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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: T Folts on February 11, 2010, 02:26:00 PM

Title: Takedown form width ?
Post by: T Folts on February 11, 2010, 02:26:00 PM
I am planing to make a form for a three piece takedown longbow with 1 1/2" wide limbs. Should I make my form 1 3/4" wide or 2"

Thanks
Terry
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: Trux Turning on February 11, 2010, 02:49:00 PM
Make it the width of the glass and lams you are gluing up- 1 1/2" for 1 1/2, 1 3/4" for 1 3/4, or 2" for 2".
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: jess stuart on February 11, 2010, 03:03:00 PM
You want your form the same width as your lams. it will make things easier.  Trux Turning give sound advice.
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: T Folts on February 11, 2010, 03:10:00 PM
OK,  Do you make your lams wider than the actual width of the finished limb, cutting or grinding to the final demention?
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: jess stuart on February 11, 2010, 03:29:00 PM
The glass and lams. come in all three widths, most longbows are 1.5.  The width of the limb will be cut or ground to whatever your finished width will be.  My longbows are 1 1/4" wide at the fadeouts and straight taper to 1/2" at the nocks.  I think those dementions are fairly common.  Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: Trux Turning on February 11, 2010, 03:35:00 PM
You can do it that way but if I'm making a longbow I will use 1 1/2" lams and glass which gives me plenty of material to work with as I square up and profile the limbs.
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: Jason Kendall on February 11, 2010, 08:31:00 PM
Go 1.75 if you want the final width to be 1.5"

That gives you an 1/8th inch each way for slippage during glue up.
Title: Re: Takedown form width ?
Post by: T Folts on February 11, 2010, 08:48:00 PM
Thanks Jason