forms with wedges

don s · January 21, 2011, 02:02:00 PM

i recently viewed a video on you tube. rudderbows using a form with twine and wooden wedges. do any of you use this method? i use lots of clamps myself. but, i'm thinking of going a different route. rubberbands are out of the question as i have a latex allergy. the wedges seem to me to be a lot easier than a multitude of clamps.
don

IdahoCurt · January 21, 2011, 02:49:00 PM

For laminated bows(no glass) I love using heavy duty shrink wrap,the stuff used for shipping and packaging.Just wrap the whole bow tightly(few layers) after glue up and it really puts even pressure on the entire bow with nice tight glue lines.Once the bow is all wrapped up I put it in my R/D form with just two C clamps.Make sure to tape all exposed wood you don't want glue on.
Fast,easy and very effective.

Pat B · January 21, 2011, 03:53:00 PM

James Parker(Huntworthyproductions) did a class at the Tenn. Classic 2 years ago. Very interesting technique and quite effective. You control the shape of the bow with the wedges by placing them on top or on the belly side of the glue-up. I believe it is a Japanese technique. Yumi might have info on how to do it or Contact James.

2treks · January 21, 2011, 05:05:00 PM

Yumi made a video on this. 3rivers or primitive archer has it I think. Yumi also will have it. I think it is called "All tied up in bowmaking"
Chuck

Pat B · January 21, 2011, 05:26:00 PM

There may have been an article about this method in a past PA Magazine.

NTD · January 21, 2011, 06:40:00 PM

Medicinewheel over at PA clamped one up like that. It sure looks like a lot of work but I'd like to try it someday.

don s · January 21, 2011, 11:47:00 PM

yeah. i've seen that video of the japanese style bow and controlling the shape of your bow as you go. the form i'm interested in looks like the kind used with rubber bands. pegs running the length of the form like a rubber band form. but, twine is used to criss cross the form and bow. it's tied off and wedges are wedged between the twine and bow. i believe their are a few clamps at the handle area. the rest is twine and wedges.
don

don s · January 22, 2011, 04:39:00 PM

nobody makes their bows using the wedge method? i'm really suprised. after watching the video again. i think the next bow i do, i will try this method.
don

Jason Jelinek · January 22, 2011, 05:05:00 PM

I've made a number of bows with wedges, both wood laminated and fiberglass laminated bows.

don s · January 22, 2011, 05:18:00 PM

jason, great! how did this method work for you? how were the glue lines?
don

Jason Jelinek · January 23, 2011, 10:56:00 PM

The finished product worked out pretty well. The glue lines were good as well. I did have to use a clamp on the riser section. The drawback is the time it takes to get the bow wedged in. First you need to criss-cross the rope over the bow and the form (for me it was a flattened 2x4 with hardwood pegs), then push in each wedge (like 36+ wedges), then tap them all in tight with a mallet. I actually preffered taking a bike tube and cutting out bands from it and using them like rubber bands.

don s · January 25, 2011, 12:21:00 AM

i can't use rubber bands. i am allergic to latex. it gets nasty if i so much as touch it. i've done a couple backed bows and used lots and lots of clamps. i think i'll try the twine and wedge method next. thanks.
don