Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bowkill on April 08, 2008, 04:01:03 pm
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I'm working on my second board bow.
Red Oak
55" n to n
bend in handle design
I have it tillered close, and about the correct weight 55# at 26"
I am allready showing about 1+ inches of string follow when it is unstrung. I was planning on using hot water and flipping the tips, and then backing with rawhide. I want this to be a hunting bow.
Do I have a bad piece of wood, and should I just give up and make it a kids bow, or do I still have a chance of it being a good bow?
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1 inch is not bad, keep going !!
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If that's all the string follow you have so far for that design and wood you are doing very well. Don't stop now.
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That's a stressed design for that wood- if that's all you have so far consider yourself blessed with unnatural skill :D.
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55# and 1" of follow ?....that is a hunting bow ! ;) ;)
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Well, I'm chalking this up to a learning experience. I boiled the tips in water for 15 minutes, and tried "flipping" them a little too much. (Actually just one side) It cracked, so I have now cut about 3 inches off each end, and my 8 year old should be expecting a new bow soon!!
Just another step in the learning process of making a great bow. As soon as I finish my "new" kids bow project, I'm starting again.
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As soon as I finish my "new" kids bow project, I'm starting again.
New bowyers are God's gift to children...never let a bow go to waste when a youngster could be appreciating it.
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i like that, gordon ;D
bowkill, even though i'm not familiar with red oak, i think 15 minutes wasn't enough. if you have a scrap piece of red oak, try boiling it for 30 and bend it then (provided you have reduced it to the dimensions of your limbs). just a thought.
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55" is really short for a hunting weight bow, especially with a weaker wood like red oak. 1" of string follow is better than average in a good design matched to the wood. People get the impression that a bow should have no follow, but that's not the way it normally works unless you start out with a bunch of reflex. Tim Baker used 1 1/2" of string follow as the norm in his performance and design chapter in the Bowyer's bible.
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1" of string folow was great i usually dont care about string follow unless its over 3"
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55" is really short for a hunting weight bow, especially with a weaker wood like red oak.
I disagree. I have made quite a few hunting weight bows (55#-40#) that have been 48"-54" long. the woods I use are soft whitewoods like Rowan and bird cherry. I have had no problems with them. No cryshals or nothing. it's the desing that makes the difference.
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OK, a 55", 55# @ 26" red oak board bow is short for some of the rest of us, then. :) I wouldn't attempt one myself, because I couldn't pull it off without making it about 2 1/2" wide. :D