Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ice126 on February 12, 2012, 10:39:46 pm

Title: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: ice126 on February 12, 2012, 10:39:46 pm
Hello I was wondering if i could get some advice on building a ash flatbow. I plane to split the wood this summer but i want to plan it all out first before i go right into it. I am a long time archer/ bow hunter and i want to get into becoming a bowyer. I have some books but they seem somewhat confusing. So any help I can get i would love like tips about ash flatbows and designs ideas ect.

Thanks for your time -John Ferrone
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: toomanyknots on February 12, 2012, 10:47:14 pm
I would say that a pyramid limb bow is one of the top designs, easy to tiller and good performance/low set.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: ice126 on February 12, 2012, 10:57:45 pm
Thanks I will  look at that. I was wondering if anyone out there could help me go along when I build this bow. I would greatly appreciate it.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: nativenoobowyer86 on February 12, 2012, 11:00:49 pm
Post pics and explanations, and ask lots of questions.  We would all like to go along :)
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on February 12, 2012, 11:37:17 pm
I have worked with oregon ash and have heard that white ash is similar.  It seems like a good bow wood to me. What kind of ash do you have your eye on?
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: blackhawk on February 13, 2012, 12:33:57 am
where do you live?.. there might be someone near you who wood be willing to help you firsthand ;)
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: Slackbunny on February 13, 2012, 01:21:05 am
You can't really plan too far ahead until you get your stave roughed out and can see what you are working with. You can pick out a general style and rough dimensions, but chances are once you actually get down to working the wood, you will need to make changes and compromises to work around what the wood gives you.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: ice126 on February 13, 2012, 08:01:52 pm
Do you guys have any rough designs/plans I could use like the pyramis bow limb design or something like that.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: JW_Halverson on February 13, 2012, 08:30:07 pm
I reckon you could go with an inch wide handle that is 4 inches long, fadeouts of 2 inches on either side of the handle, then 2 inch wide limbs tapering to 1/2 inch at the tips.  Length should be at the very least twice your draw length plus the 8 inches of handle/fadeout area. 

To echo another post, where are you located?  Chances are we have someone nearby that might even be available to work with you on the bow. 

Secondly, what species of ash do you have in your crosshairs?
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: bubby on February 13, 2012, 09:16:37 pm
i suggest that start with some boards for bow wood, you will get some good practical experiance, probablly some good bows and it will fill the gap while your wood season's, Jawge's site will help you a ton and it's at the top of the how to build-a-long page, Bub
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: ice126 on February 13, 2012, 11:26:08 pm
 live in upstate new York in the Adirondack mountain wildlife park. I am looking at a piece of white ash. Or I am also thinking about making it from iron wood.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 14, 2012, 11:26:43 am
I would go with the Hop Hornbeam rather than ash.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: ice126 on February 14, 2012, 09:22:24 pm
Would any of you guys be willing to mentor/help me via Skype or other online things on how to build a bow and then oversee me while I start out on my own. I know its a lot to ask but I would be willing to pay and you would always have a free meal at my restaurant in lake George New York.
Title: Re: Building an ash flatbow
Post by: Buckeye Guy on February 14, 2012, 11:51:35 pm
Just start in and We will all help you for free !
Almost ,you just have to keep passing on the tradition to others !!!!
Its easy as falling off a log !
Tell us what you are thinking and we will help guide you ,just tell us before you do it as its easy-er to keep you on track that way than try to it fix later !
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