How skinny is too skinny.

[Prarie Bowyer]

Ok so I have this lovely piece of bamboo backing.  It survived two failed ELB's with lyptus.  It survived an ELB/boo sandwich with flipped tips.

However it is now 1" wide at the center and widest point.  I have trashed the Lyptus.  The last break was telling.  It split along the center of the lamination.  I now have some Hickory.  I would like to make at least a bamboo backed ELBish thing.  Preferably I'd like to curve the tips some.  I'm looking for sucess.  After breaking 4 bows in a row I need to know that I can actualy make a bow.


So can the same backing be reused a 5th time for something ELBish?  Is it a bad idea to try and curve the tips on a bamboo backed hickory?  Should it be laminated between bamboo layers if I do that?

[Prarie Bowyer]

Oh the tip width is about .5" and the length is 71"
I"m not that worried about draw weight on this one.

[ken75]

Prarie , first slow down ive been in the whirlwind that your in now , everything will start falling together . your idea is very doable , you can get away with some reflexing although i would keep it mild . your building a design that can lend itself to hand shock and if you go with radical recurved tips you will have to keep them thick enough to retain the recurve . this will add to the hand shock issues that an elb CAN produce. mildly reflex or recurve (flipped tips) your hickory core and then lam your bamboo to it.one last thing to keep in mind with hickory  itself is tension strong and by adding the bamboo you are increasing this strength , i would use a flatter belly than elb designs call for to counteract the tension load. also you can make your hickory core wider than the bamboo , making an almost trapped look to the final glue up.
sorry for the ramble .
ken

[mikekeswick]

Personally I wouldn't use hickory for this type of bowit's lack of compression strength will show at only 1 inch wide. I also wouldn't recurve the tips for the reasons mentioned above, you are asking for stability issues. An elb should have straight tips - due to it's length it really doesn't need any sort of recurve, remember recurves are there to keep string angle low and reduce stack on short bows - there won't be any stack or string angle issues on a 70 inch bow (unless you are drawing it 40+inches!).
Ipe would be a much better choice for the belly.
Good luck anyway

[Del the cat]

An "ELB" shouldn't have any visible recurve when braced or drawn.
A little even reflex built into the bow bring up the speed and help stop set.
Generally an ELB will be smooth and forgiving, if you start flipping tips and suchlike it ceases to be an ELB.
It's like that odd cat you own that barks and wags it's tail....
Del

[toomanyknots]

I like flipping tips on longbows. In many old paintings depicting longbows, the tips appear to be flipped a bit, I don't think it hurts aesthetics in any way. It's a nice way to get rid of set as well after the bow is fully tillered. 

[Prarie Bowyer]

I did say ELBish.  Eh.  I'll just do the ELB and get it over with. 

I have enough hickory, all sap wood, to do 4-5 bows I think.  One I would like to be a long bow with flipped tips.  I'll cross that bridge later.

[Del the cat]

I like flipping tips on longbows.

I think you should go and sit on the naughty step.
Del

[Gus]

Hahaha...

The Naughty Seat...

I've worn the finish off of mine.

-gus

[toomanyknots]