62 inches tip to tip instead of 64 inches. So if I have to make it just shy of 1.5 inches wide I will and I think that I will still be ok.

[Robertfishes]

Crooked stic uses a long sled and sands his bows square after glue up, then draws his center line. I don't have a drum sander like his. Kenny I have had good luck drawing lines, only had 2 I had to redo so far..I replaced my washers with wood wedges and they hold a lot better..  

[Robertfishes]

I wish I lived next door to Kenny..He could show me a few tricks and I could knock 12-20 hours off of my build times!

[kennym]

That would be cool Robert, we could help each other with glue ups!!

Justin, piking 2" will add 6# so you should be in great shape!!

That bow is gonna be killer I believe!!

[Razorbak]

gonna be a real nice bow Justin

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Ok so I worked out drawing the bow again. I am going to end up with 1 3/8 inch at the widest point going to a little over 3/8 inch tips. I think that this is going to be the best I could get it to make it work. As long as I am in the 47-58 pounds I will be happy as ever.

I will get the bow all cleaned up tomorrow and get the tip overlays glued on.

I think that will be it until sunday or monday when I can get back at it.

Hoping for the best with this thing... I am going to make a new form before I glue up the next one but going to get in touch with you kenny to order up two bow worth of material. I am already looking forward to starting another...

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Here is a question for you Kenny... If I was to thin the limbs to 1 1/4 inch and then went to 1/2 tips and piked it to 60 ttt would that even it out even more... I just re drew the bow out again and even get a better setup with this kind of profile.

[Mike Most]

Those extra hands on glue ups sure would be handy....

[kennym]

Um, you are gonna lose a lot of reflex going to 60"ttt (or 58" ntn)

 Maybe to the point extra #s won't increase the performance.

I'd leave the fades as wide as you can and get em even, then go to 1/2" on tips and see how she looks, if too whippy at tips, start narrowing the inner limbs then.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Ok Kenny I will do that tomorrow then.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

So today I was able to square up the limbs to one another and got her bending after shaping some zebra tips. I really don't want to add anything but zebra and glass to this bow. Kinda keeping it simple this time for hunting season coming up. Anyway here are some pictures of today's progress so far. I would like to get the sight window cut and shaped along with roughing out the handle. I am going to study everyone's designs and come up with something. I think I am going to add the belly overlays to the grip area tonight as well. I am going to continue to hammer on the bow throughout the night.

Here are the pictures....

Tips
 
 

Brace
 

On the tree at 23 inches
 

Going off of what was told to me about the strength of glass bows I pulled her back to 28 inches and she is at 63# right now. I still have to round everything over and clean her up so I figure I will be right on "Q" when all is said and done!!!

I think that the left limb looks a little stiff mid limb so I will wait for you glass gods for comments on the tiller.

Time to go lay out the handle section and get to shaping soon!!!!

Comments please guys... and a HUGE THANK YOU!!!

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Trying what I have seen Roy do to check the tiller. Does this help you guys to see how she is bending??