Main Discussion Area > Bows
Flat Bow / American Flat Bow questions ?
legend:
Hi willie , thanks again . Yes I have made laminate board bows from Hickory and greenheart before and a stave bow but I guess I was getting a little confused between different names for the different styles of bows . Bassically I was wanting to know the difference between semi parallel limbs and the straight tapered limbs which I believe you call pyramid bows .
legend:
Hi Pat , thanks for that reply and good info . I was just getting a little confused and mistook the back and the belly ( but yeh I know the tillering / scraping must be done on the belly ;) I will be using either an Ash board or English white oak , but will have to loopk at what the wood yard has available . Depending how things go I may back it with Linnen ? As you say we all find our own way of building a bow . Thanks
legend:
Hello All ,
Been having a slight re think about my flat bow build and these are kind of roughly dimensions I came up with :
Total Bow length ( made from board ) = 65" giving it slightly more for margin of error .
Handle 4" length with 2" fades , Fades being 1 3/4" at widest point .
First 9 1/2" of limbs parallel 1 3/4" wide , then next 19" length gently tapering up to 5/8" wide tips .
Thickest part of limbs at where fades start 1/2" tapering gently to tips ?
Does this sound like reasonably good / ideal dimensions ? Thanks
Pat B:
Everything sounds ok to me. You will be starting with a 3/4" board so your handle thickness will be 3/4" at this time then fade from that to about 1/2" to 5/8" at your limbs. You want to be sure your handle is above the plain of the limbs so it stays rigid. If the 3/4" isn't thick enough for your handle you can add another piece to the handle thickness then shape to fit your hand. By making sure your handle area is above the plain of the limb you shouldn't have to worry about the handle area bending thus keeping the added handle riser from popping off.
Aksel:
--- Quote from: Jim Davis on August 27, 2025, 04:52:34 pm --- No bow tapers on the back.
--- End quote ---
...any more - should be added. :)
Rectangular cross-sections with a stiff handles are relatively new inventions (1930:s?). Almost no primitive bows had this at least the ones I know, but semicircle or lenticular cross-section, narrowed AND working handle- Ishi style, sometimes tapering on belly and back.
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