cutting rubber bands

[monterey]

Here I sit, cutting bike tires into rubber bands.  Its actually sort of an oddly soothing activity!

I'm not sure if these would be best used as huge circular bands, or cut through to make rubber strips.  Any advice from the experienced rubber band form users?

[Swissbow]

I cut them through, cut them in half lengthwise and knot a loop at the ends. This works best for me.
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Andy

[Sam Harper]

I just cut little round rubber bands of the inner tube and stretch them across the bow on pegs, like this:

http://poorfolkbows.com/brecurve4.htm

[monterey]

Sam, too late for little bands,  but I might try that next time.  Enjoyed your build along!

Andy, bout how many tubes per bow?  Is to be a 68" LB.

[jess stuart]

I have never tried the bike tubes.  I have bands made from an old truck tube.  I cut them about 2" wide and went around the tube kind of like peeling an apple.  I usually made the strips about 8-10 feet long and wrapped around the entire form, never used the pegs.  They work well and I still use them once in a great while but, the air hose is easier for me.

[KenH]

Depends a bit on how your form is set up.  I use 1" wide rings of innertube on this and my other forms where the 1/4" diameter dowel pins are set 3/4" below the face of the form.  Hook the innertube ring over one pin, stretch across the lams, hook it over the other pin.  If it's too much stretch, like over a riser, I interlace two rings together and then stretch.

 

Here's the form as I'm clamping down some soaked Red Elm lams to dry them to the complex curves of this Scythian bow.  When these are dry I then glue them up with the belly glass (on top of what you see there).  When that's dry I then I glue on the  back glass as a separate operation.

[JamesV]

I get used tractor inter tubes and spiral cut them into 1 1/2" strips, usually get over 100 feet out of half a tube. Most time the tractor tire dealers have tubes they will give you.

James

[breazyears]

I like to make strips with bicycle tubes. They have convenient lines that run the length of the tube that make cutting them a snap.

[monterey]

Yes, saw that and used them as guidelines.  Have cut six tubes with about 2/3 being full circle bands and the rest in lengths due to the valve stems.  Guess this calls for a dry run.

[Swissbow]

A dry run is always a good idea. If your using rather thick lams ( for a heavy draw weight ) you might consider to apply some additional pressure at the fades to make sure you get good glue lines. I use the pieces i cut away from the riser block, because they fit the fades perfectly.


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Andy