Stack Order--Tapers to the Belly?

[SenterShot]

In a laminated bow with a combination of parallels and one or more tapers, does it make any difference whether the taper(s) are in the belly vs. back? If so, is there a general rule that applies to straight, long, and R/D bows?

[shade mt]

i haven't found that it makes much difference.

[shade mt]

should have added..straight limb Hill style bows with narrow limbs usually have more taper..i prefer to build straight limbs with all tapered lams. Simply because they are narrow at the fades. Your limb needs to taper either in limb width, or stack width..If your limbs are fairly wide say 1 1/2 or 13/8 at the fades you don't need as much stack taper. where you glue in your tapers..Belly or back really doesn't matter.

[Robertfishes]

On my longbow form it's hard for any parallels or tapers thicker than 070 to run up the belly side riser fade. So any thing thicker than 070 goes on the back. In this pic the 002 taper on the back is 0.118 and the belly side has a 060 parallel and a 058 001/inch taper..  

[Robertfishes]

On both of my recurve forms The tapers go on the flat belly side, I have used 002/inch tapers as thick as 0.140 on this form. the only thing on the back side is a 020 veneer and 040 glass.    

[SenterShot]

Thanks for the info, guys! I was wondering if the stack sequence had more to do with ease of assembly or if there was a performance/durability factor. Robert, I'm glad you mentioned the fact that thick layers don't follow curves as well..and the photo of your longbow helps.

My son is getting ready to build his first Hill style longbow, and those risers certainly have a radius on the belly side of the fades. I'm itching to draw up a R/D template, and would like something similar  in profile to Robert's riser. We've only put together a few Bingham recurves--now I understand why the tapers are laid down first under the flat belly of the riser. Thanks again!

[Robertfishes]

The longbow is kennym's 62'/64" design..I got a template from him 3 years ago. I have used different lengths of risers, made some 66" and added Power lams playing around with his design. I also build a 58" recurve based off of a Binghams design also changing riser lengths, narrowing limbs and adding power lams..