more on the FRLB Disaster!

[bigbob2]

Decided to post these shots as a tribute to KennyM and his awesome design work. Circumstances might prevent me from building any more bows, that is for time to decide, but the form for this bow had already been made and I really wanted to try one so this was thrown together from shop scraps, no veneers just green glass on the belly and black glass on back.It came in at 54# and is a lot easier to draw than my 52# recurve. Also  even though for simplicity sake, I went without power lam or reverse tip wedge, this thing is fast! It is also  quiet, smooth and zero handshock. All in all everything i would look for in a bow. Take a bow Kenny!.

[Fishinglink]

That looks great Bob. I have two of Kenny’s bows and love them.

[bigbob2]

thanks, it is a terrific design isnt it/

[Forwardhandle]

Awsome Bob I have been curious how one would work with out the power lam ,did you still use .001 total taper ? Also how does the full draw profile look , but most of all I hope every thing works out for your future bow building Mate !!

[Buemaker]

Looking good Bob. I hope you will be able to continue building bows and have a good health.

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice Bob.

Wishing you the best.

[bigbob2]

thanks Bue, Roy and forwardhandle, appreciated.Forwardhandle it is total of .001 taper. I will try and get a friend later this afternoon to take shot of bow at full draw, and post it.

[Bvas]

Looks pretty good for a bunch of scraps. Nice work

[Forwardhandle]

Thanks for the info Bob ,don't go out of the way for the FD I'm just curious !

[bigbob2]

I hope to get a full draw shot later today, and will post it then. Inverting the form seemed to help with the fit up too. With the belly down and curve of back upward it seemed to press together very well.Bit of a pain to keep it all together on the form before the top half and hose went on but worth it I feel. If I get to do another, I would incorporate the super lam and a carbon strip just to see the difference.

[bigbob2]

Got a friend to take a shot at full draw. I am at about 30 -31' draw in this shot and around the 60# mark.As you can see even without the tip wedges or power lam the string angle is very good. For a short bow to have this ability is indeed very good. The bow finished at 54# and is easier to draw than my 52# recurve. Such a good design.

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice, Bob.

[Forwardhandle]

Awsome looks great , nice to have another Bro exspermenting with the design , Im going to try one like yours with carbon next after I finish the curent FHLB thanks for the info nice that you have the same draw as me must be somthing about us grey bearded guys that like these bows 

[Crooked Stic]

Bob I did the same thing putting the belly on the form. It was easier for me to get the belly curve to fit the form and let the hose take care of the big hump. It is a good design.

[bigbob2]

thanks Roy Ritchie and Crooked Stick. Ritchie, surprisingly for a guy 6'4'' --- with a trad bow my draw is really only about 29''. This shot is drawn back behind mouth to demonstrate string angle. With a 'cough cough' compound my draw is actually 31.25. re the grey whiskers, I am actually senior to Roy by few months so am really ancient!.

[bigbob2]

re the form. I saw your way with inverting the form Crooked Stick, and could see the logic so went that way too. Harder to "package " everything on form until airhose is in place but agree it seems to allow a superior fit once inflated.

[bigbob2]

Well this sucks! I have had probably 150 shots through this bow when utterly without any warning signs she just blew apart. From looking at the result, it would seem it went just after one fade and ripped back toward center. Forward risers do impart a lot of stress on the riser , but my glue lines were impeccable, tight as with zero gaps etc and fades  transitioned  very well.

BIG argument for using the power lams.Damn it grieves me, loved this bow!.

[Wolftrail]

Nice bow, what a waste of labor of love.  Looks like the fade transition was a little on the short side.  Not enough meat in that area.  But then again I have never built a glass bow.

[bigbob2]

After mulling over your comment about the fades, Wolftrail I had another look at the bow, and actually I now think the transition was such that it actually had a little too much " shoulder" and probably a little stiff under load.If one masured  back 2'' from end of fade the dimension there was closer to a .25' than ..125. This could have made the fades a little too rigid, setting up a higher than normal stress area, and acting as a fulcrum which caused the glass to shear as it did.

[Bow Bender]

I agree with your analysis.  In the picture of the riser the fadeout area looked very short and too steep.