Help with my first bow build.

[Bubbadooz]

Hello everyone,
 This is my first post here on tradgang. I'm new to using this type of social media/forums. Anyway I've been bit by the traditional archery bug hard and been fully submersing myself into it. I'm so hooked I've decided to attempt my hand at bow building, and have a few questions. This will be my first of many I'm sure. Also this may be a silly question to some but I don't know and couldn't find any answers, so, on with the question. When putting tapered laminations in my bow which way do I put the thin end of the tapers? I assume towards the tip but I'd like to be 100% positive so I don't mess it up. I'm still in the process of obtaining the tools and wood needed to build the bow but I do have a form made that I came up with. Just trying to come up with a mental game plan for now.

[JamesV]

Welcome to the forum from the Mississippi Delta.

As a general rule you are correct that the thin end of the tapers go on the limb tip. There are some designs the use reverse tapers and I am sure that someone more familiar with the use of reverse tapers can bring you up to speed on them.

James

[Roy from Pa]

Welcome Chris. Ask all the questions you want. There are many good bowyers on here willing to help the new guys.

[KellyG]

Welcome aboard. Them glass guys will be able to answer that one.

[kennym]

Most all designs use forward taper, I know one that uses a forward and a reverse which really just makes a parallel limb. Thin to the ends (forward taper) is what you want...  usually.  Welcome aboard!

[monterey]

Kenny, I have never been able to figure out the reverse taper limb.  I  understand using them under the stack to make a flat riser fit but why would one use two tapers to do the job of one or two parallels   :confused:  

Only thing I can figure is using two different taper rates to arrive at an oddball taper.

[Bubbadooz]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I really appreciate it. I'm sure I'll be back soon with some more of my head scratching questions. With the wealth of info on here in hoping my bow build will go smooth. Fingers crossed.

[kennym]

I got this second hand but the reverse taper is supposed to make the tips more stable due to the thick end being at tips...?  

I haven't tested this at all so still not sure but seems that 2 lams glued together would be same strength cause you would have a thin end wherever you start and stop? So wouldn't 2 parallels be just as good?

[monterey]

That's my thoughts on it.  Maybe some of the old time bow builders will chime in on this.

[Robertfishes]

I thought the reason for reverse tapers was.. so you can run the "thin end" up the riser ramp..

[kennym]

Hey,that might be too, I'd buy that!

But why not just 2 parallels? LOL

[monterey]

I think the root of the idea is in guys who misunderstand the system of placing reverse tapers under the stack to level the form for glue up.

I'm doing that with my next asl so that instead of trying to squash a .09 or .1 taper lam down into the ramps, I'll use a very thin parralel there and put the taper in the main stack under the riser with matching tapers on the form under the first glass lam (with protection of course to avoid getting it into the glue up.

[kennym]

That'll work!

And my apology to Bubbadooz  for piling stuff on his thread!!  

[Bubbadooz]

Haha No worries Kennym I don't mind, I'm soaking in all the info I can.

[monterey]

Bubba, do you have any pictures or specs on your form?

[Robertfishes]

kenny, I think 1 of the 2 parallels would be too thick to run up the ramp? so 3 parallels might be the better choice as long as the one bending up the ramp is no thicker than 0.070 inch.

[Bubbadooz]

I don't have any pics right now. I'm actually in the states helping my gram do some renos. I can post some pics and specs of my form when I get home.

[Bubbadooz]

Well I've never done this befor so I hope the picture shows up
Any way if it does here's my bow form that I came up with.

[/url] [/IMG]

[Bubbadooz]

Bubba, do you have any pictures or specs on your form?
 

My form is 14" high and 72" long by 1 1/2" thick
The handle has 2" of deflex and about 4" of reflex in the limbs
I'm aiming to build a 62" hybrid at about 55# with a 19" riser
I still have lots of research to do regarding limb thickness and material. So any input on that would be nice  as well.