[Archers] More on PVC Bows

[John Atkins]

As usual, Siegfried has an excellent point here.  My only concern about
the PVC bows is the effect sunlight has on PVC.  PVC pipes left in the
sun for a year or more become quite brittle.  When used to transport
water even under the pressure for which the pipe is rated, it has no
problems.  But step on it and it will shatter.  Thus a bow, which gets
flexed in a manner never intended for the product may fail in similar
manner.  There really is no way to check PVC for sunlight exposure.  It
doesn't get darker or leave any tell tail indicators.  If PVC bows had
limb coverings much like "horse bows" that would control the "flying
pieces" during/if failure.  It would also prevent the sun damage to the
material.

5 years running the Marine Aquaculture laboratory for San Deigo State
University made me VERY familiar with PVC piping.

cog

-----Original Message-----
From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of
Siegfried
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 1:06 PM
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [Archers] More on PVC Bows


> However, a new bowyer is another matter. How do we judge his or her 
> experience? How many bows have they built? How long have their bows 
> been in use? Have any failed? Is this a new bow, or one that has had 
> say 100 shots from it (that's roughly four royal rounds, barely broken

> in)?

But that's no different than a wooden bow.  Is this someone's first
wooden bow?  Or first attempt at a laminated bow?

Or is this even the case of "Archer X drawing selfbow Y for the first
time, and bow Y was tested at a 22" draw length, and Archer X draws at a
30" draw length ... and ... BOOM"

I've seen those on the range, and I've seen them fail AMAZINGLY
catastrophically, with chunks flying.

And we have similarly no way to really inspect a '1st time bowyers' bow
any differently, as it will look perfectly the same as an experienced
hand.

Siegfried


-- 
Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust, OP - Baron Highland Foorde - Atlantia
http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/
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