Glassed ELB

[onetone]

A vacuum pump and plastic sleeve comes to mind … but I don’t know if that would work and more tooling would be required. 

[Longcruise]

A vacuum pump and plastic sleeve comes to mind … but I don’t know if that would work and more tooling would be required. 

Foodsaver! 

I used it when I was messing around with hex mat.  It worked.

[Buggs]

Why mess with the epoxy sleeve at all?…. Just use the heat shrink tubing, and call er good!   

I’ll be interested to see what kind of draw weight you get out of this thing Buggs…
Id bet she’s going to be seriously heavy.

What kind of draw weight have you got targeted?

Thats an interesting idea.......But I think the tubing gets too brittle after its shrunk, to have any longevity.
I was thinking a draw weight of 50-60lbs would be nice   If it turns out heavy, I will give it to someone younger and stronger than me

[Buggs]

I could not resist doing a dry run with the sleeve. Good thing, I was planning on sizing the bow with a thin layer of epoxy before slipping the sleeve on. No way in hell is that going to happen. This sleeve auto constricts!
It only goes on by one method, but once its on its like it sucks itself on like a Boa constrictor.

I know it will get squirmy when it's wet out, but dry its like Chinese handcuffs. At this point I am dying to know how this might turn out. Its serious torsion box construction. It could be a beast, but the glass is thin. Wet out it should be around .015"-.020", so hopefully not too stiff. I plan on using the most elastic epoxy I have.

[onetone]

 All ahead full!

[Kirkll]

Your best bet is going to be using a bag and vacuum on that Baby Buggs. A small vacuum pump is not real expensive either....

I'm afraid you are going to end up with small voids and an inconsistent pressure doing it any other way. I know you are champing at the bit to do this, but a bit more invested might yield a better product.

Check these out... there is a wide range of small pumps that would work for you...

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vacuum+pumps+for+laminations&crid=1XFJAE60AWEC4&sprefix=vacuum+pumps+for+laminations%2Caps%2C168&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Here is some good info and a source for bags....

https://www.fibreglast.com/product/vacuum-bagging-equipment-and-techniques-for-room-temp-applications/learning_center

[Buggs]

Well, Kirk Daddy-O, that is a good idea and I had thought about it. I do have a vac pump

The one problem is that with a vac bag, the finish surface is the tool, or pattern side. In this case that would be the wood surface, which leaves the bag side a bit ratty. The shrink tube should leave a smooth surface. I really don't want to spend much time sanding on this!

[Buggs]

I was hopeful the shrink tube would get here yesterday, but no such luck. Looks like Monday. I'm getting itchy fingers! Dying to know if this will work or be a bust!  I do have some trepidation about the Osage. This bow is only the second success glueing the stuff. Any recommendations from Osage lovers for prep?

[Kirkll]

Why couldn't you shrink tube it.... Then bag it under vacuum ?  Win - Win me thinks...

I'm curious how this baby comes out too.

[Buggs]

I appreciate all the ideas. As this is uncharted territory, I would be a fool not to consider all observations!

Kirk, are you thinking about the vacuum as a tool to extract all the free air? I thought about doing a resin infusion, but some fabrics don't wick very well under vacuum and I don't know about this biaxial sleeve?
Have not found an example of someone doing a infusion

[Buggs]

I was hoping to get this thing glassed, but it's been sub-zero and I cant get my shop much over 50deg. Too cold for epoxy work. Supposed to be warmer Friday. I certainly hope so, it was -20deg this morning when me and the dog went out!

[Roy from Pa]

-20 isn't bad:)

 

[Buggs]

-20 isn't bad:)

 

If your a mummy Me, I'm composed of 60% water and move like old molasses when it gets this cold

[fujimo]

Hiya, I had a similar itch a few years back.
I also ended up speaking to “bjansen”.
He was incredibly helpful.
I built a form and built some bows on it.
I made the form so I can build them either with string follow or with backset.

I built the handle (belly side only) up with a layer  of leather so it didn’t impede the working handle, shaped to comfort and then a leather handle wrap.
Horn nocks.
It came in right at around 46#.
This one was built with all yew lams.

It’s not the very fastest bow, but still quite  reasonable considering the length (68”ntn) the design and the built in string follow.

I will hunt with it with confidence!

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice, Wayne.

[Buggs]

No kidding, that is very nice!  Sweet, round tiller

[Kirkll]

Nice looking bend to that bow Wayne!   

I'm sorry to hear your are having to keep your brass monkey indoors Buggs.... We have got a Pineapple express series of storms coming out of the south pacific and its 50 degrees and wet here..... Well wet may be an understatement. Down right soggy is more like it.... But the ducks are jazzed, and i can easily keep my shop at 70 degrees without running the ball bearing off my heater.

Looking forward to seeing how this bow comes out with the glass tube.... Yes... I believe that vacuum will pull out the air pockets and infuse the resin into the glass with no voids. i think that is important.     Kirk

[Buggs]

I think I will take your advice Kirk and vac the whole shebang after it gets tubular. Can't cause any problems and it might be beneficial like you suggest.

[Kirkll]

Well looks like our pineapples will be frozen by Saturday…… none of that -20 stuff here, but possibly 17 degrees on Sunday morning with a few snow days to follow.

When it starts getting that cold, I gather up anything that can freeze and put it in my spray booth and keep the lights on, and don’t bother trying to heat the shop. Fortunately it never lasts too long around here, and we’ll be back to rain again.

Looking forward to seeing how this bow of yours comes out. Hopefully it isn’t a 90# monster bow.    Kirk