laminated staves

[tel]

Ok - so I basically understand ring chasing () but if you are laminating a (or indeed purchasing a pre-laminated) stave, is the ring chasing bypassed? Or does the stave need to be built to allow for it?

[Huffy]

The laminate is picked to be straight grained so acts as a single ring on the back of the bow

Best wishes, Mark

[tel]

this is as I thought - but does that mean there is no need to worry about the ring structure of the underlying wood? (ie the laminate becomes the ring)

[Huffy]

I believe that’s the case, within reason. The laminate prevents the grain of the belly wood from lifting but the belly wood has to be reasonable or the laminate will be broken.

(I have not built a laminated bow from scratch so please take my postings with a pinch of salt)

Best wishes, Mark

[tel]

Cheers Mark - I'm in the process of trying (not very successfully) to talk myself out of giving it a go!

[djthompson]

It is my understanding that for a laminated stave the back of the bow is best made with straight grained wood (i.e. no grain running off to the side). It will also be a piece that is 90 degrees to the grain.

For the belly - the wood is the other way round.

hopefully the following diagram (which is a cross section of a bow) makes sense:


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
----------------
----------------
--------------
------------
----



!!!!!!!!BACK!!!!!!!!
----------------
-----BELLY-----
--------------
------------
----

So you composite two different cuts of wood - to get the best from both. n.b. central cores can have odd grain - to use up less choice wood.

So, the back on a laminate bow is COMPLETELY different to the back on a self bow (see diagram at bottom).

Cheers, D


------SAPWOOD BACK----
-------------------------
---HEARTWOOD BELLY---
-----------------------
---------------------
-----------------
------

[jb.68]

Originally Posted by djthompson

!!!!!!!!BACK!!!!!!!!
----------------
-----BELLY-----
--------------
------------
----


------SAPWOOD BACK----
-------------------------
---HEARTWOOD BELLY---
-----------------------
---------------------
-----------------
------

Both ways are acceptable for a laminated stave, although all of mine so far are made with the growth rings horizontal to the belly. If you do it this way though, you should still take it down evenly to one single growth ring as this prevents any chance of lifts.

What you don't want is something running out diagonally across the bow. Cores are a different matter altogether as they are sandwiched.

[tel]

I can see that this 'casual' interest is going to cost me dearly....and I'm not talking currency!

[jb.68]

Originally Posted by tel

I can see that this 'casual' interest is going to cost me dearly....and I'm not talking currency!

Oh financially too.... believe me. Bow making is addictive.... Enjoy mate.