Carbon fiber has done incredible things for the aerospace industry. But believe it or not, as bowyers our plus or minus strength requirements are much more critical than the aerospace industry. If one batch of carbon turns out stronger than the next it doesn’t matter as long as it exceeds the minimum requirements with wings on a plane or other parts.
To bowyers using this stuff where .010 difference in stack height can make as much as 10 pounds difference in draw weight on a carbon backed limb, you can end up laying up 2-3 sets of limbs to get the right draw weight for a customer.
Just buying fiberglass in small lots, your stack stack height can produce different draw weights. Canadian glass, vs Gordon’s, or Bear paw glass will have different strength.
For companies that build thousands of bows in a mass production fashion. They buy their carbon in large quantities, and just mark the draw weights as they come out of the press and match em up as close as possible. They also use limb designs that are designed for longevity more so than performance.
My point is…. A lot of the guys in here in the Bowyers bench are just garage bowyers doing this as a hobby, and many of them beginners. I just hate seeing them get the impression that using carbon in a limb is necessary, or is needed to help improve their limb design, when it’s not. It’s expensive, and tricky to work with successfully.
I like to help get the beginning bowyers off on the right track and help where I can. This is good sport building bows.
Believe it or not, some of the most talented bowyers I’ve come across. I mean true bowyers… don’t even use glass. These guys I have my hat in my hand for. Another unique bunch of bowyers building horn bows and Asian horse bows are a talented group too.
Enough said…. Kirk