Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Frode on December 30, 2009, 02:00:36 pm

Title: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on December 30, 2009, 02:00:36 pm
Hi all,
Here is the object of my latest fear and trepidation;
Red oak, 72" tip to tip, 70" ntn, approx. 42# @ 24", double layer hemp cord handle w/ diluted Titebond II to seal and lock.  Linen backed, because the board was nice, but not picture perfect.  Buc, buc, bucaw.   ;D
You'll notice a bit of a bulge on either side of the handle.  I left about a 10" straight section in the middle (don't ask me why  ???), tapering out to the tips from there, then came back later and narrowed the grip area to about 1 1/4", which is comfortable for me.  In the handle pic it almost looks like a hinge to me, but it isn't.
I've been working for "insert weight here" @ 28" on all my bows so far, because it seemed to be kind of a standard ( ???), but when Missus Frode took the full draw pic she also took some measurements, and it turns out that 24" is where I'm most consistently accurate from.  Probably should've determined that up front, huh?!
Any way, there it is, drawn to 18" 60 times or so, 24" half a dozen times as of the picture (I know what I'll be doing the rest of today), and hopefully I'll shoot it tonight.
As always, I appreciate your eyes and observations.
Thanks,
Frode

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Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Del the cat on December 30, 2009, 02:21:12 pm
Nice clean simple bow, I'd like to hear how it shoots.
If I had to be real picky I'd say maybe the lower limb could bend the merest whisker more near the tip and near the grip, (E.G the lower limb could flex a tad more?)...
But it looks pretty good to me.
On second thaughts...ignore this post ;)
Del
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: DanaM on December 30, 2009, 02:22:48 pm
Tiller looks good and isn't amazing that people always think they draw longer than they do :D

At 24" draw you can cut that baby down 4" and pick up weight if you so desire.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: makenzie71 on December 30, 2009, 02:24:18 pm
haha you look like a guy I know up in Gruver, TX.

Bow looks good...only thing I'd be concerned about are the nocks.  They look a bit shallow to me, but it may be a combination of a misleading picture and my fondness of deep nocks.  I had a string slip off the top nock on me once...broke my string loop, broke my nock on my arrow, gave a sore eye for a few days, and I lost my food over it.

Draw weights and lengths are crazy.  I have to set my bows at 28~30 because I draw between 24 adn 32 lol...depending on how fast I have to let loose and, sometimes, I seem to just keep going until I run out of arrow.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: NTD on December 30, 2009, 02:41:08 pm
I like it.  It looks nice.

Nate
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: zeNBowyer on December 30, 2009, 02:43:09 pm
Very  nice  looking  bow:)
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: NTProf on December 30, 2009, 03:02:50 pm
For some reason this type of bow is quicly becoming my favorite - simple, D-shape, bend-in-the-handle. Looks great!
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: cracker on December 30, 2009, 03:25:26 pm
Damn good looking bow.Ron
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on December 30, 2009, 03:37:27 pm
Thank you everyone!

haha you look like a guy I know up in Gruver, TX.

Bow looks good...only thing I'd be concerned about are the nocks.  They look a bit shallow to me...

Makenzie, yeah, those kind of worried me a bit, too.  They never slipped, but there were a couple of times they kind of popped into place during stringing, so...  see below.
I might be that guy in Gruver's evil twin...  >:D

For some reason this type of bow is quicly becoming my favorite - simple, D-shape, bend-in-the-handle...

NTProf, Yeah, it's amazing how much lighter it is than my riser bows (even lighter than my 60" fiberglass bow!), both in weight, and in mass when moving it around!  I keep thinking, "There is no way this toothpick can take over 40 pounds".

Nice clean simple bow, I'd like to hear how it shoots.
If I had to be real picky I'd say maybe the lower limb could bend the merest whisker more near the tip and near the grip, (E.G the lower limb could flex a tad more?)...
But it looks pretty good to me.
On second thaughts...ignore this post ;)
Del

Del, I'm not one to leave well enough alone ( :D), so it'll probably end up under the knife again.  

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Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Del the cat on December 30, 2009, 03:58:56 pm
'No way this toothpick can handle 40#' ;D
I know what you mean, a bow which bends right to the tip can end up giving you the jitters as you tiller those last 6"...It just needs some smart ass to burst a paper bag behind your back >:D
Del
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: osage outlaw on December 30, 2009, 09:51:43 pm
Do you ever get your beard caught in the string at release?  Great looking bow!
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: half eye on December 30, 2009, 10:48:45 pm
Frode,
       I been lookin at your other work, and got to say you pretty much got that tiller thing down bud ;D I really like your bows because of their clean and simple lines....it's a lot harder than it looks to make a clean bow....I really think you could about make any type bow because you are carefull with your tillering.....nice bow, may she shoot well and long!
half eye ;)
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: hawkbow on December 30, 2009, 10:57:52 pm
 great looking bow brother, hope she gets to launch lots of arrows for you.. great tiller . Hawk
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 30, 2009, 11:17:50 pm
Loks great. Well done. Jawge
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: nugget on December 31, 2009, 01:15:43 am
Like it ! I have been wanting to make a D bow. Just havent found the right piece of wood in my pile yet.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: NTProf on December 31, 2009, 11:05:33 am
Frode,

I have built several board bows (red oak and maple) of this design, all 50# and a couple at 52#. As long as they are long and wide enough, and tillered as well as your's is, they seem to hold up just fine.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: OldBow on December 31, 2009, 03:29:33 pm
That is gorgeous! First self bow for 2010 too! I can set it up for Dec BOM today but then, poof, its gone. This way we can enjoy it for all of January.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on December 31, 2009, 04:24:36 pm
Thank you everyone for the help and kind words!  Everything I've been able to do is all because of the things I've learned, and the help and advice generously given here at PA!

I shot two or three dozen arrows through this bow last night, and it seems to shoot real nice.  It has a little hand shock, but more experienced archers (which is all of them  ;D) tell me it is well within acceptable limits, nothing to worry about.  My arm was tingling a little by the end of the evening, but this is a stronger bow than I'm used to on a regular basis.  On the other hand, 50# doesn't seem so unachievable, now.  My biggest issue right now is that I'm not used to shooting off my hand, so my groupings are, let's just say, generous.
Thanks again,
Frode
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: bow-toxo on December 31, 2009, 05:12:36 pm

Bow looks good...only thing I'd be concerned about are the nocks.  They look a bit shallow to me, but it may be a combination of a misleading picture and my fondness of deep nocks.  I had a string slip off the top nock on me once...broke my string loop, broke my nock on my arrow, gave a sore eye for a few days, and I lost my food over it.

======================================================================================
Your experience and the photo of the nocks really shows why medieval bows since the Iron Age were made with side nocks cut several inches below the bow tip. That also makes it really easy to brace and unbrace the bow. But hey, you can't stop progress.
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: luke the drifter on December 31, 2009, 06:40:49 pm
how much set did you have when you finished?  just curious???
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Canoe on December 31, 2009, 07:08:29 pm
Howdy Fode,

Very well done.  Good for you.

Canoe
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on December 31, 2009, 08:43:42 pm
how much set did you have when you finished?  just curious???

Luke; it came out to right at 1 1/4" on each end when all was said and done.

Canoe; Thanks!
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: PeteC on December 31, 2009, 10:18:39 pm
You did good frode,that's a fine bow,I like it.How's it shootin' ?  God Bless
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Keenan on December 31, 2009, 11:35:43 pm
Very nice bow. Tiller looks perfect. Bet she is a smooth shooter. Congratulations
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: huntersteve on January 01, 2010, 12:53:57 am
nice job frode....good lookin' bow...Steve
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on January 01, 2010, 01:10:21 pm
Thanks!  She shoots smoother than me  ;D!
Frode
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Hrothgar on January 01, 2010, 01:35:03 pm
Frode, nice looking bow and your tiller is right on. I'm curious, are the limbs the same length or did you make the top one any longer?
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on January 01, 2010, 01:52:45 pm
Frode, nice looking bow and your tiller is right on. I'm curious, are the limbs the same length or did you make the top one any longer?
Thanks!  The limbs are the same length.  The wrapped grip is off center, but only by 1/4" - 3/8", short on the top where the arrow passes.
Frode
Title: Re: First bend through handle longbow
Post by: Frode on January 01, 2010, 04:43:45 pm
Do you ever get your beard caught in the string at release?
Heheh, not yet.  I think Missus Frode is going to braid it off to the left one of these days, just for (everyone else's) peace of mind.  :D
Frode