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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: TroyH on May 19, 2010, 05:51:00 PM

Title: What to do - osage D bow help
Post by: TroyH on May 19, 2010, 05:51:00 PM
Ok, here is what happened.  I was working on a stave that didn't have adequate handle material, so I glued on some handle wood with epoxy.  I also used the same epoxy for the tip overlays, and one popped off, so I went back to superglue.  Anyway, while tillering, the handle popped off also, so now I have a D bow in the works.  Never done a D bow, so once I get it tillered and all, what do you recommend to give it some mass in the handle area?
Title: Re: What to do - osage D bow help
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 19, 2010, 06:25:00 PM
You can take some thick leather like harness leather about 1/4" thick and layer it on the belly/handle area. Glue it then you can taper the ends to a comfortable shape then wrap with thin leather for the handle. It will flex with the bow
Title: Re: What to do - osage D bow help
Post by: limbcracker on May 19, 2010, 11:48:00 PM
YOu will probably need more stiffness in the handle if you want to get your draw weight over 45 or 50lbs with stave 3/4" or thinner. I would recommend re sanding the flat for the handle with a flat board wrapped in sanding paper, or a flat belt sander, and flat sand the add on board too, then glue with a quality wood glue, like titebond, or a long cure epoxy and let cure 24 hrs. I have had good luck with gorilla glue super glue for tips, but I wouldn't use it to laminate the handle.  Good Luck.
Title: Re: What to do - osage D bow help
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 20, 2010, 09:15:00 AM
If you have a handle popping problem you have too much flexing in the fades. You can get a handle to stick by gluing on several thin strips to build up the handle area.

The thin strips will flex more than on solid piece and probably stay on. Use a glue like Urac or TB3

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/bondofixhandle.jpg)