Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: adb on August 08, 2011, 04:02:58 pm
-
Hey, all.
Just a couple pics of a new bow I finished for a customer. It's being shot for the first time by it's new owner, my buddy Greg.
It's a tri-lam. Ash back, purpleheart core, and osage belly. 76" ntn, black ebony nocks. 110#@30''.
It's not tillered as a traditional war bow. I left it stiff in the handle, as the customer didn't want ANY hand shock. He shot some of my other 'full compass' tillered war bows, and didn't like the kick he felt in his hand.
As you can see, Greg is quite a stout fellow. This is his first heavy bow, and he's only getting it back to about 29". The arrows he's shooting are 31". With more shooting & practice, he'll get it all the way back. With 1/2" ash shafted arrows weighing 80 grams, we were getting 190 - 205 paces distance. Greg is in the Military, and he figures at his pace, we were getting 180 - 190 meters.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take more pics, so I don't have one of it unbraced at rest. I can say, however, that it took about 1/2" of set, starting from a straight glue-up with no reflex. I was very pleased with that outcome. I'll be seeing Greg in a couple weeks to deliver him some arrows and a string, so if I remember, I'll take some more pics then.
-
Are the French hiding behind that tree line?
Looks good ... not sure about his Superman outfit >:D.
Del
-
Great bow Adam. It's hard to believe it took so little set! I'd like to attempt a heavy hitter like that some time.
It takes a real man to pull off an outfit like that! Is that from the rendezvous you were at?
-
It takes a real man to pull off an outfit like that!
From an archer's point of view, drawing that bow means he could wear a tutu like a man.
-
Great bow Adam. It's hard to believe it took so little set! I'd like to attempt a heavy hitter like that some time.
It takes a real man to pull off an outfit like that! Is that from the rendezvous you were at?
Yes, the pics are from our Medieval weekend event. He actually had a nice Medieval linen shirt, but the sleeves were a bit too baggy, so I suggested he take it off to avoid catching the string.
And yes, I was very surprised how little set it took. I think it was exceptional wood, and being 76" long also helped. I was proud as punch with this one, and so was Greg!!
-
Very nice looking bow. It is great to see a heavy draw weight laminated bow.
-
Very nice looking bow. It is great to see a heavy draw weight laminated bow.
I've been struggling to build anything but. I can't seem to get over 100# from any staves.
-
Nice looking bow that the stiff centre makes it look 7ft.
adb - I struggled with anything over the 110 barrier which seemed to be a limit on many staves. I wouldn't worry there are ways of going heavy with average quality wood.
-
Nice looking bow that the stiff centre makes it look 7ft.
adb - I struggled with anything over the 110 barrier which seemed to be a limit on many staves. I wouldn't worry there are ways of going heavy with average quality wood.
Care to elaborate?
-
Nice looking bow that the stiff centre makes it look 7ft.
adb - I struggled with anything over the 110 barrier which seemed to be a limit on many staves. I wouldn't worry there are ways of going heavy with average quality wood.
Care to elaborate?
Yes, I'm very interested in this too.
-
make it wider and longer.
-
Its more to do with tillering I find, but longer can help.
I have asked the powers that be in the EWBS if we could have a fairly in depth building article that will explain how the heavy bows are made. If you can hold fire until that is arranged I think you will find it interesting.
-
I do have Steve's DVD on making heavy bows. It is an awesome production, but it also deals with glued up staves. I'd be all ears for info on making heavier weight self bows, especially out of woods other than yew. Thanks, Ian, I look forward to anything anyone has to offer!!
Cheers, Adam.
-
Hi Adam
I can sympathise with you as I'm unable to get Yew or the really good quality timber; but there are ways to make bows out of common woods. Obviously the content on the EWBS site is not up to me but I will put together a word dos that explains the methods I use and the pit falls. I would say that I am no expert not by a long shot, but I am keen for others not to share my mistakes.
Ian
-
Ian,
I look forward to it!
-
Nice looking bow that the stiff centre makes it look 7ft.
adb - I struggled with anything over the 110 barrier which seemed to be a limit on many staves. I wouldn't worry there are ways of going heavy with average quality wood.
Care to elaborate?
Make them thicker! ;D ;D ;D
-
Hello from Sweden! Long time lurker here, and hobby bowyer.
When I started to make bows I whent on to make all the fails pretty much everyone does. But then I found this http://www.alanesq.com/bsb.htm .
The things you read in TBB 1-4 all makee sense after you got some bows under your belt, but this guy makes sense at once.
Sorry for any spelling errors.(English is not my 1st language) WBR Lars
PS. Nice bow!
-
Impressive bow!
One day I hope to shoot one like that.
-
Very nice bow!, what combination did you use? I typically use Hickory and Ipe and can get them up around 130# and even a bit higher with the use of bamboo. What kind of war arrow are you guys using? Anyway again very nice bow.
Jesse
http://www.jcrossarchery.com
-
As promised in my first post on this topic, I wanted to get a pic of this bow at rest to show how much set this bow took... or better, how much set it didn't take. For a 110# warbow, it took less than 1/2" of set with a stave starting with zero reflex. I was very surprised, and very pleased!
I finally caught up with my buddy Greg, and was able to get a pic.
-
i was wondering if it was possible to get a better picture of the tips, amazingly low amount of set though, i hope the ipe hickory i'm planning on will turn out that nice ;)
good job
noel
-
That's a nice looking bow adb, in terms of time how long would you say it took you to tiller from start to finish not including working time.
-
Not including the glue-up and shaping, I'd say it took about 10-12 hours to tiller out this bow. It's not really harder to tiller, just heavier.
-
That's interesting, the last few bows I have made I have done little tests into the correlation between fast tillering and low set or indeed any way in which set can be reduced.
If you don't mind a follow up question, you would say from the first few flexes on the tiller you had the shape pretty good or did you find that you were removing considerable amounts of wood to get a good tiller.
-
I'd have to say that as soon as I get the bow up o the tiller tree, it's bending nicely. This comes from years of experimentig with layout and design, and that has improved vastly over the last couple years. I've realised that careful layout is imporant and that even tapers make even bends.
-
I agree preparation is the key, what would you think to tillering a bow in under an hour?
-
I couldn't tiller a bow like that in under an hour. That's definately rushing it, and I'd probably end up with more set than I want, or breaking it all together. Why would you want to go that fast?
-
Interesting thread. Thanks for the site Amatol.