Hello. I was planning on trying my first composite bow, No specific type just something easy durable and good shooting. I am planning on using Gemsbok horn on the belly with a wood core and sinew backed. I have searched google and everywhere else to try to find how to make a composite bow with these materials and I could not find any detailed instructions. I will be gluing with titebond 3. What is the best wood for the core and how thick should it be, and must it follow grain? How should I make the horn flat and ready to glue onto the wood. should the core be one solid peace? How to make and or attach the tips, I have normally seen static recurves on composites so I will be going that route. Can I cut off the tips of the gemsbok horn and use them for the tips and should the core recurve into the tip like a working recurve then added the horn or more wood to stop it from bending?
Go into the Archives Mr. Sturdevant has a tutorial on flattening and gluing Gemsbok horn.
I just brought to the top one I did this year. All the information on where to look is in that thread.
thank you
I would suggest maple for the core and using hide glue as these were what was used traditionaly,The hide glue has better gapfilling quality and is also easy to work with.
ok I will try to find maple and if not I may get some mulberry off ****. For the core must the gran run stright?