Design input

[Wolftrail]

Just looking for some ideas on building a 3 piece. Picked up a great looking 1/4 sawn maple board today (excellent grain). 3 3/4" wide which I'll split down the center and maybe have 2 sets of limbs around 1 9/16" wide.
I have played around with 3 piece bows before. Not into doing the glass thing yet, so the limbs will be all wood 2 lams with reflexed tips and backing of some sort like linen or what ever.
Probably make a 16" straight forward riser. Length around 64"-66".
Input appreciated and how you guys would proceed building an all wood 3 piece.

[fujimo]

you gotta talk to "little ben"

[LESKEN2011]

Ditto. His build a long is pretty detailed and he will bend over backwards to help you.

[takefive]

Yup, Little Ben's your man for that type of bow.  Here's one of his build alongs:

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=010908;p=1

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by takefive:
Yup, Little Ben's your man for that type of bow.  Here's one of his build alongs:

  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=010908;p=1  

Thanks guys and thanks for the link. Little Ben did an outstanding job on that bow.  I figured I'm going to take a kick at the can on a 2 piece bow first.  I will see how that turns out. If         the big (IF) it turns out I will stick with that design its all ready on paper, just a matter of going out in the garage and starting on it.    

[LittleBen]

You all are too kind. But it is true I'm usually easy to reach if you wanna talk laminate bows. Also glad to hear that build along is being used cause man did it take forever to write that up.

If I had one piece of advice for anyone thinking 3 piece all wood it's this: keep the riser as short as you can, the limbs as long as you can bear, and go 25+% wider than you think you need. Easy to narrow later, hard to make wider.

After getting an e-mail from Dean about this, i can't help thinking about building another. Unfortunately I've got a pile of bows to make for friends before I can take on another bow for myself

Now that I think about it ... How is your 3 piece project coming Kenny?

[LESKEN2011]

I built a limb and realized my form had a flat spot I couldn't really see until the limb was done. I put the project on hold because the deadline was approaching and built a glass bow for my recipient with the help of another TradGang member. After promptly screwing it up in the finishing process, I am on my second attempt at a glass bow. I do have a new taper sled, though and will be using that in the future with the planer I hope to get this week. I have not given up on the take-down, but it will probably be after I get my trade bow out.