Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on June 01, 2015, 09:25:12 am
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I started my first war bow this weekend. I watched a few guys tiller a monster yew war bow in Marshall last weekend and it got me thinking and churning. Im hoping to get an 80-90# bow at 30" when all is said and done. Its of elm and 74" long, about 1 3/8" wide finished.
My question is what are some basic rules I need to follow to make proper arrows for this hypothetical bow I started? Spine? Length? My bowyer/archery/arrow experience is all hunting bow based.
If you see anything in my bow measurements I should be aware of, speak up please.
Thanks
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For that sort of weigh you can test it out with 11/32" shafts and 150 gn points ok.
To look good you'll want 3/8" shafts and longer fletchings.
You prob' won't want to go to the full medieval spec as you are still under 100lb.
Some quick cheap 'pretend medieval' arrows here.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=medieval+arrows (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=medieval+arrows)
I'd suggest either doing the horn nock insert or, much easier, binding just fore of the nock with linen thread and soaking with a drop of low viscosity CA.
Don't worry about spine too much... the big flights will straighten 'em up. I'd suggest avoiding the real big 1/2" Ash shafts tho' as they will fly sideways for the first 10 yards!
Don't worry over much about point weight either... most of an arrow's weight is in the shaft.
Del
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Thanks for the info Del. Would a 23/64 shaft be better? I know the same spine will weigh a bit more than a 11/32 shaft. I have gobs of full length feathers, so that wont be a problem. Im excited to tiller this bugger out. Ive never made a bow over 60-62#.
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Yeah those shafts will be fine...
You'll have so much power it will throw anything... got any old broom handles? Just tie a Turkey fan on the back and ready to shoot >:D
Del
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I like the sounds of that Del! I never thought my war bow trigger would be tripped, it has begun.
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Isn't 80 pounds kids weight for ur guns? ::) .... :laugh:
Where's the pics of this "bow"? Or do u want me to post the ones ya sent me? ::)
Ya should've gotten in more on that yew warbow at Marshall. It was a fun one. I even got it back to full draw with my puny twigs!!! :laugh: it came out only to 96 pounds tho
Can't wait to see you full draw this thang 8)
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Sure, post them up if you want to.
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Good luck dude. Will be great to see somebody with your experience tackling a warbow. Will be watching and learning with interest :)
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(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/05311513102.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/05311513102.jpg.html)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/PART951433160023088950531151311.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/PART951433160023088950531151311.jpg.html)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/PART_1433160061570_0531151615.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/PART_1433160061570_0531151615.jpg.html)
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Pearlie, I built a yew war bow a few years ago(95#@30") but could only pull it to about 15". ;D It's not a difficult design to execute but unlike with flat bows lateral bends can be a problem if you're not paying attention.
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Im not adding reflex for that very reason Pat. I don't care how far it follows the string. I figure it will be more likely to keep a string on if Im not fighting 3-4" of reflex from the start. I think I can pull 80# still. I pulled an 87# Dwyer long bow 4-5 years ago. Granted that was a traditional draw and only 28" max.
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Pat is right... you have to watch out for lateral bend...
My top tip is leave the ends tapering to about 20mm wide until it's pulling back about 15-20" then you can start to narrow them.
If you rough it out too narrow the damn things can just go sideways on you big time.
The extra width gives more stability and gives room to shift the string line across a bit to counter any sideways bend.
The long draw thing is a blast too, it feels totally weird at first, but slowly starts to settle in and make sense.
Del
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Thanks guys. The tips are at least 20mm wide right now. I watched the guys tillering a war bow last week and noticed they cut temporary grooves in and left them that way as well.
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I've found cutting side nocks is the best way of tillering a warbow. It doesn't affect the back of the bow at all, and while the tips are wide you end up getting rid of it all anyway when you come to do the actual nocks (which should be side nocks anyway, if you're making a real warbow >:D )
What's nice about sidenocks early on in tillering is that if the stave does have a tendency to roll over on you, or looks like it might you can pick the side you want the nock on, to counter it.
I did sidenocks for the long string tillering of a heavy bow a while ago, and haven't looked back since!
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I second Del's advice on reinforcing the arrow nocks, especially if there is any chance of using them with heavier bows in the future (and you WILL build a heavier bow in the future!). I have had an otherwise healthy warbow explode to pieces in my hand after splitting a dud arrow with the string, which essentially dry-fired the bow. The heavy ones don't like that at all... ;)
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with! It's about time! 8)
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/cbergerman/WarBow/stringloop.jpg)
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Would standard overlays of buffalo horn work fine? I planned on making them extra beefy and adding a second set of grooves to brace the bow. Would you guys suggest Unibond 800 epoxy? Or, Loctite Professional CA glue?
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CA glue, definitely. Never had an issue with heavy bows and superglue.
Don't make the horn nocks too big either - they can be absolutely tiny and still work fine. I think Ian Coote's 175lb self yew has nocks smaller than 12mm. You're using elm anyway, which at less than 100lb doesn't even need horn nocks!
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Good to know, thanks Will. I just don't want any accidents if I can help prevent them.
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90 pounds eh? Soooo, you will be drawing this one to what...15" on the range? Hahaha
At least it should still have some ummph at your short draws with that weight ::)
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That's mental strength getting me man, not physical strength. I know I can pull 80# no problem.
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Looking forward to seeing this 'un. Good luck!
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You're right...an exploding 90 pound bow is way less scary than an exploding 50 pound one... haha ;D
All teasing aside, I'm really looking forward to this one. I've always wanted to see a sexy elm longbow after reading how wych elm was used.
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I did grab contact info for that kid who was making bodkins on his forge at Marshall, I can forward it along to you if you are looking to get some points made up.
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Please do J Dog. Ill get a hold of him.
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Ima watchin!
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Best be shootin' it next time we bump into each other Scott.
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Heck yea! My shoulders ain't what they once was, but I'm still a purty big boy. I'll draw that granny stick!
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get used to that 30" draw and you might be able to get over that short draw syndrome you have
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Well I got this bow braced last weekend. The tiller needs a tweak and the alignment isn't right. So rather than trying to keep the natural shape, Im going to temper and reflex the bow some. I want to add some weight back and start with a better profile. Hopefully that leads to a heavier draw weight. Our best guess was I had about a 70-80# bow that needed tiller work. So we stopped. Hopefully in the next few weeks Ill find time to do some work to it and toss a string on it again.
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I remember that one, I was watching three guys try and brace it. After they failed I came over and braced it by myself ;)
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Being half gorilla never hurt a thing Italian stallion!
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A bow that long is not hard to pull back, Big Boy. I pulled Pat's 95#er to full draw with a hang over and scrawny arms. >:D
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But you do have "Old Man" Strength! Never mess with old dudes. >:D
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I never drew it Eddie, I can yank back a ton if need be. Chris and I were just playing with it trying to brace it when Pauly the Brick walked up and push/pulled it to brace for us sissy's. I think we were being overly cautious, Pauly has no fear of wood bows.
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Yep, know what you mean, Chris Cade took it out of my hand that morning and pulled it to Full Draw and held it like a Target Bow.
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Chris / Eddie
You guys are kill'n me.... ;D ;D ;)
DBar
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That was the time Eddie was catching arrows out of the air standing in front of the target. ;D