What wood combinations would be good for a first laminated bow and what costs am I looking at for the materials to build one assuming I have all the tools and a form?
Depends, if you want fancey veneers and clear glass or no veneers and colored glass.. I have only used veneers and clear glass myself. I figure on spending between 150 and $200 dollars on each bow by the time it's finished and strung. I bought some wood by the board and saved money..I once bought 2 cocobolo boards that teared me up when I started counting out the cash...those boards are still in my shop,I will get to them one day...
kennyM could set you right up with knowledge and all the materials needed.
www.kennyscustomarchery.com (http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com)
I have only used red elm or action boo for tapers. For risers I have used bubinga, shedua, walnut with glass reinforcement, diamondwood, actionwood, zebrawood with glass, morado..for veneers what evers pretty..I have bought a lot of supplies from kennym. pictured is a bow I made using bubinga for the riser and veneers, actionboo for the tapers. (http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/Robertfishes/bubingaaug2011.jpg)
This is a pic of the first laminated bow I made hanging in my shop, I had just spray finshed it..I used cocobolo veneers, action boo tapers and I used cocobolo colored dymondwood for the riser..I reshaped the grip about 2 years after building it.. I have used dymondwood for risers 6 times, it's pretty hard and is harder for me to sand than actionwood,zebrawood or bubinga. actionwood,walnut and zebra wood were much eaiser to shape and finish sand (http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/Robertfishes/07081049.jpg)