TEST BOWS (pics p5) DATA P6 (NEW TEST P11 )

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

I have never used balsa on a bow but I have made numerous high performance model aircraft wings using a foam core and a balsa skin.  I am always amazed at how tough the combination is.  When I think of balsa between glass smothered with smooth on my gut says "Interesting,  Very interesting!"

pete

[Jesse Peltan]

I think the next bow should be balsa.

[Apex Predator]

I think the sheer strength of balsa would be a problem.

[snag]

I'm thinking about making another recurve with black walnut as a core wood. Any experience or ideas on that....how about just regular walnut???

[Dmaxshawn]

Kenny I'd like to see the difference between the maple and action boo.  I'm going to be ordering some more pretty soon. Got one left to build but kind a waiting to see where this thread goes.  

Shawn

[Robertfishes]

how about actionwood? I have a friend that works for a well known bow company that says their actionBOO bows are only 3-4 feet faster than their actionwood bows. So I guess some of the natural tapers/paralells like Red Elm or Maple can have a better cast than the engineered tapers. I also assume actionwood and actionboo would be more "consistant",stable and predictable than regular edge grain tapers when trying to meet a certain weight. Thanks to KennyM for taking on this project

[kennym]

OK, by my count,now it is maple next,then walnut,then red elm.....

[kennym]

Here is where we are,will glue up the next tomorrow I hope...  Kinda plain so far!






The inspector had a run in with a bee!!Had to go to the doc,her nose holes were swellin shut!!

[Dmaxshawn]

Looks good and please make sure the inspector gets some TLC and some ice cream.

Shawn

[bretto]

My Sister does the same thing when She gets stung.

I'm Watching this closely Kenny. Going to dive in head first before long. I guess I'll learn like everyone else. JUST DO IT.

Hope to see You at Mo-jam. Are You bringing veneers with You this year?

[kennym]

I can bring some Brett,what did you want? I will just make sure to bring them!

[bretto]

How about some of that great looking Cedar

[kennym]

Brett, give me width and thickness and I'll have em there!

On the testing, the a-boo lam  deflected 2- 7/16" the maple lam deflected 2" but both bows came out identical weight.  ???  The limb width is very close within a few thousandths, I figured the maple would make a couple more #s.  ??? Got to check the actual limb thickness to make sure of it.  Should have weighed the lams before gluing!

The deflection was measured by clamping the .050 parallel lam to the bench with 8" hanging over the end,measuring th the floor,then hanging a spring clamp on the end and remeasuring.

[Dmaxshawn]

Kenny I'm just sitting back watching this one.  Man I tell ya the Kingwood with a swoop looks pretty darn good.  

Shawn

[kennym]

OK guys,here is preliminary testing on first 2 bows.

Both 64" d/r longbows,zebra riser,.040" black glass back and belly.

One with all a-boo core,one with all maple core.

.355" total stack with .003" total taper

18" riser  (zebra with curved curly hickory accent sandwiched by 2 pcs of black glass)

By my scale,

a-boo made 49.5#

maple made 50#

Shot both bows with a measured draw of 28" and a sloppy split finger release.

608 grn arrow

a-boo core 152 fps
maple      152 fps


461 grn arrow

a-boo      174 fps

maple      174 fps


Shot thru a Pro-Chrony digital with a lite kit for indoors.

I thought the maple would make more #s per thickness and the aboo would be faster per # of bow.

I am learning......

My pro shop buddy has a Hooter Shooter he said I can use for more exact data. I think I'll take them both to the same exact weight if I can before I go there.

Thanks for being patient, got lots going on!!  

[TNstickn]

[razorsharptokill]

Good work Kenny! That's a lot of work in the name of science.

[Canadabowyer]

Way to go Kenny, that is very interesting. I would have guessed the maple to be a little faster.  Bob

[BenBow]

Kenny thank you for doing a major task and sharing your results.

[tommy6]

Have you guys read any of Traditional Bowyer
Bow Building Book By Jack Harrison. It is a huge book! Anyway he states that actionboo only shows improved stats over hardwoods at bow lengths of 66" and up (NTN).
He has some interesting ideas and the most comprehensive step by step instructions for building a bow with a take down sleeve.
Some of the interesting ideas include:
Using only 1 lam
Gluing the riser to the belly glass not to lam
Trapezoidal sides
where to place carbon fiber.
Interesting read, might have some applications to this test.