Yew/Glass Bow Buildalong

[fletcharrows]

I'm wondering if there many folks here that might like to participate in a buildalong? I've seen lots of questions lately about how to build glass backed bows and I thought it might be nice to share the construction of a bow from beginning to the bitter or sweet end. If there are a few that would like to do this, I will start the buildalong tomorrow. Let me know.

fletch

[Roughcountry]

I'd sure watch.

[Terry Riley]

Mike,
    I'd really appreciate your time in doing a build along.

Terry

[Crooked Stic]

Sounds good to me.

[Ironfist_Canada]

Certainely. We can learn something new everyday.  John.

[Bodork]

Ditto, I'm sure I can learn a thing or two. Besides I always love to look at bows. Mike

[fletcharrows]

OK then - I am changing the name of the topic and getting started - I hope it all works out. Here are the particulars of the build:
The bow is a Hill style reflex longbow. More specifically, it is a St. Charles style bow in most respects. The bow will have 5 laminations of Yew plus glass and an all Yew riser.

fletch

[fletcharrows]

http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/2/73/31/191627331kZlsah_ph.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image16/1/97/19/191719719IKVRsq_ph.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image17/2/34/5/191723405AwsXHb_ph.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image16/2/34/26/191723426GczQhP_ph.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image18/2/34/58/191723458VqwHsX_ph.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/2/34/99/191723499CpKrCg_ph.jpg
Here are the first 6 pictures of the build. I picked out a piece of Yew for the riser, drew my outline for the fades and cut the riser on my bandsaw. I then had to grind the fades to allow them to blend in with the limbs as they are glues up. The last half inch at least on the fades should be so thin that the wood can almost be seen through.
fletch

[Terry Riley]

Mike,
   Picture didn't come up for me.
Terry

[fletcharrows]

The pics are pretty large so I am posting mostly URLs so that the resolution is better. I will edit some down so that they come up on the page. All of the pics will be in the webshots album.
fletch

[Ironfist_Canada]

Fletch none of the pics are accessible.

[fletcharrows]

So I see - I'm thinking maybe a photobucket account - I'll try to fix this toot-sweet.
fletch

[fletcharrows]

Here we go!!!!

[Dano]

Michael, what are you useing to grind the fades? Nice progress so far, man I love bow build-a-longs.

[fletcharrows]

Here you go Dano - I place a block over the fade and grind it on a horizontal sander. The block allows me to get the wood much thinner without breaking it than doing it without. Of course this is a different riser cuz it's too late to get my 10 year old to take a shot of the Yew riser getting ground.

fletch

[George Tsoukalas]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Jawge

[Ironfist_Canada]

Good stuff. You cant beat buildalongs.  John in N.S.

[fletcharrows]

Time for the next step - the laminations have to be glued together. I grind an angle in the end that will be the center of the bow and glue them together with 5 minute epoxy. I use a spring clamp and wax butcher paper to give a smoothe clean finish on the joint. This eliminates most of any grinding work that may need to be done on this joint. Like I said - this bow will have 5 layers of Yew. It will have three layers on top (those that need glued together) and two layers on the bottom. After the joints are set and leaned up we will be ready to glue up the bow as a unit.  
 
 

[fletcharrows]

OK - I hope somebody is still watching this because now I am going to go through what most guys consider the stressful part of this job. I am going to lay up the bow.
First - get all of the components ready and apply Blue Masking tape to the finish side of the glass. This will keep the glue from sticking to the glass and ruining it. I put wax paper down on my bench while I'm working. After layup, you can simply throw it away. Give me little feed back guys so I know I'm not out of order for you.

fletch

[Dano]

Yep the layup can be stressful if you don't practice it.