Bow building

[Boutdoors]

Hi all,
Have been bowhunting off and on for over 30 years and am interested in building a bow. My question. Which method is better for building your bow the heat box or the strip heater? Which method is better and why?  
Thanks,
Robert

[Roy from Pa]

The box, better heat and you can use the box for other bow projects

[Mike Most]

I have used the bingham box plan, and havent looked back.....

[Bob Sarrels]

If you are gonna build a few bows the box.  If you are gonna build 5 a week the strips.  Depends on where you want to go.

[2treks]

Hows come the box heat is better Roy?
The box will need less cash up front. The cure time will be around 6 hours.
Strips will get you done in 1/4 of that. maybe less.
Also with the strips you can set your form up and leave it there. Forms are heavy and you will most often need to pick them up and stick them into a box.
You will cry the first time you cut your strips in half and you will cuss like a drunken sailor the 2nd time.
I am still using my first set of strips.almost 10yrs old now
I also have a new supplier that is making strips for me that are about half again as thick as the old ones. They are working out real nice for me and a few other bowyers
You will always use a heat box for many other tasks like drying wood or gluing on overlays.
Thats my thoughts anyhow.
CTT

[Roy from Pa]

Cause you can use the box for drying, heating , whatever ya want. All ya can use strips for is limbs... Chuck if ya wanna use them dumb strips then have at it son...  

[2treks]

OK. Ya talked me into it.

The box is more virsatile, BUT
I still don't know why the HEAT is better.

 

[Roy from Pa]

Ok smarty pants:)

[Canadabowyer]

I have both and not having to lift that heavy loaded form into the oven is worth the price of the strips not to mention the time savings.The oven is very useful for drying the finish on bows and cureing risers that I have glued up.Also I am able to use MDF as forms with the strips without the forms warping in the oven and MDF is much easier to rout and shape than plywood when building a new form. So its easy---- get both.  

[2treks]

RIGHT ON Robert! Just the way I roll.
Take that Roy,

[Roy from Pa]

Ya big meanie...............

[2treks]

I am sorry buddy.
Hey! That yew bow looks really nice man.    


It is true though, Strips can make some glass bows quick and easier(no lifting) but a heat box is good for lots of things.
I have both.
CTT

[Roy from Pa]

I wouldn't know about strips, I never made a glass bow.

[Cataska Mtn]

I've never made a glass bow either... WHAT are Strips?


Robert

[Roy from Pa]

They are heater strips about as wide and as long as a bow limb, you affix them to glass bow limbs at glue up to cure the glue quicker.