All carbon longbow?

[bcamp8ell]

In considering ways to make a decent bow for less $... My thoughts have turned to the possibility of making an all carbon limb. Would love to use something like micarta for the handle but wood would be cheaper. Carbon uni-directional cloth is pretty cheap even in heavy weights, I think still using some bo-tuff to sandwich it together would be safest. So I guess what I would want to know is - am I crazy? Has anyone messed around with this kind of thing? Or do yall have any theoretical advice to give?

[kennym]

You may be crazy, but I like the way you  thinkin!!

Advice, hmmm, build it and tell us how it works.

  :D

[Bob at Work]

I think it has been done...but it sure isn't cheap...
"The Qarbon Nano, with its all-carbon construction is one of the lightest longbows on the market.  The entire Qarbon Nano bow weighs in at just two pounds."

[kennym]

Seriously, I Have no ideas.

[kennym]

Bob, my bocote riser, bocote veneer, 64" longbow weighs in at 1# - 7.5 oz fully dressed to hunt with a brass nock, 2 pair silencers,  AND a bushing for fishin reel! LOL

I thought you were at Mojam, not work!!  :D

[Bob at Work]

yep...but the Nano is a 3 piece T/D with all of the hardware...so it's pretty dang light...seems like they run $1300 or there about.  I will be at MoJam on Thursday!

[bcamp8ell]

Well this idea wouldn't make much sense if it costed more than a wood bow! I'm gonna have to figure out a way to make this economical, I feel like a lot of folks aren't getting into archery because it can be pricey to get a decent bow (especially a good longbow it seems). First thing I'll do is try gluing some carbon strips to see if this is even a good idea.

[LittleBen]

If you start with carbon cloth and not pre-impregnated strips, it will be hard to achieve consistent weight, thickness and strength. This in itself is an art.

[halfseminole]

If you really want a cheap bow, I have a Hun-style asymmetric I just built using PVC and wood siyahs.  Laying up carbon (ESPACIALLY unidirectional) is an art and a science, and it takes a lot of work to learn it properly.  Took me a few years to make consistent plates identical to manufactured.  As my use of carbon fiber was of more of a prototyping bent, it wasn't generally problematic, until one failed in live fire testing.  I still have scars from that incident.

Carbon fiber is a great material-but it's also a harsh mistress.  Try a few of the PVC bow formulas-mine is 40-45 pound draw weight and can be safely drawn to my full draw of 36".  If it gives out, it just collapses.  Sometimes you can even use heat to fix it if it happens.  It's no less trad than CF or 'glass, but I seldom see any posts about it.

[bcamp8ell]

Oh I have no problem with pvc bows, I made one that actually shot very well - pulled 65@28. I'm just looking for a way to make something that can rival today's laminated wood/fiberglass bows in performance while keeping cost/production time low.

[Dan Bonner]

Carbon will cost more than glass and wood and won't last as long. The only way it will be cheaper would be having access to free carbon panels. Outside of that it is a good bit more costly.

Bonner

[paoliguy]

I no carbon expert but I know that precise angular orientaion of the strands is critical to consistency. I helped a guy build a racing wheelchair out of carbon once. Mostly I leaned working with carbon is a difficult art. I would like to see what you come up with though, you just might be onto something!