Gathering Information to Build a Bow

[Bully]

Howdy all.
I'm thinking I want to tackle building a bow. I started down this path a few years ago and got distracted. I have a little more focus and time now so am starting to do the research now.
My thinking is a modern take on a self/board bow. Something along these lines: sandwich a layer of Core-Tuff between some hickory board and back it with bamboo. I have access to power tools which should make this a relatively simple endeavor but I also know that simple does not equate to easy.
I'm currently trying to figure out the wood dimensions. I'd like the bow to be a little on the shorter side, 58-60 inches and draw around #45. I'm thinking that a layer of Core-Tuff between 2 layers of 3/16" hickory with a bamboo back should put me in the right neighborhood.
I'm also looking for advice to make sure my riser won't pop off and how I should dimension my jig.  I will be using something similar to what Clay H. used in his bamboo backed bow build on YouTube. 
Does anyone have any advice that they would like to share?
Thanks in advance.

[Forwardhandle]

Well I dont know about the core tuff usauly mixing natural backing with unatural material doesent work well most times, in your case it would probably add a lot of mass with no return , hickory is one tuff wood on its own , I have built a few self bows & sinew bows out of it , I built this bamboo backed hickory bow a while back it is a great shooter & good performer its really durable bow , if you dont have much exsperience building bows keeping it simple is usauly better there is a bit of a learning curve doing it , I hoped that helped !

[Bully]

That certainly does help.  I appreciate it. 
I've been poking around a bit and have come to a similar conclusion.  I'll probably just do a "tri-lam" type of build with a power lam to help disperse some of the forces the handle can come under. 
If I may, what are the dimensions of your bow?  Weight? 
Thank you.

[Forwardhandle]

I never had a handle pop I think popping handles are over stressed the ones that poped where probably to short of risers or not long enough fades or not glued right ,smooth on epoxy is tuff stuff if used with the right clamp pressure, I don't remember if the the riser was 12" or 14" I will measure it for you when I get back in town over the week end if I remember right my hickory core was started at 3/8" there is a real good vid made by Dean Torges on making these type bows that is real informative and would probably answer all you questions and then some ,I think it's called hunting the bamboo backed bow or some thing similar my bow was 68" @31" 47 lb

[Bully]

@forwardhandle , thank you.  Again.  I really appreciate it. 

I have made the executive decision to go with Ipe.  I simply like the contrast of wood color between the lighter bamboo and darker Ipe.  I'm heading to a shop that will have it in stock.  I'm hoping for a 6' board, but I'm limited to buying what ever length they have on hand.  I'm sure I can find something to do with the leftovers. 

[Pat B]

This is a boo backed lemonwood bow I built recently that fretted in the belly. I ground down the lemonwood and added an osage belly. The bow is about 67" t/t, 1 3/3" at the fades(I think) out a few inches then tapering to 3/8" tips. My handle is 4" with 2" fades. I started out with a 3/4" lemonwood board and tapered that from full thickness at the handle and began the taper at the fades with less taper for the limbs. Having the full thickness at the handle and wellinto the fades helps prevent handle pop off. The power lam will do the same thing. Generally, in y experience, handles pop off due to bending and not necessarily the glue. I've used many types of glue and only had handles pop off when the handle area bends, even just the slightest. 
 I did a build along here on TG. Look it up and you'll see how I did it. All the info is in my build along.

[Bully]

That’s beautiful. Thank you for the info.

If anyone is willing to share their jig/dimensions (pics) I’d really appreciate it.

[Wolftrail]

This website has no lack of information and primitive archer is a good one as well.
I would get all the basic fundamentals of building a basic bow like a selfie or board bow and go for it.  You will learn a lot from your mistakes and later asking questions.

In trade school you normally go for about 8 months,  then its all field work.   I rarely run into a tradesman that has any great deal of experience under 10 years.   A seasoned tradesperson will make hundreds of mistakes along the way and learn a great deal in 30 years.  I have been doing this hobby for over 8 years and still make mistakes,  but its fun and very interesting when it comes down to the woodworking aspect of it...……………..and PatB pretty well explained the handle pop off issue in a nutshell.

[Roy from Pa]

Tri Lam form...

[Bully]

Roy from PA, thank you. That’s awesome.

[Bully]

Wolf trail, I agree. I’ve been doing what I do for a living for 20+ years and still make mistakes and still learn. I have no belief that I won’t screw the pooch several times on this build. But to minimize time lost, I’m here seeking direction. It’s also just fun to see projects and discuss with like minded folks.

[Pat B]

This pic only shows half of it but you can imagine the full pic. A length of 2x4 with a 2x4 block at each tip.



This pic shows the whole set up from above.


This shows the whole glue up in the hot box.


I used Weldwood Plastic Resin for the glue. It is a urea type glue like Urac or Unibond.

[Bully]

Pat B
Thank you!

[Bully]

Side note, I went to one of the specialty lumber yards that are by me and grabbed a nice Ipe board, 6ft long. It’s a 1 x 4. I could probably get 4 staves from it but will realistically get 2. For a $16 investment, that’s not awful.
They don’t have bamboo but they do have hickory. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

[Mad Max]

3Rivers Archery
for bamboo and Hickory
You can't just buy any hickory board for backing.
The grain has to be good

[Roy from Pa]

IPE is a great bow wood.

But be sure to wear a good respirator and other protective clothing and use good ventilation.

It has been known to give some folks severe reactions.

[Bully]

Mad Max and Roy, thank you for the tips.  I will be wearing a respirator even though I'll be outside. 

[Forwardhandle]

The reason I mention the glue and clamp pressure there was a fella at the Desplains river shoot in May that had his first BBO and during the match his handle popped off ,I asked him about it and found out that he used PVA glue that Im sure would be fine, but he used squeeze clamps to glue it when I looked at his handle it had gaps in it I invited him back to the shop and reground his handle and cleaned every thing up & reglued it with epoxy , his delam had no wood with it ,it was just a thin glue line I saw him last month and all is fine with the bow !

[Bully]

The reason I mention the glue and clamp pressure there was a fella at the Desplains river shoot in May that had his first BBO and during the match his handle popped off ,I asked him about it and found out that he used PVA glue that Im sure would be fine, but he used squeeze clamps to glue it when I looked at his handle it had gaps in it I invited him back to the shop and reground his handle and cleaned every thing up & reglued it with epoxy , his delam had no wood with it ,it was just a thin glue line I saw him last month and all is fine with the bow !

Thank you.  I have some C clamps and some quick release clamps with access to more.  If it goes awry, you may have a visitor tho!   

[Bully]

On a bow like this, is a shelf not advisable?  I don't see many with a shelf.  If not, do you shoot off your hand or a flipper type rest?