A few years ago I harvested an unusually straight and knot free apple log from a tree we were removing at a field edge at the farm. I've read about using apple and other fruit trees for bows and heard that apple is good in compression. But I have not really seen any photos of an apple self bow so I had a bit of ambivalence.
The stave I was able to get from it only has a couple knots and mild propeller twist on one limb, nothing worth correcting. I had not felt comfortable approaching it until a couple weeks ago, when I made the decision I would build it with a rawhide backing for an extra margin of safety.
I kept the limbs on the longer and wider side and the belly very flat.
Specs are: 54# at 27 inches. Length is 69 1/4" total, 68 1/2" ntn. 27.3 oz mass (including backing, handle wrap and string)
Limbs are symmetric: 1 7/8" wide at the fades tapered mildly to midlimb at 1 5/8". I tapered the outer limb fairly even down to 3/8" nocks. 8 inch stiff handle.
I kept the outer third of the limb fairly stiff. The top limb, seen at right, has the mild propeller twist so it appears stiffer.
The backing is very thin, maybe 0.2-0.3 mm deer hide, glued on with tb3 wood glue. It was added after bringing the bow to 45# at 22" on the tillering tree.
String is 16 strand b55 dacron with muskrat silencers. Tips are overlayed with horn. Arrow shelf is built up leather and pass is soft velcro.
Finish is shellac tinted with burnt sienna and red ochre for the rawhide, clear shellac on the belly. And spirit varnish and paste wax once it cured.
I originally was going to heat treat the limbs but they took very little set during tillering and since this bow is new territory I tried to be a little conservative.
Total set is 1 inch after shooting and unstringing, down to 1/4" an hour later. It's a fast shooter for sure and very stable. There is not any real hand shock even though the outer limbs are not bending.
Topic: Apple Flatbow 54# @ 27" (Read 183 times)