I've never used or wanted to use carbon fiber in a bow because I've never needed it to build a bow. What is carbon fiber used for in a glass bow? I'd imagine limb stability but that's just a guess.

As far as I know, carbon fiber is used between layers of wood laminate, not on an exterior surface.

Quote from: KenH on September 24, 2019, 10:54:20 PM
As far as I know, carbon fiber is used between layers of wood laminate, not on an exterior surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_eCzhrRvdQ
https://www.3riversarchery.com/tomahawk-bows-ss-supreme-longbow.html
http://www.tenbrookarchery.com/phenoliccarbon-fiber.html

A quick google search turned these up.

So I think you should glue the tri-lam up with the carbon fiber ribbon backing and post some pictures along the way.
I think it's a good idea.
All talk is not going to solve this thread.

In general glass bow building what is carbon used for? What is it's purpose? I'm curious so that's why I'm asking.

Quote from: Pat B on September 25, 2019, 10:30:59 AM
In general glass bow building what is carbon used for? What is it's purpose? I'm curious so that's why I'm asking.

CF has a lot of inherent features that make it an awesome material to use in many applications. It's extremely lightweight and is rigid in multiple directions. In bow building it would potentially be used to reduce weight. Increase torsional stiffness, and decrease bulk.
In reality the benefits are probably too small to justify the expense of messing with it on any scale.
I simply like how it looks and it will be mostly window dressing. Because...? Why not? It's an experiment and a "toy" for me.

Like Fiber-glass, Carbon fiber is used as a back or interior lam. Typically it's under clear fiberglass, but not always. It's not as elastic as glass-fiber and like Kevlar fiber, it's more for rigid applications. For a linear application, like a bow back, unidirectional fibers are more efficient than the woven fabric, but don't look nearly as cool. I know unidirectional carbon fiber laminates are made, don't know if anybody makes one with a finished side that would be suitable for the back of a bow. The whole idea behind using carbon is that it's has a better strength to weight ratio than glass, so you can make a lighter bow. Although if you look at advertising, nobody is bragging about the weight of their carbon bows. Like Bully said, it's bling.

Thanks for the info, guys.   

Quote from: Pat B on September 24, 2019, 01:11:56 PM
If a hickory backing blows up it is bad hickory.

Yaaabuttt if the belly is compromised, like bad grain etc.... the backing will blow.

The carbon fiber showed up last night.  I've decided that I will put it under a layer of clear glass.  I'll order that today or Monday. 
I'm going to grab the hickory this morning.  I will also look to build the form this weekend but no promises.  I'm still not 100% on how I want my form to be; IE: do I want to do a rubber band wrap or a bondage wrap (rope and wedges).  Once I figure that out, I'll get her going. 

Here is another option for pressing. Very efficient, not very popular.
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Guess it's ok...

Quote from: Flem on September 26, 2019, 11:25:43 AM
Here is another option for pressing. Very efficient, not very popular.

Are you able to put any R/D into the bow if you bag it?

"This pic is from a thread back in March. Thats 4-3/16" Maple slats(3/4" total) pulled with 12Hg vacuum, pumps will pull 29Hg at sea level. I didn't get the full bend at the tips because I let the bag pinch together before it could suck onto the form. This was using cheap 4mil LDPE plastic."
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