In an earlier thread it was recommended I find some good belly wood to go with the Bamboo back and Red Elm core I have. This weekend I found a nice flat sawn hickory board at the hardwood store. So I am considering making a BEH tri-lam. What do you guys think? Any thoughts on stack or length? It will be for my Son who is 6'1" and wants 50-55#. Oh, this will be our first tri-lam. Thanks.
It should work. What side unstrung profile?
Ballpark, for say a deflex/reflex longbow, I'd go 66" ntn. 1 1/4" wide. Bamboo 1/8" tapered to 1/16". Elm, .200 at the center tapered to .080 at the tips. Hickory, .200 parallel.
I need to ask him, but I was thinking a little deflex and a little reflex. I haven't built the form yet and have never built a tri-lam form. But am open to suggestions. Planning on using smooth-on or tb3. It's funny, I really want to help my son get his bow built but I originally bought this hickory to build a board bow. It would mmake a good one, but a goodtri-lam will be much better.
I like smooth on, but glue choice largely depends on how the gluing surfaces are prepped... or how they're prepped should depend on glue choice.
For a first one, I wouldn't get too crazy. 1 1/2" of deflex and 2 1/2" or 3" of reflex should result in a bow who's tips are about even either the front of the handle.
Have you backed bows with bamboo before?
Fully adjustable tri lam form for whatever deflex reflex you want. 1" oak board, 6" wide and 68" long. 1" steel angle iron bolted down both long sides. Center post 3 3/4" high, mid limb posts 2 3/4" high, and end posts 6" high, made from 2x4's.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/bow3a.png)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/bow1a.png)
Thanks guys, you provided exactly what I was hoping for. I have a plan, now if I can get some time off I will start making some progress. My guys needed a weekend off so the "B" team filled in (including me) but we managed to make 76K pounds of product in 2 days not bad for a fat middle aged man lol.
My only advice, go with the smooth on. I don't like that TBIII adds so much moisture on tri+ lam bows. For a simple backed bow it's ok, but every glue line just adds more water to the wood and I'm pretty sure it takes forever to dry back out.
I will, thanks.