red oak take down...experiment

[Rich Evans]

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2219.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2221.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2222.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2224.jpg

this is a red oak  board bow take down made with a fiberglass sleeve. this was an experiment that i have been wanting to try for a long time. the bow is backed with silk also.

[broketooth]

that looks pretty cool, ive been wanting to try that for some time. but i have yet to make a shootable bow yet

[Rich Evans]

this bow turned out around 50# @ 28", but will lose a bit when i final sand it. i got a bit of misalignment, which i believe is because i stood the bow up in the corner before it was completely cured. tip...leave it in the horizontal and clamped in aligment overnight. i still have to shape the tips and add overlays, and shape the handle to a final shape on the outside. it is a bit larger than i wanted so next time, i will make the wood a bit smaller. there is a small creeking sound which is the wood moving just a tad at the beginning of the draw. i think some was will make this go away. i don't feel any movement or bending...fiberglass is way strong.

[George Tsoukalas]

Nice job! Jawge

[DVSHUNTER]

nice experiment. I want to do something like that with a self bow.

[Osagetree]

I wonder if you could add a biscut or dowel to add alignment at the joint & reduce movement more so?

I don't know why but that set up makes me go  

[Rich Evans]

well guys the bow came apart. it separated in the red oak. the fiberglass did not break at all. i think if you look at the angle that i cut the handle, it it too shallow and long, i think it needs to be a steeper shorter cut. the red oak separated like a stack of paper. sorry i didn't take any pics, i wan't happy. i may try another one soon

on the positive side, the upper limb slipped in nice and easy and locked solid until it separated.  i tried it on a board bow so I wasn't out the money of a good hickory or osage stave.