Looking for some information and opinions from fellow Bowyer's on the use of foam I'm the limbs. I'm thinking of trying foam as a core on the next longbow I build. First question is, do I use the same lam thickness I would use as wood? Second question would you go with an all foam limb or would you run foam and wood together. Last question my bow is a mild reflex/deflex design is foam going to be worth trying. Thanks

I can't help you with the Bowyer questions but I have shot a lot of foam limbs. For me maple cores are just as smooth and just as fast as foam. There are some folks who love foam and I don't dislike it it's just not a big upgrade in my opinion as compared to wood. Now carbon and foam can be a good combination but again for me it's not worth the money.

All about your perception. Some folks are wild over foam limbs, some aren't. I'm on the aren't side.

As for stack height, that is kind of dependent on the design. But, to get an idea, you're gonna' have to build one and see.

Glass to foam/wood ratio is also something to consider. And, that is dependent on the desired draw weight/length.

They shoot a little harsher than wood. But I like the. Hammer feel on my shot. Don't know or care if it adds speed,I just like the feel. If you like a softer feel go wood and carbon,bet speed it no difference this falls under different strokes for different folks. No right or wrong.

I have thought about doing a carbon foam Hill, but not done anything yet. If your LB is a deep stack then you will need to edge up the foam a little because it will not add weight while in a flat design like a recurve, you won't loose as much weight because the aspect ratio of glas to wood/foam is biased more towards the glass.

I look at this kind of thing as management problems, because I will require a trial run, the trick is not to end up with a useless stave. I try to leave some options in a usable direction. So at this point I shoot around 60, my daughter around 25, and I would be fine with a 38 pounder for 3D. So the trick would be get the weight to fall in there somewhere. What I would not want is more than 60 or less than 25.

Another option is to make up a 1/2 thickness stack and weigh that, then adjust the final weight with a second layup. While rightly not popular, some bows use a glass lam in the middle and it doesn't hurt anything so again, you can manage your outcome depending on the specifics. It doesn't answer the question of how to hit weight on the nail, but it gives you a process to get a usable stave.

"They shoot a little harsher than wood." "Hammer feel on my shot."

arrowchucker, I've been shooting/hunting with the same set of 36lb Winex carbon foam limbs for years on two different length wood Morrison risers, a 21 inch Dalaa, a 17 inch Titan, and a 19 inch Titan. Just as smooth as any wood core limbs I've owned and shot. No hand shock at all. Don't know what kind of limbs/set up you have, but that's never been the experience of myself or any of the people that I know that also shoot foam limbs.

Thanks all sounds like I'll just have to give it a try and see what happens. Thanks again

You could also run samples through a test. The problem with that is that at least for me, I buy this stuff from normal archery sources which means I pretty much just get enough to make a bow. But if you had some left over glass, and could get the seller to throw in 18 inches of foam, you could make up two samples of parallel material with the same ratio of glass to core, and the same thickness as one of your known limbs, and then test those.

I like foam core but the best and smoothest limbs I've ever shot had a thin layer of foam and wood. They are Samick BF Extremes.

Good information everyone I really appreciate it. Thanks

For those who have used foam is there any special prep I need to think about before glue up? Any input is greatly appreciated Thanks

Not really, assuming you are using SO glue. If you have your own glue, experiment a little to see if there is any glue starving issue. Even syntactic foams can take up some glue. Obviously keep it clean, glues as soon as you can after machining, and keep your dabs off it. I always spread glue on all surfaces and just deal with the excess squeeze out.

Bowlim, I really appreciate your time and information. Not sure if foam is worth it but just wanted to try something different. Thank again Mike

Don't leave them strung on a hot day. Especially if you use black glass.

tradkid13:

For those who have used foam is there any special prep I need to think about before glue up? Any input is greatly appreciated Thanks

Clean with acetone several times. The syntactic foam is composed of tiny spheres and they stick to the foam when they are ground. They do not all come loose with simply brushing and any spot with them will delaminate. So Yes, There is special and necessary special prep. Clean until you get no grey on your clean cloth with acetone.

I have built a lot of bows with foam core and I know this from experience.

God bless, Steve

Thanks again everyone for your input and time. Mike

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