Author Topic: Black Glass (Read 2917 times)

Earl E. Nov...mber · « **Reply #40 on:** March 12, 2009, 08:40:00 PM »

You mean to tell me that is another thing Fred had figured out 40 years ago that we are just getting around to relearning.

Bob Sarrels · « **Reply #41 on:** March 12, 2009, 10:56:00 PM »

Chad, you are more than right about having to sell cosmetic blemishes. It is a drag. And stocking lots of different exotics gives me a pain each time I go to my wood supplier. Seems like I give him $1000 and can carry it all to the truck in two trips. That makes me really want to grind my veneers reallllly thin and then the joining gets tougher. I also love peeling the tape back to get a look at her and its a bummer to see a little bubble (thats my fault) but a pisser to see striations in the glass that were not visable before the glue up. I like black glass. Like the way it looks, holds up and shoots. Will keep makin as many as I can sell. Really helps if ya put some really wild wood in the riser and limb caps. Horn tips look good also and are a good selling point. Sure stinks up the shop tho. If its nice outside and I have the doors open I get strange dogs showin up.

SL · « **Reply #42 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:11:00 AM »

I personaly love the colored glass. I think more bowyers should use it.Theres nothing like springing an extra few hundred bucks and ending up with an esoticly ugly bow becuase of streaked or cloudy glass. I wont buy another bow with clear glass. The last 2 new bows I bought with clear really looked bad. I know its not the bowyers fault but it doesnt sit well when you drop that kind of green. I would rather the bowyer would just say it out loud " I wont use clear". MY hats off to you fellows for talking about it.
SL

Rob DiStefano · « **Reply #43 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:21:00 AM »

it's all about personal aesthetics. i remember a time, way back when, where the vastly predominant glass colors were black, brown and green ... and white (for those paper poppin' archers).

wouldn't bother me at all if the only glass color available was black. to each their own.

wingnut · « **Reply #44 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:17:00 AM »

Heck clear glass wasn't available way back when Fred Bear was making bows. It is a fairly new thing as far as bows go.

We make about 50-50 black and clear. Haven't had any trouble with the clear as far as streaks in the glass. I guess we've been lucky.

I like the look of bamboo or veneers in the limbs but the all black has it's appeal too.

I know black is sure easier too work with.

Dang Rob didn't realize you were that old. LOL

Mike

Earl E. Nov...mber · « **Reply #45 on:** March 13, 2009, 08:08:00 AM »

Fred was using clear glass way back in 1960 on the Kodiak Specials.. He gave up to for basically the same reasons,, Came out with his Black Beauties as his upper end bows in 1967

Rob DiStefano · « **Reply #46 on:** March 13, 2009, 08:08:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by wingnut:
H...

Dang Rob didn't realize you were that old. LOL

Mike

my dad got me shooting the bow back in '55 when i wuz 10 ... naw, that ain't old, is it? :D

Charlie Lamb · « **Reply #47 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:15:00 AM »

I was gonna mention what Earl E. did. Too late!

Rob... dirt is older! Does that count?

Rob DiStefano · « **Reply #48 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:22:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
... Rob... dirt is older! Does that count?

you betcha! :D

Dick in Seattle · « **Reply #49 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:26:00 AM »

just tuned into this one.... Got a glass delivery yesterday... four bows worth of clear and one brown. Strictly a newbie amateur builder, but... Just for me the thoughts run thus... I build bows cuz I can build 'em with wood cuz I like working with wood. If I couldn't build with wood, I wouldn't build 'em. If I build with wood I wanna build with pretty wood. If I couldn't build with pretty wood, I wouldn't build 'em. If I'm gonna build with pretty wood, I wanna see it. If I couldn't see it, I wouldn't build 'em. So, clear glass.

Everybody told me I shouldn't build a laminated bow with oak, but I wanted to see oak, so I did... and Lordy, but I love that bow... so does everyone else who sees it. It's not the greatest, fastest or most powerful bow around, but heck, a bow's just a wooden spring to propel a stick. Long's it does that, it's good.

I've had to force myself to consider using bamboo. I know it's great, etc. but it ain't wood, it's grass and it ain't pretty. I have a few pieces coming and somewhere down the line I know I'll try it. That's why I got the brown glass. Hmmm.... somebody explain to me again why I'm gonna build a bow where I have to hide what I build it with...

Now, in the garage corner I have oak, two kinds of walnut, both straight and curly maple, couple huge planks of yew, osage orange, red elm, hickory... ain't none of that gonna get hidden behind opaque glass. If the clear glass has a flaw or two, well, after awhile, I won't notice it. Heck, I have a flaw or two myself, and after 52 years, my wife doesn't notice them either. (at least she says she doesn't... :^)

Just some thoughts from an OP

Bob Sarrels · « **Reply #50 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:42:00 AM »

I do wish they would come back with some of those old color. The 2 different green tones and the tan were nice. Dont know if I would use that old wine red color unless someone asked for it. Several years ago the skinny goin around was that Gordon was gonna make a few runs but it never happened. I remember when old man Gordon passed his son decided to cut cost on bow glass and it got terrible for awhile. I, and I think a few other bowyers went to Canadian glass for awhile until it got cleared up (and went up considerably in price). Had to completly change my thickness receipe for my poundage and then change back when Gordons cleared up. I still dont think it is a clear as it used to be. They say the best glass out there is made in Switzerland but they will not market it in the U.S. because we shoot animals with it. cheeese

Dick in Seattle · « **Reply #51 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:47:00 AM »

It'd be nice to see that old glass. I have several of the old longbows with the green glass, and one original that Howard made for himself with the green on the back and a nice yellow tan on the belly. Since my pattern is an attempt to re-create a vintage bow, that kind of glass would make sense for me.

Rob DiStefano · « **Reply #52 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:57:00 AM »

the limb glass color is all about aesthetics, for me. the only color i prefer is black - there's something really primitive, ominous, foreboding, intimidating, about a hunting longbow with black glass limbs and a really dark gnarly, grainy hardwood riser. yummy.

Bob Sarrels · « **Reply #53 on:** March 13, 2009, 12:03:00 PM »

I am with ya on that Rob. And by the way, you ain't old. I was 6 in 55 so I guess you got me beat out by a little.

katie · « **Reply #54 on:** March 13, 2009, 02:29:00 PM »

I love the look of a beautiful wood bow. I have a bow with myrtle wood veneers. It is the most beautiful bow I have ever seen(It hangs on my wall). Yet, I have 2 bows that have boo core with black glass. Both bows look super classy! And they shoot even better. I was blown away with the performace of boo and black glass. I would have trouble ordering anything but now.
Just my 2 cents-
Katie

ken denton · « **Reply #55 on:** March 13, 2009, 02:33:00 PM »

Do you think that brown glass is the same as black glass as far as producing faster fps than clear? I have one of my go to bows that has brown glass and I love it.It was made in 1999 and is the same speed as the same bow design made in 2009 with all things being equal! The color brown is really a good blend in color! Ken

Holm-Made · « **Reply #56 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:06:00 PM »

I think we are starting to give the impression that colored glass is far superior to clear glass. I think it may be a little more dense and a make a little more quicker shooting bow but not so much that you would notice. Clear glass is still a good product, it's just more of a pain to work with. The flaws with it are pretty much cosmetic.
I just don't want for anyone to be turned away from clear glass because it is a proven product. Sometimes these threads get rolling and the perspective of the topic gets "bent" a little. Chad

SL · « **Reply #57 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:07:00 PM »

I have a black glass with boo limbs Liberty with the osage riser and overlays. It looks sweet.
SL

Rob DiStefano · « **Reply #58 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:36:00 PM »

Good post, Chad - got to keep proper perspective about limb glass.

IMO, there's nothing that realistically different 'tween clear and colors that warrants saying one is technically that much better than the other.

It all drives back to aesthetics - pick clear or a color - based on how you want a bow to look, and for no other good reason. :cool:

flint kemper · « **Reply #59 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:06:00 PM »

I have a Miller string follow bow just about finished and it will have brown ski glass front and back. I will post pictures when it arrives. Flint


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