well, I laid-up the riser assembly to the back element this morning before work. It turned out beautifully - after taking down the excess glue the two arms of the bow "ring" perfectly in synchrony at the slightest tap.
the almost-finished handle feels REAL GOOD in the hand.
Feels RIGHT.
I trust such semi-instinctive evaluations.
This bow will work, barring catastrophe in the final lay-up.
After much thought, I decided to go with clear-grain Poplar for the tip elements.
I cut a shallow taper in each tip, then refined it through sanding (man... I am beginning to loathe sanding) to include a slight shoulder against which to butt the end of the bamboo back. I'm thinking/hoping that this shoulder will help secure the back and tip joint, and belive the fact that the beveled side of the tip mates the back will help throw the tip forward and aid in transmitting the stresses of drawing and releasing away from the tip root and into the staves.
The pieces are about six inches OAL by 1.5" wide by 1/4" thick at the thickest point. The taper is 4.5"long from the tip (zero thk) to the shoulder (@5/32" at the base of the step). The "nock blank" is thus 1.5"x1.5"x0.25"thk. Once the belly is glued on, I shall of course refine the shape (ovate) of the tips and cut the actual nocks.
They are laid-up on the back now - the glue should be cured in about two more hours.
If I wasn't so damn worn out from work, I'd spend that time coping out the recurve bending template and drilling string anchor holes... but screw it - that can wait until tomorrow.
Mondays are always hell days, and this one was, from my angle, worse than most: just about everyone in the office seemed to have sucked down some stoopid-juice this morning... DAMN! They were getting on my last damn nerve.
You just described my average day's work!
Gads, where do you work? It sounds like the seventh circle of hell or a bureaucracy.
I found an old truck axle this morning. I think I am going to build a 50 mm sniper rifle.
I found an old truck axle this morning. I think I am going to build a 50 mm sniper rifle.
Correction 50 cal.