Fibreglass as the material

[wingate_52]

The new Quicks catalogue states that the W&W ProAccent riser is made of painted fibreglass over the carbon frame. The Inno is of painted carbon fibre. What are the relative structural strengths and weaknesses of these materials when used in risers. Why is the carbon fibre painted and not offered in natural weave. Are they full of filler to achieve the smooth effect?

[archer_thom]

1) Relative strengths and weaknesses:

Carbon is strong against distortion of the riser when shot. It also vibrates less than aluminium and returns to rest faster, meaning that less material has to be used to create similar stiffness, or an equal amount of material creates a superior product. Carbon is hard to work (processes are apparently quite complex, this is what Mr Park attributed early failures of the X-Pert to) and expensive.

Fibreglass is cheap, possibly easier to work than carbon, but somewhat heavier. The big downside is that it does not provide the same resistance to distortion as carbon. Therefore the reason the Pro-Elite is much cheaper than the INNO is that this price reflects the relative performance. Despite this it is certainly equal to, and potentially superior to the other risers in a similar price range. For my money (despite being an Axis man) the INNO is the riser I would buy if I were to buy a new riser atm, although I'd attempt to try a Samick Ultra and KG Kudos as well.


2) Why is the carbon painted, does this mean they use a filler?

Yes. If you look at the INNO page on the W&W website they show that the riser is built around a carbon "coathanger" (my phrase) and shaped with a composite filler. I don't know what this filler is but I saw a very early model in the white paint. The paint was too thin and an extruded composite-style pattern was clearly visible underneath. I don't think that an unpainted INNO would be as attractive as, say a FibreBow, although they could always stick a carbon finish on it.