1,632 1/8" holes later I could use some input....

[Kopper1013]

Hey guys, a little while ago I had a post about getting your ideas out of you head. A few of you mentioned using uni weft to lay out and trace so I made this peg board. It's 4'x1' the squares are on 1/2" centers and each corner of square is an 1/8" hole I'm using 1/8" tig filler rod as my pegs. My plan is to trace out my outline then I thought I'd use plexie glass to trace and cut out for template. Anyone use plexie glass as a template for a router before? Well here's 4 profiles I've come up with and wonder which you guys think will be the most successful bow? The one I end up building will lay up like this

.04 glass
.03 parallel lam
.09 w/ .002 tapper
.07 parallel
.09 w/ .002 tapper
.03 parallel
.05 glass

Total stack .400
Total tapper .004
Thinking of tip wedges and a power lam to.
Also note I'm trying to workin a forward riser

A:

B:

C:

D:

[jsweka]

 

They don't look much different to me.  Plus other things such as how the with of the limbs taper will have a big effect too.  What do you consider "successful"?

[Kopper1013]

Success to me would be a bow to take on my first elk hunt in September, I don't have a ton of money to probably build another before then. But something stable that shoots an arrow somewhat hard. I want the forward rise cause I've read a lot lately about them being more forgiving for the average shooter.
I'm planing on being 64" NTN 1-1/2" at fades and either a 1/2" or 3/8" at nocks and cut an 1/8" past center
Right now I like C and D.

[razorback]

I like B the best, because it has the smoothest curve to my eye. Don't like the sharp curve at the handle of A or the long flat areas, midlife of C and D. However I know nothing about building glass bows. Make sure you keep us posted.

[fujimo]

i know you want to build your own bow and hunt with it, but if you are only gonna have one shot at it, why not go with a recognized design, and a stack that will put you on the money first time- just seems like when you are developing a bow design, it can take a lot of time and money. with so many superb bowyers on this site- i am sure there is someone who could give you a proven design and stack recipe- just my thoughts  

[talkingcabbage]

x2 on fujimo.  Maybe start with a Bingham's design, or one of Kenny's?  I think one of those would be a lot simpler and cheaper to build and know that you have a good shooter when you're done.

[fujimo]

then, as you get extra time and funds, work on the bow in your heart- no pressure...good luck mate whichever way you go
cheers

[KenH]

I agree with razorback, profile B is the best.

The "build a proven design" boys have a lot of good points.   But I agree doing your own thing has a lot of appeal -- it's what I do.

What draw weight are you looking for?  I always build a cheap prototype, then use the Lam Stack Calculator to zero in on the weight I really want.
You could make a cheap prototype for maybe $40, without all the tapered stuff.  Just use a tablesaw to cut two 1/8" slices of 1.5" wide pine for lams to keep the glass apart, another piece of 1.5" pine for the riser, and get two $9 .030 black glass lams from Binghams.  Glue that up and taper out to the nocks.  Then put a bastard string on and get an accurate draw weight.  From there use the Lam Stack Calculator to derive a new total stack.  Decide how you want to divvy the new stack up - tapers, parallels, glass, and build the finished bow.

[fujimo]

that is sound advice- from ken!
he builds some funky bows!

[Kopper1013]

Thanks guys!! I agree with everything you all have said and while it might be wise to take the path of more guaranteed positive results, I look at it as, I always have other bows of it fails just wanted to try my own thing if it works great if not oh we'll try again when the funds are there hahaha I know a little crazy.

Have any of you tried plexie glass as a router template?

[Kopper1013]

Or how bout this one rise would end in the flats power lam would continue just into the beginning curve of the limb...

[monterey]

X3 on what fujimo said!

[mwosborn]

If you have your heart set on your own design - I agree that "B" looks the best.

[fujimo]

kudos man!! thats a lot of work for the peg board- good job!