Man o man, just took my first glass lam off it form the traveling caul did the trick on the profile. Man what a nice shape. Any way I cleaned her all up and it lo and behold I have an invasion of air bubbles. Ther seems to be a crease on the belly were it fades into the handle And a few spotted ones on the back... But the worst one is about 6 inches or so from one of the limb tips( I'll post pics later).
I can't express my disappointment. Is there any way to fix airbubbles?
Not sure what I did wrong. I had 30 or so c clmps spac evenly .... Ant thoughts
My sympathy... I had the same problem with a couple of early bows. They tended to be at the edges and I was able to grind them off as I shaped the bow. Don't know of any actual fix for the bubbles themselves.
Some thoughts..
I've been watching because of interest in the caul. I'm very suspicious of its ability to apply pressure evenly. Purely a gut reaction, no real experience with the concept. I put my confidence in a heavy metal bar, one piece full length and pre-bent to accommodate the riser. Not fool proof, still get the occasional tiny bubble, but seems to always be out at the edge. Had a couple on the bow I just finished yesterday, but again, they were ground away in the shaping.
My bubbles tended to be at the fades, where it's really hard to get even pressure. (Talking Hill styles) I don't use an absolutely traditional riser. I kind of redesigned it into a pattern with much gentler curves and I don't break the back glass for the layup. I use the full 6' piece, then grind the back riser flat off the finished blank.
I went to adding a 1 1/2" wood foot to each clamp; so that instead of a round pressure point, I had a square the width of the back brace strip.
I keep the wood warm in the oven at 90 degrees while laying up on the theory that it helps the glue to spread evenly.
Pre-warm the glue, see above.
A few tiny bubbles are annoying but survivable. Use judgement as to whether what you're looking at is going to cause weakness.
Scary thought for the day: with opaque glass, the bubbles can still be there, you just don't know it...
thanks for the response dick,
I used a wood foot as well on the clamps, i had a few extra pieces of ply wood left from when i built my oven so i cut them up in little squares....
I still plan on finishing it all the way, I would enhoy the practive on forming/finishing it.....
Due to aggrivation with the air bubbles I put the bow on the shelf for a little while and decided the other day to take it down and try to fix it....
Heres how if turned out
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1312137777.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1312137777.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1312137816.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1312137816.JPG)
I ended up grinding the glass off and starting over. She shoots really nice, It ended up 49#@28"
I didnt have anyone to take some pics of me at full draw so as soon as my camara woman (daughter) gets home ill take some more pics....
The bow consistes of decorative back and belly lams (walnut, cherry and Hickory) The core has 2 boo tapers and a hickory parrall all capped with glass.....
Not purfect but I am sure proud of it.
By golly you should be proud if you ground the glass off!!
But seeing the veneers which were a lot of work in themselves I understand why!
Darn nice job Bro!!
Now I like that bow, and I don't usually comment on glass bows...
PRETTY!
That is a very good looking bow.
Wow! Do you have any pictures of the veneers showing the work you did on them? Outstanding.
Heres a close up of the lams and the some left over of the lam stock I made
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1312208888.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1312208888.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1312209045.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1312209045.JPG)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1312209131.JPG) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1312209131.JPG)
That is just awsum!Nice work!
Thanks for the kind words and compliments...
Trying to make my signature, something I can put on all my bows, plus I enjoy the wood work
Im in the process of another one, Only thing holding me back is time
Thanks agian guys!!!
Dang nice work!!! Takes skill and patience to do that.
Patience may be a virtue, but you have more than your share! Those lams are awesome!