Longbow limbs

[S.newman]

66in laminated longbow
I'm looking for constructive criticism on how my limbs are working amd if there is anything I can do to make it better then what it is now ...I see about an 1/8 difference on the bottom limb but was wondering what other more experienced bowyer see from the pics
Any help is appreciated as this is my first laminated bow build ever
Steve

[Mad Max]

All the bend is close to the riser, outer limbs are not bending.
Is this a all wood bow?
Can you shorten the string up more?
To long of a string will give you a false bend.

[Crooked Stic]

I would agree needs to be stiffer off the fades.

[S.newman]

Thanks ....this is
 2x .07 .001 taper bamboo lams
.03 botuff
.05 veneers
.04 clear glass
I did a 16in riser but I was questioning the length of my fades I know the next one will be longer and feathered even more then this one ........is there any way to fix this now or just finish it and shoot it ...and start a new  better build? Appreciate the help guys

[Kirkll]

About the only thing ya can do with it now besides a shorter string, is narrow up the tips as much as you are comfortable with, and trap the outer 3 rd of the limb to the belly aggressively. That could get those outer limbs bending a bit more. Doing that is going to drop your draw weight , but it will seriously cut the hand shock down. I’ll bet that one has some kick to it as-is.

Next one go with a longer riser, and use a power lam to extend the fades out past the riser fades another 3-4” . That will force the limbs to bend further out on the limbs.      Kirk

[S.newman]

Thanks kirk I'll give that a try ...and the next one I'll deffenitly use that advice ...very much appreciated..

[Buemaker]

In the second picture the bend of the limbs indicate that the bow is bent to a bit high normal brace height. You need a much shorter string and when you have a string that is tight when the bow is at normal brace, the outer limbs will bend more when you get closer to full draw lenght. That is my two bits.  Easy to be fooled by too long string, and miss weight.

[Mad Max]

To long of a string will give you a false bend.

What was the brace height?
Brace it at 7-1/2" and lets see pictures again, bending.   
The .001 may not be enough.

[S.newman]

max that was my thinking also, maybe the .001 taper wasn't enough.. when I get back out in the shop tomorrow I will do just that and post some more pics.

[S.newman]

will do thanks bowmaker

[Kirkll]

max that was my thinking also, maybe the .001 taper wasn't enough.. when I get back out in the shop tomorrow I will do just that and post some more pics.

My D shaped long bow limbs run .004 FT and  i use a pair of .002 tapers. My hybrid LB run .003.

 Sounds like you have an .002 FT with a pair of .001.    You may want to go to .003 or even .004 on the next one.... Is it safe to assume you are using .040 glass backing?    Kirk

[S.newman]

yes kirk .04 glass and yes correct .002 FT but only .001 per lam tapers (not enough)....very good chance I didn't use enough taper overall and will definitely adjust for the next bow ...i figure it may take me a dozen or so try's to get a GOOD one and learn all the ins and outs of this particulate form and build quirks in the mean time
... also kirk I  believe Ive found your YouTube page and binged watched them last night...  i will be watching and absorbing all the info i can from your videos

[Mad Max]

yes kirk .04 glass and yes correct .002 FT but only .001 per lam tapers (not enough)....very good chance I didn't use enough taper overall and will definitely adjust for the next bow ...i figure it may take me a dozen or so try's to get a GOOD one and learn all the ins and outs of this particulate form and build quirks in the mean time
... also kirk I  believe Ive found your YouTube page and binged watched them last night...  i will be watching and absorbing all the info i can from your videos

My bad on the .001 taper on my last comment.
I still want to see the bending with a bigger brace height.

[S.newman]

max im heading out to the shop now ...pictures will be posted in about an hour or so
thanks

[S.newman]

Here is the 2nd set of pictures with the bow strung and brace set at 7in.

[S.newman]

I think I'm gonna try what kirk was sugesting by very slowly thining out the outer 3rd part of the limb to get it working/bending with the rest of the limb .....I'm not so worried about the weight of this bow as it is my first laminated bow ever and just want to go through the process and learn as much as possibly for the next one

[Mad Max]

max that was my thinking also, maybe the .001 taper wasn't enough.. when I get back out in the shop tomorrow I will do just that and post some more pics.

My D shaped long bow limbs run .004 FT and  i use a pair of .002 tapers. My hybrid LB run .003.

 Sounds like you have an .002 FT with a pair of .001.    You may want to go to .003 or even .004 on the next one.... Is it safe to assume you are using .040 glass backing?    Kirk

Yep, Like kirk said

[Kirkll]

You might be surprised what a narrow tip width profile and aggressive trapping to the belly side will do for you. Btw…. I wouldn’t trap the whole limb just the outer half . You got enough bend coming off the fades already.

Please let us know how that works for you.   What’s your draw weight now at 28” ?

[dbeaver]

Just so I can wrap my head around this for future reference, Kirk, when you say trap to belly are we leaving the belly wider than the back or the other way around?

[S.newman]

kirk right now it is 48# @28 ill be narrowing the outer limbs today and will up date the post