Started on my first Bow (actually #2)

[Kamn]

Don't take your hat off just yet

Last night got to fixing the issues I had during the lay up, finding the centre, shaping the tips, and then I found a problem that makes this bow a non shooter and I will be stopping the project. I will for my own purposes continue to cut in the shelf and shape the riser because I need to go through the work of doing it and learning it through my hands.





And the problem





There is no way Im ever stringing this to get a black eye or worse.....just don't feel like having it blow apart on me knowing that it will.
I do like the shape and form of the bow as well as the Padauk red in the riser to the maple lams and black glass........so the next bow will be in the works (actually have the materials for the limbs but need material for riser), and a new form will be made with firehose pressure setup.
Thats it gents, but I will be back with the next one in a few weeks and start this all over again because I want a bow of my own I can hunt with.......and this work is satisfying

[Carpdaddy]

Wow Kamn; I hate that for you, but you will overcome and learn from it. I have a pile of bows in hiding out in my garage that taught me some valuable lessons! I do recommend that you practice shaping the riser just for the experience.

[Kamn]

I hoped that I would be able to shoot it but I also was well aware that something like this could happen so I wasnt too bummed about it, its all a lesson that needs to be learned just like life...mistakes are made, we learn and go forward with new knowledge and information. Its all part of the process
This weekend my wife and I will be travelling to the other side of Toronto to see her cousin and will be stopping in to a wood supplier ( a lot of guitar stuff) to pick up some new wood for the riser

[Kamn]

To be honest, Im just grateful that I have the opportunity and ability to be able to do this kind of project......many people don't for whatever reason/s

[Shadowhntr]

So what was the mistake and how do you prevent it?

[Carpdaddy]

I was probably five or more bows in before being where you are now, I can tell you have done your homework first. I started with selfbows and made the switch having researched very little, it cost me but I learned from each one. Recurves are a little more tricky than longbows with the steep turns. I have a recurve form around here somewhere, I also used the air hose method with it. I could tell some good stories about my experiences. Like having everything ready and my air compressor not working, had to throw it all in the truck and go to a gas station to air the hose up. Then the time my form broke, oh my!

[Kamn]

The first mistake was not having guides down the sides of the form to keep all the layers lined up properly, the second was my rubber bands were insufficient in strength and durability. If I were to do another form of this nature I would use a larger one made from laminated plywood to give it more back bone and have longer dowels going through it so I could use heavier rubber bands and more of them. The other thing I found with this form was that the spine of it was not thick enough because after i removed the bow from it, I noticed it had the slightest twist and I'm suspecting it was due to the mix of heat, the rubber bands pulling on it and the it was too thin in its profile down the centre area.
as seen below


Its side profile is too thin throughout the limb area, would need to be made from 1-3/4" x 12" = more stability

All has been noted
Next form is a 2 piece with fire hose for pressure
I will try another band style down the road though

[Kamn]

Well I got my hands on some 1-1/2" fire hose last night....25 feet for free



Next up is plywood for a new form and weld up some hold down brackets with bolts and nuts to retain the upper and lower part of the form

[Carpdaddy]

Great deal there Kamn, I think that is .25 per inch at Big Jims! Now you just need the plugs and hardware. He has that stuff also but you can probably find it local.

[Kamn]

I have a lathe/mill combo and I think I have some aluminum pipe or round stock I could turn myself the plugs and add a nipple on one end as well as have a small psi gauge on the end plug.
If I don't have it in aluminum, I have steel stock I could use