Black Glass

[Holm-Made]

What is ski glass?

[flint kemper]

Chad, it is a type of glass used in making skis. It has a cross weave layer in it for torsional stability. Flint

[SERGIO VENNERI]

I'm like Henry Ford . build it any color you want as long as it's Black!! LOL.

[Dick in Seattle]

so, ok, what's a source for ski glass?

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:

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:  

I was thinking the same thing.

I have seen some bows that just get too busy with all kinds of woods put together, they look a little goddy (spelling) to me.  I think black glass would have been just the ticket to mello out those bows and bring out the black in the exotic woods.

But then again some bows with black glass look too plain....

It is all in how a person looks at it, and how all the woods tie together as far as asthetics go...... well for me anyway.

My father has some Bob Lee bows with plain color risers and black glass that are simply beautiful!!

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

I like clear, I love black, but I am most partial to brown and orange.

[Charlie Lamb]

All of my personal recurves and a few I've made for others have black or brown back and clear on the belly. Best of both.

I do scratch my head a little when I see discussions about what is trad and  know guys who have clear glass and fancy woods are in it.

Except for that short venture of Fred Bear's, the clear glass thing doesn't go back that far in our history.
 

[Tom Anderson]

ttt for some renewed interest in black glass

[MSwickard]

Back in April I received my 60" McCullough Griffin 53#@28.  I had it made with black glass back and brown glass belly.  Kingwood riser w/ purpleheart I-Beam w/ overlays.

Tried to give it that "Old School" look of the 50's Kodiak's with the two different colored glasses on the bow.

Works for me...black back can be used in a blind and both black and brown blend well in the woods.

 
 
 
 
 

[David Mitchell]

I love colored glass--have black, gray, brown, and a Hill built when John Schulz was making them that has black glass on the back and white on the belly.
 

 

 

[tippit]

I like black glass cause it's easier to spray paint...just need one color       Doc

Morrison Cheyenne

   

[fatman]

....and black glass is the perfect background for snakeskins

 

[Ben Maher]

Dave ... that is a dandy ! I think Hills style bows rock with Black glass !They just look that bit more deadly ...

[brinkwolf]

Originally posted by Irish Archer:
I guess I'm odd man out here. I hate black glass. But for some reason, I'm cool with brown or gray, and you gotta' love clear glass over some nice veeners. I'm kinda' weird I guess.

I'm with you on this one. I just luv clear glass over exotic wood. But as for performance I haven't yet seen or read any were black glass was better.

[HATCHCHASER]

I have talked with 5 or 6 reputable bowyers that say black glass gives a little more performance.  Maybe 2 fps and a little more stable.  They claim it is stiffer. I know the best shooting bows I have had have had black glass or carbon.  Black glass back and clear glass belly is a good option.

[Apex Predator]

I'm liking black more and more lately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would be interested to see some testing results to check on the speeds to see if it is the glass making the bow faster or the limb lamb's.  Not that I doubt that the colored glass could be faster, just that there are a lot of factors between two bows made to the same specs that can account for the difference in speed.  

If it is faster, it would definately be a less expensive choice than purchasing carbon foam limbs to get a faster bow.  

When I spend a large sum of cash on a custom bow, I want her to be the like the girl everyone wants to see and hold.  Custom bows with clear glass just simply make me smile.  Dick from Seattle traded me on a sweet D shape longbow with black glass.  She is a looker too.

[ChuckC]

I paint my hunting bows anyway.  Black, green white   who cares, you won't see it when I am ready to hunt.
ChuckC

[Hatrick]

Great combination Marty! And a nice job on that connection hinge. That combo reminds me of the brazilian rosewood and black glass Howatts.

[jcar315]

Very interesting thread. I guess I would have to consider myself a colored glass man and not a clear glass over wood guy....but I never really gave it much thought.

I do really like the vintage Bear bows I have with all sorts of colored glass. They are my favorites.