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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: scottm on March 20, 2012, 09:01:00 PM

Title: Form Design?
Post by: scottm on March 20, 2012, 09:01:00 PM
Am I understanding this right? When you design a laminated bow form you need to allow for some "spring back" of the limbs when the bow is removed from the form? If so how much? Does it depend on the design of the bow? Thanks Scott
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: kennym on March 20, 2012, 09:20:00 PM
On my d/r form, about 1/8 to 1/4 right off. You are bending wood ,it tries to bend back , the glass and glue lines try to keep it from doing so.

Then if you leave it strung all the time like I do, prob 3/8" after while.

So, if you make it 3/8"  more to the target side with tips, you should be close.

Yer mileage may vary!  :D
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: scottm on March 20, 2012, 09:31:00 PM
Thanks so much Kenny!
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: pipedream on March 21, 2012, 10:39:00 AM
So on a straight long bow will you end up with a little string follow?
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: Canadabowyer on March 21, 2012, 10:57:00 AM
My experience is the same as Kennys. Yes, on a dead straight form you will end up with a very slight string follow, makes a very sweet shooting straight longbow. Bob
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: pipedream on March 21, 2012, 12:13:00 PM
Sweet, that is what I was hoping to hear.
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: monterey on March 21, 2012, 12:39:00 PM
Both of my straight flat bows (66" and 68") have developed about 1/4 to 3/8 inch string follow.  Like Canadabowyer says, they are sweet shooters.  I'll add that with heavy arrows they are very quiet.  Neither of mine have or need string silencers.  Not speed demons, just slilent killers!  :)
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: typical2 on March 21, 2012, 02:37:00 PM
Here is a longbow made on a straight form.  A little bit of string follow.

 (http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w364/typical2/2012-03-12_18-22-38_677-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: Jorgy on March 21, 2012, 04:26:00 PM
Yep Kenny's got it,that's what I ment when we talked Scott.If I built the same form for the bow I sent you I would set the limbs toward the target about one inch.
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: Jorgy on March 21, 2012, 04:29:00 PM
Or I would make the limb radius slightly tighter,38" as opposed to 40".
Title: Re: Form Design?
Post by: scottm on March 22, 2012, 07:24:00 AM
Thank again for the replies fellas. Jorgy,Between the conversation we had,and some things Kenny had posted ,it got me thinking,"is there a general amount of limb set that llaminated bows normaly take after coming out of the form".You guy's answered that for me.Thanks so much.Scott