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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Shore08 on August 21, 2009, 03:27:00 PM

Title: Question about tapering
Post by: Shore08 on August 21, 2009, 03:27:00 PM
Hey folks, I have a quick question for you about tapering in a laminate bow.

I see where some of the vendors sell the wood and fiberglass laminates 'pre-tapered'. I am planning to order a blueprint from binghams, but in the meantime my curiosity is getting the better of me. Are we talking about tapered on the edges or the belly/back side? In other words, when the laminates get cut out, are they a universal thickness from one end to the other, with the only difference being the height (picture it as it is coming off the bandsaw).

I understand that the bow will narrow as it runs from the fades towards the nocks, but I always assumed that was due to the riser portion adding some thickness.

I hope I'm asking this in a way that makes sense. Thanks!
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: rbbhunt on August 21, 2009, 03:51:00 PM
The taper in laminations is the thickness.
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: Shore08 on August 21, 2009, 05:33:00 PM
Ok, thanks!
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: kennym on August 21, 2009, 06:16:00 PM
Yep, like a .100 butt thickness taper will measure .028 on the thin end in a .002 per inch taper.

A .100 taper with .001 will measure .064 on the thin end.

Clear as mud? LOL
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: Shore08 on August 21, 2009, 07:22:00 PM
Haha, just about that clear Kenny.

I'm still trying to convert all those decimals into usable numbers in my head    :knothead:  I was looking at my recurve and trying to decide if I was really seeing a difference or if my eyes were deceiving me    :banghead:  

But hey, we all have to learn somewhere    :archer:  

So when you cut the laminates out, do you have a special guide you use to get the angled cut or do you sand it down to make it match? My guess is a third option that I don't know about (and if I shouldn't be asking, feel free to say so, I don't want to endanger anyone's trade secrets!)  :D

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: kennym on August 21, 2009, 07:40:00 PM
I have  .0005,.001,.002, sleds to run thru the bandsaw with the lams depending on taper wanted. If you cut parallels and sand to taper,you lose the bookmatch effect.
Title: Re: Question about tapering
Post by: Shore08 on August 21, 2009, 07:56:00 PM
Ahhh, ok. That makes sense. Thanks man!