1st laminated bow/Kit-point me somewhere.

[Tajue17]

I'm looking for a new project and was thinking about a laminated longbow.  I do everythign by hand and may screw it up but I never tried.  

I'm mainly looking for a decent video, the correct glues to use, and are there any companys out there that can give me the correct size laminations if I tell them what weight I'm after.  I know I'll have to grid the sides to establish good tiller but I don't have a lam grinder for tillering lams.

thanks for any suggestions.

[Barry Winner]

Check out Bingham's.

[timbermoose]

Kennym on here will set you up with all the materials needed. he also has plans and a form template for a r/d longbow. contact him and he will work with you to get what you need.

for a total kit, other than tools and lumber(for press and oven); binghams has several All-in-one kits they offer.

check out the build-along and how-to sections here on tradgang. lots of info.

good luck, i just started making laminated longbows myself. waiting for electrician now to help with wiring. keep blowing breakers.

[LittleBen]

Bingham's Projects is a good place to start. Kenny M on here also sells plans and materials.

There are a number of build alongs on here you can search for to get an idea of the process.

[Roy from Pa]

Kenny M is a sponsor here and a great guy to get to know.. He sells awesome material for bow building, ships the next day and offers a fair price. Give him a call and he will answer all your questions.. Tell him Roy sent ya:)

  http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/

[fujimo]

yaaa... i wouldnt do that!!
probably affect the price quite badly!

but kenny is an awesome guy to get your gear from. great lams- get the airhose and end plugs from binghams or big jim. thermostat from the hardware store.
good to go.

i just started building a few glass bows too- normally build self bows. used kenny's form, man what a shooter! awesome bow- once you get your arrows dialed in, it will shoot straight and fast!!!

[Tajue17]

thanks for the posts I'll check out Kennys page and deal with him.

[BenM]

Kenny has helped me a ton so far with materials and advice.  My first is in the oven right now and I'm pumped.  I don't have a bunch of tools either.  You can get probably get everything you need locally minus the lams,glue,glass, etc..Kenny will take care of that.  Check out one of Jsweka's builds and also there was an article in TBM probably in the june/july issue about a laminated hill.  That's the type of form I used.

[Tajue17]

do I really need an oven?  that might put the kibosh on this idea,, making an oven for just one bow isn't practical..

or are the ovens even cheap basic ones easy to make?

[Robertfishes]

One bow?...making bows is like eating Lays potato chips..one is not enough!! You can make a take apart oven from foil faced foam insulation, it can simply sit over the form. I knew i would build a bunch of bows so i made a plywood oven and put castor wheels under it..The bow form is the part you dont want to make cheaply..

[JamesV]

Once a week I use a gas powered leaf blower to clean out my shop

[Wicked Hollow]

Tried no oven one time and not a good outcome . I built  mine for around $120 and parts from the depot. I agree you can't build just one you always want to try something new or see a new exotic wood.

[EHK]

Like everybody else said - get the materials from Kenny M on here, and get things like the hose and plugs from Binghams.  The first thing I would do personally is order the Bingham's DVD that takes you through building a form, hot box and bow.  That way you know what you're getting into.

[FOX SQUIRREL NUTS]

if you use bingham's i would suggest you search the gang here first and not necessarily follow their plans.  much better information here and i personally found binghams video to be (at first) an asset but now that im into a build it is now a hinderance.  much better ways to skin a cat..found here on the gang.

[critman]

Kennym for everything x3. Lams, riser wood, 'glass, smooth on.  Top notch guy.  

[fujimo]

big jim also sells the hose and ends.
wish kenny would sell it- then he would be the ultimate one stop shop!!!

[Staton]

Are there plans for the hot box?

Will we need all those routers, table sanders, belt sanders, cut-off tool, planing machine or sander, tapers? What are the absolute basic tools we will have to have? Is there a list?

What's easier for a newb, a takedown, or a single?

Will "The Traditional Bowyers Bible" help with lam bows?

Sorry, guys I have A LOT of questions and have no idea where to start.

[fujimo]

i think the one piece is easier.
nope you wont need all those tool till you start making lams etc.
although a router is a big help when making the form.
if i had to start all over again... i would possibly get the starter kit from bingmams- form clamps, hose , thermostat , formica, pressure strip,etc etc. then get the template for the r/d bow, and materials for about 3 bows from kenny m.
that gets you started.
 a hand/foot pump will work, or just a cheap small compressor will do the job, as long as it gets past 60 psi.
borrow a router to make your first form.
and buy one of these- if you are going to only have one power bow tool, this is what i would get
 http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671
, bandsaws etc etc etc ,are cool but they can come with time.
some files and rasps- lots of sandpaper. good to go.
get a roll of string material, and some serving thread and a serving tool from binghams, and build your own strings at the same time!

[Staton]

That was a huge help, fujimo! Thanks.
Think the wife is gonna like me building board bows much more than 'curves because of the cost. WHEW!