Inner tube type and size?

[razorsharptokill]

I have about 10 9" x 10" trailer tire inner tubes in my shop that are going in the trash. Will these work for clamping? What width do I cut them?

[Apex Predator]

I like them about 3-4' long and one inch wide.  You could probably spiral cut some longer strips from what you have.  I normally get used bicycle tube for free at the local bike shop.

[razorsharptokill]

So you cut them lengthwise? Do you tie them to a peg then zigzag them back and forth on the form?

I've never made a rubber band form.

[Pat B]

You can do it that way or wrap the glue up with the bands and then clamp it to the form. The glue up will flex enough to load it on the form.

[OkKeith]

Hey Jim,

I have done it both ways. Cutting them around the diameter to make long strips and cutting from the inside to the outside to make 1 or 2 inch wide "rubber bands".

My forms have a row of dowel pegs down both sides following the contour of the forms shape. I have gone to single piece dowels pushed through, through-holes and epoxied.

I had trouble getting even pressure with the zig-zagging strip method. I get a more even glue-up by using similar size bands stretched and slipped over equidistant pegs. I went to the through-hole, single piece pegs because I could never get them glued in solid enough to hold.

OkKeith

[razorsharptokill]

So if I cut them across the width and use them across say maybe 4 pegs they will work? I could get several dozen out of them this way.

How many does it take to do a longbow glueup?

[Apex Predator]

I use 12-14 3-4' pieces.  I tie a loop in each end of my strips.  Lots of even pressure can be achieved this way.  I normally spend 75-90 minutes on a glue up.  Thats from mixing the smooth-on to turning on the oven.

[razorsharptokill]

Do you work out from center equally as you go or do one side then the other?

Do you have trouble with slippage using the bands?

[Apex Predator]

Once the riser is secured with the c-clamp, slippage is non-existent due to the washers holding the lams from the sides.  I normally start wrapping mid-limb out to either end.

[Osagetree]

One I did years back...

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000069

[Osagetree]

Originally posted by Osagetree:
One I did years back...

Kinda odd but still shooting well today!

[razorsharptokill]

pretty cool! Thanks.