T/D recurve help-along

[Mad Max]

 

[Balding Kansan]

Quick update on my struggles Saturday morning. If you recall I had some limb alignment issues to work through. The first thing I tried was laying the bow on its side, on my flat work table, laying out the centerline again  and profiling the limbs again. I had left enough meat on them and thought that would work for sure. But it didn’t, the string still fell outside of the centerline of the riser.

So attempt #2 consisted of heating up and pulling out the alignment dowels, oversizing the bolt holes, lining everything back up and drilling in 2 new dowels per limb. Same results as when I started. It was a frustrating weekend with the bow build!

I’m thinking I may just finish up this riser and order another round of lams/glass.

[kenboonejr]

Yea that sounds like it would be frustrating!  Are you using a jig for your holes?

[Balding Kansan]

Yea that sounds like it would be frustrating!  Are you using a jig for your holes?

Yes on the jig. The attempt #2 seemed fool proof, but it still didn’t work. I almost braced it without the dowels, then I could physically move the limbs where I need them, then drill in the dowels. But I wasn’t sure how that glass would handle being drilled while in tension.

[kennym]

Some guys bolt limbs on, stretch a string tip to tip and line up with riser center. then drill limb and riser together. No tension there.

Then put an overlay on limb back to cover pin hole.

You might check that your pads are square with the riser block. That causes trouble too , if the limb tips slightly at pad, its a lot more at limb nocks.

[Mad Max]

Your picture
Hold the riser up in the air with a shop light behind it and check it for square again.
Any little gap could be a problem

[Balding Kansan]

Your picture
Hold the riser up in the air with a shop light behind it and check it for square again.
Any little gap could be a problem

Yep, you guys are correct. It’s high at the phenolic. I will put the limbs back on and check them for square against the edge of the riser.

[Crooked Stic]

We're you able to cut your pads with same side down or flip it on the second cut. If one end is off plane with the other could be your problem. I have profile jigs for my risers and sand the pads. Keeps them on the same plane with each other.

[garyschuler]

I use the method of putting limb and limb bolts on and put string on just tight enough to use as a straight line, and put riser in a vice. Then i slowly swing limbs to line up on marked centerline, then i clamp limbs down and drill fit pins. When done i add a overlay on the limb bolt section.
 Usually one limb will be on and the other will be off to one side. This usually is caused by the riser not being perfectly square and will cause you trouble. It is imperative that your riser stock be dead on square to start with. Then make sure your limb mold is square and flat along it’s length.
Hope you get it taken care of it’s a learning curve as you go.

[Mad Max]

Is this how you measured the brace at 8"?

[Balding Kansan]

Crooked stic: I believe I flipped it, because I had the miter saw setup at 18 degrees swung right of the blade, and I know I didn’t swing it left, therefore I would have had to flip the riser block.

Gary: that’s what I did on the first try, and again on the 2nd try. I don’t know how many more dowel holes my poor limbs can take!!!   

Max: yes, that’s how I measured brace.

[Balding Kansan]

I put the limbs back on and checked square against the edge of riser. Top limb was ok but bottom was a hair out. I may try to shave just a little off the limb pads to true them up. I’d like to build a sled to run on the miter gauge of my table saw. I’m guessing I will ruin the blade when it hits the T/D bolt though.

[garyschuler]

You might be able to remove the insert from the riser by double nutting a 5/16” bolt  whatever size your bolt is. You can try a little heat from a propane torch. Then you can square your riser pad. And re- cut your threads with a tap. Probably gonna have to re sand your limbs to the riser edges thats no big deal.  A thought.

[Crooked Stic]

If is not very much off keep on side down  maybe clamp a sanding block on the side of a 2x4 being sure it square. And sand the pads. The insert will sand to.

[Shredd]

 Here is a quicky idea I just thought up...  Before you do anything, take a couple of pieces of tape and put them on the edge of your limb pad to make up the difference of what is un-square... Just put the tape about a 1/4" in from the edge of your limb pad...  String your bow back up and see what happens...  Remember that tape is gonna compress a little so you may want to add an extra piece to help make up the difference...  Average masking tape is about .004 to .005" thick...

  See what happens...  Sometimes it's good to know things and see what you are gonna get before you do anything... It can give you better insight and help you make better decisions...

[Crooked Stic]

Good idea about the tape.

[Shredd]

Thanks Sticster...  Hope you are well and doing better...

[Mad Max]

 

[Balding Kansan]

Good ideas Gary and shredd. I’ll try the tape trick first.

Im pretty swamped the next few days but will report back with results when I get a chance! Thanks men.

[Shredd]