Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Grunt on January 20, 2010, 07:48:21 pm

Title: Splice question
Post by: Grunt on January 20, 2010, 07:48:21 pm
I have some great straight grained oak and hickory cut offs from making board bows. The cutoffs are 30-36 inches. Can I splice boards and come out with a bow? I figure D bows might not work because of handle stress but I might be able to do a stiff handled bow. I figure to back the bows with linen canvas, hickory, or boo. Any comments would be appreciated
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: youngbowyer33 on January 20, 2010, 07:58:47 pm
i dont see why it shouldn't
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: adb on January 20, 2010, 08:06:07 pm
If you back the bow, yes, it will work.

This bow is a tri-lam: hicory back, bamboo core, and a spliced osage belly, and it is 100# @ 32". I used a W splice.

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Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: GregB on January 21, 2010, 09:50:09 am
I would advise making the handle nonbending, but yes most definitely!
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Tom Leemans on January 21, 2010, 10:05:57 am
Yep, go ahead!

adb the tiller on that bow is sweet!
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: KenH on January 21, 2010, 10:54:35 am
How long would you make the splice?  3"?  6"?  Length of the riser?  Could be an interesting look if say, one limb was maple and the other was walnut.  That would probably make tillering a real pain in the gluteus though...
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Grunt on January 21, 2010, 01:50:22 pm
I'm going to make the splices on the first two 4" W shapes. I figure to add just a little reflex to the limbs with the splice. Would it be better to glue it up flat and then glue the backing on Perry style to get the reflex?. Red oak plainsawn with a hickory back will be my first go round. Sure is great to keep finding new stuff to learn!!!
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Aries on January 22, 2010, 12:56:45 am
I've made some pretty narrow z splices bout 4 in with urac185 with no troubles.  i think you will definitely need a solid handle
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: elk country rp on January 22, 2010, 04:18:52 pm
seems like a great excuse to try splicing in some deflex to a nonbending handle after steam bending a few inches of recurve into the tips..... ;)
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Grunt on January 25, 2010, 08:52:18 pm
Got the splicing done and I thought I'd post a few pict. I'm going to back the first one with linen canvas and see how it goes. I made both bow blanks out of one 4/4 red oak cut off 36" long and 8" wide. 

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Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: islandpiper on January 26, 2010, 09:35:00 am
Really nice looking fits in the grafts.  A THIN glueline is most important.  Will you be adding handle risers or extra grip wood?  Looking forward to seeing these done and in use.    piper
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: bubby on January 26, 2010, 04:54:20 pm
if the grain is good you don't need to back them less you want to. I've spliced quite a few board bows with no problems. I like the short splice that was in primitive archer mag a while back
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Josh on January 26, 2010, 05:55:48 pm
your splices look great Grunt!  Hope the one I am about to do turns out that nice!  I am doing a red oak deflex recurve.  Did you have any problems with tip alignment?  I noticed you left the tips really thick so you can adjust them later.  Looks great!
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: Grunt on January 26, 2010, 06:05:28 pm
So far I am adding a 8 "riser and I put a little set back into the board staves.  Alignment can be checked with a string. The grain is good but I have always backed my red oak board bows with linen canvas. I get these shooting and I'll post again.
Title: Re: Splice question
Post by: mox1968 on January 28, 2010, 04:41:34 pm
nice splice job looking good already