Things I wish I knew back then...

[Shredd]

After giving some advice on the "NewBee" thread, it got me to thinking...  What did you wish you knew back then??

  I wished I knew I did not need a big a$$ edge sander...  Always wanted one...  Thought I needed one to be like the Pros... When I got the 6" x 48" sander and put it on its side I found that I don't like such a big sander when sanding limbs...  I actually downsized to the 4" x 36" sander... When sanding limbs my  focus is on about a 10" to 12" area, sometimes parts of the limb that you are not focused on could hit the sander and accidentally be sanded on a bigger sander...  I am glad one never came up for sale in my area and that I never bought one...  Although it has other great uses...  Just too big for my shop also...

  Hot Box...  Never use mine any more except for drying out lumber...  Big waste of space if all you need is an electric blanket...

[Georgia Boy]

I never thought/heard using a heated blanket instead of a hotbox for curing epoxy when building the bows. I tried to google it after I read this just to learn more and not much info (at least that I could find, but that doesn't say too much). Would you mind sharing some more info around that? I have a hotbox I built using Bingham instructions and it works, but it does take up a lot of room.

Thank you!

[monterey]

My hot box (my coffin according to my other half) is in the shed and is a major PIA to get out to use it.   On hot summer days i lay up early in the morning and put it in the car for the day.   Winter i lay a tarp on the family room floor and set the form  on it with a blanket over it open at each end with a small space heater blowing through it.  Makes about 130*.

I  wish I'd been able to read all of Tim Baker's stuff sooner.

[Shredd]

Thats because I just invented it...     I think I started using an electric blanket last winter...  Epoxy will cure just fine at room temperature (above 70*)... Everybody has their own say on what they prefer and what works for them...  Heat can be hell on wood especially the thicker part like the riser and cause other problems as well...  I feel that curing epoxy at  high temps has no real advantages when gluing up bows... I think it can actually have more disadvantages... 90 to 100 degrees will guarantee you a good proper cure and not cause too much expansion of materials or drying out or gassing off of wood... Plus the blanket is not too harsh a heat from only one direction which can be hell on your form and warp it...

[Flem]

At the risk of sounding sappy, I wish I knew all the communities of Bowyers, way back when. So many great  tips and ideas floating around. I always figure every person I meet, know many things I don't know. Lot's left to learn!

[Roy from Pa]

 I always figure every person I meet, know many things I don't know. Lot's left to learn!

Man, I'm not touching dat one:)

[Flem]

Com'on Roy, we can turn this into a touchy-feely thread

[OkKeith]

I always agonized over wasting material. I wish I had known (and still need to remember) that everything can be salvaged. I got in to knife making so I could do something with all the scraps and screwed up pieces of fancy wood!

One of the early lessons I learned was that "Simple" doesn't mean "Easy".

My hot box is made of the foil backed foam from the home improvement store. I just duct tape it together when I need it and take it apart, pack the pieces flat and store it in the attic when I don't.

Shredd...
Doesn't curing the glue at a higher temp (I think it says 180* on the Smooth-on can) give the bow a better chance at staying together at higher air temps? If you cure the glue at 90*-100*, what happens when I try to shoot in Oklahoma summer weather at 104*?

Another important lesson to learn and remember: This is supposed to be fun... isn't it?

OkKeith

[oldfartfarmer]

I wish I coulda figured out I could BUILD a BOW instead of buying one,, and that was only 4 weeks ago
I like the bought bow,
but it has lost its flavor,
Im hoping 6 months from now I won't look back and BLAME all you on here for inciting me into more builds than i really need,
like my over-stuffed gun cabinet 

[Bvas]

I wish I knew how to make the "perfect" bow. So I could stop messing around with these "almost perfect" bows I keep building

[Bvas]

Im hoping 6 months from now I won't look back and BLAME all you on here for inciting me into more builds than i really need,
like my over-stuffed gun cabinet 

Do you really think it will take 6 months?

[Roy from Pa]

I'm doin ok..

[Forwardhandle]

I wish I knew this bow making back then ,aggravated my wife I would have started it sooner