I recently acquired a 1961 Herter birdseye maple 62" recurve that was in good shape overall but I discovered on first draw that the glued joint between the two halves of the riser was separating. There was an original leather wrap-style grip that had to come off to get at the joint to repair it, it didnt come off easy and I ended up stripping the bow down to bare wood and glass.
Now that I'm contemplating the new finish, I am looking at those tiny limb tips, the size of a small fingernail, with no overlays, and about 3/8ths of material , measured across the tip, holding the string, and I'm thinking that overlays of antler, bone, horn or phenolic would support those tips and I could use a newfangled string. But I have never worked with any of those materials except to saw and drill buttons and never shaped tips, much less overlays. The gluing I can handle but then I'd be in strange waters.
A) Am I making this project too complicated, i.e. should I leave those tips alone? and
B) Are tip overlays a poor choice for a beginner project?
Tip overlays are a pretty simple undertaking as long as the mating surfaces are well matched. Being that this bow has survived since 1961 without overlays, I see no reason, other than cosmetic, to add overlays.
I redid the overlays on an old York recurve with phenolic and it wasn't a big deal.
It's easier to do with 2 thin pieces than 1 thick piece. I used 2 1/16" black phenolic. I've since been shooting the bow with a FF string with no apparent ill effects.
I do agree with Pat though ... In general ... If it ain't broke don't fix it.
thin phenolic is the way to go.
go for it, not necessary, as Pat says, but a cool project to do- makes the bow "yours" and before you know it the virus will have taken a-hold, and youll be building bows :D
QuoteOriginally posted by fujimo:
go for it, not necessary, as Pat says, but a cool project to do- makes the bow "yours" and before you know it the virus will have taken a-hold, and youll be building bows :D
Lol you're not supposed to tell him he's going to be addicted after one try!
hi, my names wayne ... and i am a bowaholic...
That's the first step Wayne. Except in this case is not a problem ;)
:D
I ordered a phenolic tip overlay set from 3Rivers, so I guess I'm not going to leave well enough alone.