Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: alcot on July 13, 2017, 10:15:16 am

Title: Big Feller Bow
Post by: alcot on July 13, 2017, 10:15:16 am
I have an Ironwood stave roughed out to 68" long x 2" wide x 1/2" thick. A pretty big guy wants me to make him a deer hunting bow out of it. I imagine he could pull 50# like butter and he claims his draw length is 34". I've never attempted a bow that heavy with such a long draw length. Is such a bow possible from this stave? If so what width would be smart to aim for? I had to heat bend it several times (steam and heat gun) to get the kinks out of it.
Thanks
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: GlisGlis on July 13, 2017, 10:40:09 am
maybe it could be better to check his real draw lenght first  ;D
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: alcot on July 13, 2017, 11:26:21 am
Yeah, he must draw back behind his head or somethin
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 13, 2017, 11:34:31 am
It would never holds up without the handle working. If you want a stiff grip you would need no less than 72-74" ntn and 2" wide. Yes, you could get away shorter but the bow wont hold its shape for years and it will be taxed. 
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Pat B on July 13, 2017, 11:55:38 am
What they said.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on July 13, 2017, 04:54:43 pm
what they said X2 
maybre his draw is 34 with a compound,, so you need to check,,
maybe he can draw a bow to 34,, but that does not mean how he shoots,,,
have him draw whatever bow he is pulling to 34 and send you a pic for verification,
the only thing that comes to mind if you have to use that stave,, is make it as wide as you can, ,bend in handle,, and splice some extensions on it to make it longer,, like the 74 inches Pearl suggested,,
also please post the pic of him drawing to 34,, I am really curios to see that,, (--)
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: alcot on July 13, 2017, 07:32:41 pm
I know he is a compound shooter (he ain't around here for a photo) I'm gonna pass on this one.
thanks to all
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 14, 2017, 06:40:20 am
Finding arrows would be impossible. He must special order them 35" long. Poor guy is probably paying through the nose. Same with his wheelys, they don't make a 34" draw bow. He probably special ordered that as well. Talk about an expensive hobby.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: bjrogg on July 14, 2017, 07:17:04 am
Sometimes I'm glad I'm not a big fella
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 14, 2017, 07:49:07 am
I took an order for a woman buying her husband a bow, he said he drew 33". Not many 33" draws out there. I had him hold a yard stick to his chest and extend his fingertips to see what his reach was, 29", this is a pretty good measurement for draw length. I found out later he had been holding a bare arrow, no bow and drawing it across his hand to the corner of his mouth to determine his draw length.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: ksnow on July 14, 2017, 07:52:24 am
My cousin asked me to make him a hunting weight bow, he's pushing 6'10" with gorilla arms. I have no idea what he would draw, but I told him I don't find too many 9 foot staves.

Kyle
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 14, 2017, 08:21:09 am
My friend and I made him an osage bow. He has a legitimate 31" or 33" draw...forget. We made it 73" tip to tip...or so...forget. Jawge
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 14, 2017, 08:26:45 am
When it comes to extremely long draw and a relatively short stave then the only answer is sinew
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Stringman on July 14, 2017, 09:00:14 am
Not arguin with ya Marc, but would a 68" x 2"stave benefit from 2-3 courses of sinew?!? I would think diminishing returns...
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 14, 2017, 09:28:23 am
A 68" bow pulled 34" is no different than 56" bow pulled 28".
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Josh B on July 14, 2017, 09:35:02 am
Not arguin with ya Marc, but would a 68" x 2"stave benefit from 2-3 courses of sinew?!? I would think diminishing returns...

Yes a 68" sinew backed bow could be efficient provided the draw length and or reflex are enough to work the sinew.   Too long for sinew should be viewed in a relativity mindset that factors in the amount of strain the bow will be under at full draw.  However, a 68" bendy handled bow with proper tiller should be able to handle 34" draw without sinew.  Josh
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Stringman on July 14, 2017, 09:52:50 am
Makes sense.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: Badger on July 14, 2017, 10:32:40 am
  I tend to agree with the guys before you start verify draw length. I think 68" will stack a bit no matter how you tiller it. The other thing is that once you start the build at whatever point it starts taking set you don't have far you can go regardless of target draw length. Some of these long draw bows are so mushy they are not worth shooting. I would no go shorter than about 74".
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on July 14, 2017, 12:14:33 pm
one of the main benefits of sinew, is the short bow is less likely to take set or break.. but not always,, you know how bow making is,, (W
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: loon on July 14, 2017, 03:57:48 pm
why not just go with a dense wood like osage or ipe, make it wide and holmegaard-ish? maybe with slightly flipped tips.

say with bamboo backed ipe and 2" wide, 4" stiff handle and 1.5" fades, holmegaard style (eiffel tips pyramid with stiff 4" tips), how short could I go for 60#@32"? With no set

I wanna make a maple self bow with a 32" draw, maybe 76" long. I don't like how unwieldly long bows are. But I really like how smooth and sweet they are.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: LittleBen on July 14, 2017, 09:50:35 pm
Agreed with all that's been said.

I built a bow for two different guys with legitimate 31" draws ... both well over 6' tall. Built both bows 68" with 12 riser section. They were both hickory backed Ipe tri laminate bows, reflex deflex design, 1.5" wide and 60+#. i don't know if they would have handled much more draw though ... maybe. But then again they were a far cry from a self bow.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: sleek on July 14, 2017, 11:14:07 pm
A 68" bow pulled 34" is no different than 56" bow pulled 28".

Hey Pearl, it can be done. ;) its just a hard build. Honestly, id bet a 56 inch bow van be made to pull in the 30s at 50# and have a cast in the 160s to 170s.
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on July 15, 2017, 11:20:53 am
Sleek I think you would break alot of bows to get one to work,, but thats a whole nother thread right,, )P(
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: RatherBinTheWoods on July 20, 2017, 08:26:21 am
I saw Mike from YouTube channel Boarrior Bows manage to get 28" draw from a 48" bow on video!! Its under heading Shortest Boarrior Bow Ever!. Crazy tiller for wood but it's actually a really cool looking little thing.

It can be done but not quite as easily as he makes it sound  - "follow a ring and stick some rawhide on" Although both those will help you get there obviously :0)
Title: Re: Big Feller Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 20, 2017, 08:48:35 am
Its all about longevity a healthy bow and worry free shooting. None of which will come from the above bow. Not to mention incredible stacking. If you know what stack is then you know how to feel it. These super stressed bows get 75% of their draw weigh the last 4" of draw. I have felt it many times over.