MTFCA Forum

....for making laminated hood bows.

A friend needs a replacement for a poorly made five piece bow which let go at the glued-in corner pieces.

It is set to the width required for this one, but I have made one end adjustable so that I can make others when required.

I will post photos of the process as I make the first one. If the former works well, and require a no modification, I might even paint it!

Allan from down under.

Looks good. Looking forward to seeing the process.

Very nice! I have pondered something about this, do the sides need to be bowed in to allow for spring back or will putting them at right angles to the cross-piece work? Maybe for laminate construction that would not be an issue.

Mark, I believe laminated timber does not spring back like steam bent bows do over time if not restrained. Even so, I have left a 1/4" rise on the centre of the bow top, like the one I have to duplicate.

To the tinder shop today.

Allan from down under.

Photos first,so I don't stuff them up.

Today I cut some 2.5mm strips to start the bow laminations.The timber is variously known as Tasmanian oak, Victorian mountain ash, or Australian oak. It is neither oak nor ash. It is a clear grained Eucalypt hardwood, with no knots, gum veins or other flaws to affect the bending/laminating process.

I bent one strip dry to try it out first and it shook a little as I pulled it around the bend, but I thought it would be OK. I glued up two strips and stacked them, holding them together with a couple of rubber bands.

I started by clamping the bundle in the centre of the former, and worked outwards to the corners. The pistol type clamps were used to start the bends, followed by a G clamp to hold it. Then the pistol clamp was refitted further round the bend, followed by another G clamp. Working alternately at each end, and working progressively around each bend, it all worked remarkably well. One can never have too many clamps. The proof will come tomorrow when I take the clamps off to add more strips to the stack. All up I will need eight strips to make the bow a match to the broken one.

I have my fingers crossed!

Allan from down under.

Nice jig and process. We use C clamps in the U.S. Your shop looks very busy Nice job.

Looking great! Thanks for the reply and progress photos.