Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Flight Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on March 08, 2011, 12:41:53 pm

Title: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 08, 2011, 12:41:53 pm

I made this little flight bow a few months ago.  It was an idea I had a few years ago that involved modifying the design of the flight bows I made several years ago.  I just never got around to doing anything with it until now.  The bow is made out of spliced billets of Elm and at 52" N to N the bow is short but it only draws to 25" where it pulls 43#.  It was a test bow so I didn't bother putting a finish on it.  Here's a couple pictures of it

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/MSC/Bracedprofile.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/MSC/Tilleredprofile.jpg)

I tested the bow with 2 different weight arrows.  With 6.5 GPP arrows it was getting this through my chrony

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/MSC/275Gtopspeed.jpg)

When I dropped the arrow weight to 5 GPP I was getting this through my chrony

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/MSC/TopSpeed.jpg)

I wrote an article for PA on it's construction and with more detailed picture, which I won't share here at this time.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: NTD on March 08, 2011, 01:06:56 pm

Dang Marc, I really love that design.  Might have to get a pair of billets and try that design again.  I'm looking forward to the article.  Thanks for the sneak peek.

Is there much difference between this bow and the high performance reflex recurve bows in the article you did a little while ago?

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Parnell on March 08, 2011, 01:41:00 pm

That looks real good.  The one I'd worked on I blew the tiller.  Got it bending out of the handle and it hinged so quick that it is basically a bust. >:(
Oh well, I'm over it, but another attempt will be made in the future.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: ErictheViking on March 08, 2011, 01:49:14 pm

Sweet full draw pic.  What would those numbers translate to distance, just curious?

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Elktracker on March 08, 2011, 01:49:40 pm

Wow thats cool and fast too, I know a guy that just bought a new bowtech destroyer binary cam compound bow at 60# and it shoots 260fps with a heavier arrow but man that is really impressive.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 08, 2011, 02:09:31 pm

There are some slight differences Nate but you'll have to wait for the article to see them.

Those speeds should translate to 400+ yards with perfect arrow flight.  If it was a full 50# draw weight then it would do better that that.

Maybe you could quantify that Elk? That's 260 fps with what weight arrow?  A heavy arrow for a compound shooter might be 400 grains and that would work out to just under 7 GPP. 

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Elktracker on March 08, 2011, 02:15:23 pm

Ya it was a 460 grains tottal arrow weight so I guess it not that heavy, thats funny considering it is one of the new flagship bows for 2010 and cost $900 just for the bow without sights and all the other gadgets ;D

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: DEllis on March 08, 2011, 04:00:20 pm

I'd love to shoot a wood bow as fast as my buddies compound.......it'd drive him nuts >:D
That's fast.
Darcy :)

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: bambule on March 08, 2011, 04:41:26 pm

Ya great looking bow Marc and fantastic results.
What kind of string do you use on that bow for the results?

Greetz
Cord

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: TBod on March 08, 2011, 04:57:28 pm

Cool!

What speed with a 10 GPP?

I did some amateur calculation with your data which gave about 195 fps with that bow.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Elktracker on March 08, 2011, 05:02:50 pm

I was wondering when you say GPP is this grain per pound? I have heard GPI grains per inch thanks just wondering. What was the tottal arrow weight Mark? Thanks

Josh

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Barrage on March 08, 2011, 05:27:02 pm

Looks great Marc.  I will be looking forward to reading about this one.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: ErictheViking on March 08, 2011, 06:50:29 pm

Ya Josh thats grains per pound of draw weight. so a 50lb bow would shoot a 500grain arrow @10gpp

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Elktracker on March 08, 2011, 07:35:54 pm

OK thanks

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 08, 2011, 07:37:35 pm

The string I was using was an 8 strand FF.  

Because this is a flight bow I never actually tested it with heavy arrows but I shot it this morning with a 400 grain arrow and was surprised at how fast they were going, no chrony though.

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: fishfinder401 on March 08, 2011, 07:46:35 pm

thanks for posting this, i think this might be my next project after the ipe and hickory longbow im planning, and the footbow i want to make, although, i guess the foot bow could also be considered a flight bow
thanks for the help
noel

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Sidewinder on March 08, 2011, 07:48:47 pm

Marc, without a doubt you are one of the resident Masters. I would also say you are the poster child for Elm because youa re kciking out some killer elm bows. I would love to see the faces of the cyborg shooters when they see that thing shoot.   Danny

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: mullet on March 08, 2011, 10:45:05 pm

Man! That is fast, Marc. Looks like the same Chrono I use. How do you calculate the distance from the speed?

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Keenan on March 09, 2011, 03:39:43 am

Marc that is incredible and shows just how much you are pushing the extremes of a wood bow. Well done. Can't wait to hear how it dose on the distance. We are going to have to start calling you "Rocket Man" or maybe "After Burner"  >:D

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Pappy on March 09, 2011, 09:42:36 am

Great looking bow,man that is quick.Nice work.  :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 09, 2011, 10:38:19 am

Very nicely done, Marc. Very impressive speeds. Jawge

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 09, 2011, 06:57:22 pm

Thanks guys.

Eddie.  I've shot 320 yards with a bow shooting 220 fps so an extra 22 fps should easily tack on another 80 yards.  There's also a program out there that can calculate distance from velocity.

This one is just a test bow Keenan.  I plan on making another with some improvements for someone to shoot at the flight shoots

Title: Re: Elm Flight Bow
Post by: Kviljo on March 10, 2011, 09:53:47 pm

It is a very interesting design. I think it looks like it has a thicker and stiffer area just below the recurves, and more bend closer to the handle. Features not unlike the turkish composite design.

Is there a reason why this one has not got as much reflex as your other recurves?