Recurve limb alignment question

[buddyb]

Its been a few years since I built a bow so I'm working on  recurve take down and a take down long bow. If the limb bends to the right when strung do you remove a little off the right side of the limb?

Buddy

[Crooked Stic]

The best way for me is leave the tips wide and file witchever string groove deeper that brings the string to center.. then equal your tip profile.  I have never had much luck with removing material off the strong side.

[buddyb]

Thanks Mike I thought about that too.

[Crooked Stic]

Also aa good idea to use the stablecore. Lately I been getting cheap China made carbon .019 twill and putting it under the veneer on the front of the Limb.

[buddyb]

I checked my records and I did put stabilcore in these limbs. I glued them up in 2020 lol the same for the longbow limbs.

[Kirkll]

With Recurve limbs it’s a balancing act. The more aggressive the hook you have determines how far out on the hook you can put your string notches before it starts going sideways. Of course  the shape of your limb, limb pad angle, and taper rates can all effect the stability. 

First and foremost is getting those limbs mounted straight , and like Mike said, leave the tips wide so you can adjust for alignment. You do not get very much help trying to sand the edges of the limbs.

I think  You’ll find the thickness of the limbs at the base of the curl is the key to stability.  Stable core helps, and bias weave carbon can help too. The best support I’ve got from stable core to date now was using it right under the glass on the back of the limbs. Same with that twill carbon, and even more stable putting it directly on the back……. Of course the down side to carbon backed limbs is that you cannot sand it to adjust tiller or draw weight.

Good luck on your recurve rabbit hole…. It’s a deep one full of mystery. 

[Stagmitis]

Buddy,

To answer your question looking from the belly side of the bow if the limb bends to the right away from the shelf you want to sand the belly glass on the left side (opposite of bend) equally to correct.  Make sure to identify whether only one limb is
Bending or both in the same direction. If they are great. If not then you need equal passes in opposing direction.

[buddyb]

Thanks guys.

Kirk I did put the stabil core right next to the back glass. I'm hoping for a bow in the low 40 pound range..

[Crooked Stic]

Another thing if you grind your own lams you want to be sure your side to side thickness in dead on.

[buddyb]

I get my lams from Kenny or Binghams. I still have a green riser block from you to use too.

[Crooked Stic]

That green would look good with a black I beam.

[Mad Max]

 I'm not sure it would work but here it is.
String grove depth could work


I think the bow limb is off center, lam thickness from side to side like stic said, or the glue up form is not square to the sides.

[buddyb]

Thanks Mark that helps a lot.

Mike I do have a block of black as well and black and green would look good. I need to finish the two bows I have started first lol.

[kennym]

Don't think anyone mentioned, on a TD if the limb pads aren't square to side of riser block, there is a built in twist. Especially on a recurve bow...

[Mad Max]

Don't think anyone mentioned, on a TD if the limb pads aren't square to side of riser block, there is a built in twist. Especially on a recurve bow...

Yep

[jess stuart]

I have found tillering blocks to really help too.

[Kirkll]

There is a lot to that statement about checking your stack thickness on both sides prior to lay up. Even taking great care flipping your lams as you are grinding them, you can get .002-.003 off  on one lam alone.  Multiply that by 4 and you will have a weaker limb on one side.

Often times just flipping selected lams over in the stack can even things up prior to lay up.

I would highly recommend wider tips and deeping the tip notches over sanding glass, or sanding the width profile. Sanding glass thickness unevenly like Stagmitis suggested is dicey……While it could help you a bit, You can easily ruin a limb doing that if you are not very careful.    Been there , done that…. I use the tee shirt as a thinner rag now….. Kirk

[Crooked Stic]

I have eliminated limb pad cutting sleds by making profiling jigsfor riser fronts. This does away with everything have to be perfectly square. It don't mean you can be off a mile from square but everything end to end is on the same plane.

[buddyb]

I check my limb pads for square before shaping so thats good lol.

Here is the bow. I have more of a hook than binghams plans.

[Mad Max]

I will say this again over the years.

I did Tool & Die and Machine work for many years.
Make every part as close to perfect threw the whole process and you will be good.

I think you can be off a little easer on most long bow.

Your glue up form is the most important part of the process.