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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: tawmio on October 26, 2010, 11:22:00 PM

Title: Foam Core Material
Post by: tawmio on October 26, 2010, 11:22:00 PM
where can one get ahold of foam core material?
-Tommy
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Robertfishes on October 27, 2010, 12:23:00 PM
old master crafters, they dont have a web site..you will have to call them..
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: tawmio on October 27, 2010, 07:27:00 PM
I will give that a try.
-Tommy
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Andy Cooper on October 29, 2010, 03:53:00 PM
How is this stuff supplied...strips, tapers, planks?
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: hova on October 29, 2010, 04:37:00 PM
what sort of foam core are you looking for? i doubt its what i know of , but i used to take the paper off the stuff at walmart. used it for lots of things fiberglassing , so it might be the same stuff , or are you looking for foam board insulation?
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Andy Cooper on October 29, 2010, 05:29:00 PM
Some of the bowyers are making limbs with foam cores. I have no idea what kind of foam it is, but I seriously doubt it is anything like styrofoam or insulation.
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Sixby on October 29, 2010, 06:57:00 PM
The foam I use has glass microspheres in it. Its called syntatic foam. I have not used it in recurves because its kind of brittle and my recurves have a really tight radius. However it sure works great in longbow limbs. God bless you all and have a great day. Steve
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: BigJim on October 30, 2010, 07:05:00 AM
Dale Stahl is carying it. He has good prices and quality materials.
Pm me for info.
thanks,bigjim
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Andy Cooper on October 30, 2010, 05:37:00 PM
What's the difference between the carbon foam core material and the carbon strips?
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Sixby on November 02, 2010, 03:42:00 PM
Andy the carbon foam is made up of micropspheres in a matrix. the microspheres are carbon. Solid carbon is layered in a linial direction Unicarbon. or layered fibers in a diagonal every layer. The diagonal can be from 45 degrees to 90 degrees. It is useful in adding horizontal stability. The differences are strength and weight. The carbon foam is lighter in weight than the unicarbon or the diagonal carbon.
It is used in cores. the layered in backs.God Bless and hope this helps. Steve
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Andy Cooper on November 03, 2010, 10:35:00 AM
Thanks, Steve.  I suspected that to be the case, but couldn't find much info about either...without digging through a bunch of irrelevant technotalk.
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: Lee Robinson . on November 03, 2010, 10:07:00 PM
I have heard BOTH that the stuff is VERY brittle, and I also know of archers that have had multiple bows fail with this stuff in their limbs. It may be great for a while, but I seriously have my doubts with the long term durability of this product.
Title: Re: Foam Core Material
Post by: tawmio on November 05, 2010, 12:08:00 PM
I was thinking to try building a bow with it but the more i read about foam core limbs/bows i dont think ill be trying it in the near future, im having too great reslts with maple, and i have lots of it in my shop leftover from projects.
I also came accross some reading material saying the foam core limbs dont last ad long.