Ears without sinew?
Is it possible to give a laminated bow substantial ears/siyahs (my fingers kept wanting to type the Arabic plural siyatan instead) without backing the bow with sinew? I have some bamboo and wood lying around and I'm thinking of experimenting with a laminated bow design; most importantly, I'd like to try adding ears to the ends of the bow, but I'm a bit concerned that they might just lever their way out and detach themselves explosively from the bow if not held in place with suitable backing.
If your backing takes the load the ears have no problem without sinew.
Depends what you mean by 'substantial'. You need to try and keep the weight of the ears down, otherwise you may just degrade the performance of the bow instead of improving it.
It would seem likely that the first recurves were formed on wood bows.
There are Siberian laminated wood bows with ears.
How should I attach the ears in this case, then? Would a normal V-splice work? Or would I need to use a splicing method that sandwiches the ears between the laminates instead?
Heya
Well, If you wanted to attach ears to a laminated bow, I would say best way is same as real horn bow. Make a thin core to v splice ear into, this would contain the handle as well. Then have the belly wood glued on like you would horn and the backing over the core and up the ears. In this case, I don't think its likely for your bow to explode. It should hold well.
Btw, If you are making out of all wood, maybe its good idea to glue bow in pre-bent shape, it should store more energy without having the belly fracture from compression.
Well, If you wanted to attach ears to a laminated bow, I would say best way is same as real horn bow. Make a thin core to v splice ear into, this would contain the handle as well. Then have the belly wood glued on like you would horn and the backing over the core and up the ears. In this case, I don't think its likely for your bow to explode. It should hold well.
Btw, If you are making out of all wood, maybe its good idea to glue bow in pre-bent shape, it should store more energy without having the belly fracture from compression.
Alex's advice looks good. For insurance in a warm, huimid climate, you could add a binding of hemp cord around the V-splice after drying.
So the ears do end up being sandwiched somewhat between the outer laminates (the "horn" and "sinew" substitutes)? It makes sense--I guess I'll try doing it that way just to be safe.Alex S. wrote:
Then have the belly wood glued on like you would horn and the backing over the core and up the ears.
yes
I think that is just safest way to do. Also, it is good practice for when maybe you attempt real horn bow.
I do see often, people just glue ear to the belly and glue the backing over it. It works, but I would not expect it to be strongest type splice, glue line would have to be good indeed as well as the glue. That being said, I think they used modern epoxy for this.
I think that is just safest way to do. Also, it is good practice for when maybe you attempt real horn bow.
I do see often, people just glue ear to the belly and glue the backing over it. It works, but I would not expect it to be strongest type splice, glue line would have to be good indeed as well as the glue. That being said, I think they used modern epoxy for this.
You saw kerfs into self bows and fill them up with glue and veneer.
Then force to reflex and dry.
Example:
http://www.perinnejousi.fi/~jkekoni/bul ... 200114.JPG
Then force to reflex and dry.
Example:
http://www.perinnejousi.fi/~jkekoni/bul ... 200114.JPG
