Marty, This is another great build along. I wish you were around with this when I tried to build a glass bow. Never got it strung!
 For some reason I can't see your latest pics.

Thats gonna make a fine lookin rig Marty , and I will bet a shooter.  Great combo of wood choices.  Back in 95 and 96 I was usin the rubber band technique (as a matter of fact my original press still has the holes for the pegs and I still build bows on that press). As I started building more and more bows I found the rubber band deal a little time comsuming and went to the firehose.  Mucho faster and supper even pressure.  Have you considered this?

I may make that move soon Bob.

Last night I worked a short time on the tips, and spent some time with Lynn and the kids.

This morning before church I hit it again.  I finished the tips and got the weight down by rounding the corners and trapping the belly towards the tips.  Right now it's gonna finish around 54@27 and be 64" NTN.



Notice how I relieve the bottom of the tips past the string groove.  This will enable the string to slide out of the groove when coming to full draw.



Here is a photo showing the trapping.  I cut at about a 45 degree angle.  This is the last 14" of the limbs.  It takes off 1-2 pounds and cuts weight on the tips.



Then I taped on a strike plate and took her to the range!  My favorite part.  She is a great shooter!



I'm getting to the finishing stage now and the photos will slow down until the finished bow shots.  I hope to spray the grain filling coats today.  Stay tuned!

Great work Marty. The bow is looking great

This one is taking a while to seal the pores on.  I forgot how porous zebra is!  I did take a break Sun evening to go to the woods though.     I should have some completed photos soon.

I finished RC's bow this morning!  She has an osage and zebra riser, bamboo cores, and red elm limbs.  She is 64" NTN and draws 54@27.  She is a great shooter, and doesn't look half bad either!

I think it will look even better with a little hog blood on it!

Apex when you laminate your riser do you use smooth-on and heat to put it together?

Yes Steve, I use smooth-on and bake in my house oven on warm, which is usually right at 180 deg.  If your riser wood is not dry, it will check!  I then bake the bow in my laminating oven at 160-170.  Lastly, my overlays get the heat lamp treatment at around 130-140.

Looks amazing Apex!...I really like how you work your tip overlays and your frosted finish is excellent.

Awesome, once again!! I'm sure Robert can't hardly wait.  

Apex what do you mean by check? I will be starting on a recurve Kit and I am earger for as much info as I can find. I like your work.

A check is a crack caused by improper drying of bow wood.  If it's not stabilized in it's moisture content, it will crack when subjected to heat while curing a laminated joint.  I have trouble down here in the southeast, because the relative humidity is high.  Even though it is as dry as it's gonna get around here, when subjected to 180 degrees for hours will check some woods.  I need to build a mini kiln to gradually dry my riser woods out more before laminating the risers.

Marty, as always you make an awesome looking looking bow. Great wood combination.          

Really good job.

Marty...you make some of the world's most beautiful bows ...but we need an UPDATE......

Tom i.

Nice build Apex,  I always enjoy them.  Red Elm is one of my favorite woods too.

pete

Really nice! Love the combo!

Well guys, my next project is my first hybrid.  It is taking some extra planning.  I almost got burned out with the last two, which I finished in two weeks.  My full time job, and getting in a hog hunt here and there has taken all my time.  I will post some on my new project this week.  

Thanks again for all the kind words.

Have you looked at KennyM's design? I'm building one soon. I really love the flow of the limbs.

Has anyone ever calculated the performance differences between a straight and a R/D longbow?