Hey everyone, I've been reading the forums here for a while now but I was wondering if y'all may have some advice I haven't been able to find myself. If I'm wanting to build a hickory backed one piece laminated longbow and use 36" laminations, what is the best way to splice them together at the riser section? Or is this even a good idea? It seems like full length lams would be better but because I can find limited resources I thought I'd try splicing. I'd rather not use any glass and back with hickory if possible. I'm thinking about a straight limb design, 66" and hoping for 40-50 lbs at 27. I also thought about using 36" lams and glueing up a top and bottom limb section to make a two piece take down?

Any advice or reference to an older thread y'all have is greatly appreciated!

Nothing wrong with splicing laminations. A simple scarf joint using super glue prior to lay up, and then putting an overlay over the splice would work fine. If ya wanted to get fancy you could do some finger jointing with thicker stock, then rip your full length lams too.   .02 cents worth   Kirk

I make glass bows, but here is how I do the scarf joint to join the lams...

About the 12th pic down...

https://www.kennysarchery.com/bow-build

This is perfect! Thank y'all for the help!

I would do it this way for Hickory backed bows, bamboo  back and so on.
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=174351.0

Quote from: Mad Max on December 11, 2023, 03:32:43 PM
I would do it this way for Hickory backed bows, bamboo  back and so on.
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=174351.0

Do you glue the z splices first or glue them together the same time as glue up?

you glue the z splice first, then glue the bow up.

Got it, thank you! Should I use a power lam if splicing lams together if I use a fairly thick handle?

How long is your riser, Roy from PA is 12-1/2" long.
If you follow how roy does it, it will work , he has made a million bows like this in his life because is older than dirt.

Yup ya gotta have a long riser like mine...

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Ya gotta glue up the bow lams first, then shape your riser block to fit the bow then glue it on.

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12 1/2 inches  I knew Roy had a long riser, but   

Quote from: Buemaker on December 12, 2023, 12:32:37 PM
12 1/2 inches  I knew Roy had a long riser, but   

  

Glue a overlay on top of the Hickory to hide the z splice

Here is a GOOD build along with a lot of info. It's a Bamboo and Ipe but still good info..
https://bowaddicted.com/bamboo-backed-ipe-bow-build-along/