Hickory/maple/cherry Trilam Hill

WILL CAROTHERS · December 29, 2011, 10:34:00 PM

Hey, i have a few lams of hickory, maple and cherry. I judt glud up the blank (1/8 hick backing, 1/4 maple core, 5/16 cherry belly, 1/2 cherry handle) The handle is 1 ft long and non bending, which i know is long, but the bow is 72 in which gives 30 in of working limb, so it should work.

I plan to make it a hill style, so for this combination, what profile dimensions should i use, and does anyone have any tips, or pics of all wood hill bows?

DVSHUNTER · December 29, 2011, 11:57:00 PM

Kstrapper made a beautiful one and posted it here not to long ago. Ill see if i can find it. Id like to see that one again.

wood carver 2 · December 30, 2011, 09:40:00 AM

Can you post a few pictures Will? I'd love to see it. It sounds like a nice bow.
Dave.

PEARL DRUMS · December 30, 2011, 09:44:00 AM

Be VERY careful with that cherry belly.

WILL CAROTHERS · December 30, 2011, 03:31:00 PM

WILL CAROTHERS · December 30, 2011, 03:33:00 PM

That was the full stave

This is the side view (from left to right is 1/8 hickory, 1/4 maple core, 5/16 cherry belly

WILL CAROTHERS · December 30, 2011, 03:35:00 PM

This is a view of the side, down the length of the stave...

WILL CAROTHERS · December 30, 2011, 03:38:00 PM

This is a picture of the center splice, it isn't perfect, but it is spliced after the maple core, and its a nonbending handle design (Im gluing the handle on as we speak!)

WILL CAROTHERS · December 30, 2011, 03:40:00 PM

Hickory back

Cherry Belly

wood carver 2 · December 30, 2011, 06:00:00 PM

What kind of glue did you use? Most of your glue lines are nice and tight, but there are a couple of wide spots. If you're using urac it's less of a problem, but titebond needs a good tight fit. It helps to have a heap of clamps. Keep an eye out for sales and build up a collection.
Not to be a negative nelly or anything your bow is looking good so far.

Dave.

WILL CAROTHERS · December 31, 2011, 01:07:00 AM

The glue was titebond, but i roughed out the rough profile and added the handle, as i roughed out, i got through all the air pockets, and the glue lines are seamless. I have some more pics coming soon.

WILL CAROTHERS · December 31, 2011, 11:21:00 AM

Heres the handle glue up

WILL CAROTHERS · December 31, 2011, 06:20:00 PM

And..... it broke. Story of my bow making "career". I got impatient of just using a rasp, and a scraper (it had a cherry belly, so i was being very careful) so, since it wasnt bending whatsoever, i took my drawknife to it (*hint:dont take a really sharp drawknife to a board) It cut right through the cherry and split down the maple-cherry glue line. Needless to say, im not a big fan of the drawknife right now.

Ranger44 · December 31, 2011, 07:42:00 PM

Patience grasshopper! It's a virtue and very necessary in bow building.

WILL CAROTHERS · December 31, 2011, 09:14:00 PM

Haha, i know, i already started another one, kind of an experiment

Bert Frelink · January 01, 2012, 04:15:00 PM

Will,
next time you use your drawknife you might want to try and turn it upside down, it would have less tendency to "dig" into the wood that way.
Good luck on the next one.
Bert.