31
Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by Hamish on September 09, 2025, 04:23:47 am »Agreed. Cool bow. Checks stay well inside the edges of the limbs, totally safe.
Recent Posts
32
Bows / Re: Ash Reflex Deflex underway
« Last post by ifferentgravel on September 09, 2025, 02:37:37 am »That was a great write-up — thanks for sharing the full process, including the ups and downs. A few thoughts on what you described:
- Ash performance: Ash can be a bit unpredictable for bow wood. It’s easy to work and forgiving in tiller, but it’s also notorious for taking set, especially in shorter designs. What you saw (hinges developing near the tips and general set across the limbs) is unfortunately very “ash-like.” Wych elm should give you noticeably better results — it holds up to compression better.
- Length vs. draw weight: At 60" and aiming for 40 lbs, you were definitely pushing it. As you mentioned, adding 4–6" would have made a big difference in longevity. Ash bows usually prefer longer, lower-stress designs.
- Fire hardening / dry heat reflex: These methods can add stiffness and improve initial performance, but they don’t magically solve ash’s tendency to take set under repeated use. They work best when the underlying design is already well within the wood’s comfort zone.
Next steps:
- Try that same profile with wych elm — you’ll probably notice a huge difference.
- Don’t be afraid to go longer next time if you want 40+ lbs; less stress on the wood means less set and fewer sudden hinge problems.
- Your approach of shooting a lot before final finishing is exactly the right lesson — the wood “shows its hand” after a few hundred arrows.
Honestly, despite the setbacks, it sounds like you did a solid job on the tiller and the build. This one may not be your strongest bow, but it gave you a ton of useful feedback for the next.
- Ash performance: Ash can be a bit unpredictable for bow wood. It’s easy to work and forgiving in tiller, but it’s also notorious for taking set, especially in shorter designs. What you saw (hinges developing near the tips and general set across the limbs) is unfortunately very “ash-like.” Wych elm should give you noticeably better results — it holds up to compression better.
- Length vs. draw weight: At 60" and aiming for 40 lbs, you were definitely pushing it. As you mentioned, adding 4–6" would have made a big difference in longevity. Ash bows usually prefer longer, lower-stress designs.
- Fire hardening / dry heat reflex: These methods can add stiffness and improve initial performance, but they don’t magically solve ash’s tendency to take set under repeated use. They work best when the underlying design is already well within the wood’s comfort zone.
Next steps:
- Try that same profile with wych elm — you’ll probably notice a huge difference.
- Don’t be afraid to go longer next time if you want 40+ lbs; less stress on the wood means less set and fewer sudden hinge problems.
- Your approach of shooting a lot before final finishing is exactly the right lesson — the wood “shows its hand” after a few hundred arrows.
Honestly, despite the setbacks, it sounds like you did a solid job on the tiller and the build. This one may not be your strongest bow, but it gave you a ton of useful feedback for the next.
33
Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by sleek on September 09, 2025, 02:20:06 am »Wow thats a sweet looking bow! I also think those checks add a nice bit of character and you will be fine with them
34
Bows / Re: Do you have a chronograph? Id like help.
« Last post by willie on September 08, 2025, 11:48:19 pm »This is already pretty well tested. Allen is shooting his bows at about 1/4 grains per pound. I seldom test below 100 grains, but any testing I have done always shows more speed with less weight no matter how light you go. Using a chrono to estimate virtual mass is a very useful tool for a flight shooter/ bow builder
1/4 grains per pound? can you clarify?
on another thought,
Does more speed out of the bow always make for a longer shot? I seem to recall a theory that an arrow needs enough weight to "carry" well.
35
Bows / What do you think of this checking
« Last post by Newindian on September 08, 2025, 09:35:38 pm »Osage self bow 35# @ 28”
I’ve had this bow for about a decade now sitting mostly finished and recently retillered and prettied it up. Shot about ~ 200 arrows through it since then
This one came off the inside of a stave that had some very deep cracks running from the pith which I couldn’t completely cut out (I think they might’ve formed before the tree was cut down). They run completely though the lower limb of this bow. I filled them with superglue and they’ve never given me any issues, but I’ve recently been considering selling off this one and wanted to get some other opinions first.
I’ve had this bow for about a decade now sitting mostly finished and recently retillered and prettied it up. Shot about ~ 200 arrows through it since then
This one came off the inside of a stave that had some very deep cracks running from the pith which I couldn’t completely cut out (I think they might’ve formed before the tree was cut down). They run completely though the lower limb of this bow. I filled them with superglue and they’ve never given me any issues, but I’ve recently been considering selling off this one and wanted to get some other opinions first.
36
Shooting and Hunting / Re: My Version of the side quiver
« Last post by Don W on September 08, 2025, 09:26:34 pm »Quote
the website had to move. Here is the new link.
https://with-my-own-hands.blogspot.com/2025/09/my-version-of-side-quiver.html
37
Bows / Re: History has been made! Congratulations Alan Case!
« Last post by sleek on September 08, 2025, 06:32:48 pm »I guarantee he has shot further. He has broken the record likely for several years, just he was never able to find those arrows. Dedicating time to find them is the hard part.
I heard he can flick the bow string and tell you how far it will shoot. The man is a genius.
I heard he can flick the bow string and tell you how far it will shoot. The man is a genius.
38
Bows / Re: History has been made! Congratulations Alan Case!
« Last post by loefflerchuck on September 08, 2025, 06:01:55 pm »By the way, he found an arrow from a past year that was further than his official record of about 1.18 miles? The lost arrow shot was almost 1.25 miles. Alan is the only person I have met who has a specific form of synesthesia where he can tap an arrow and listen to the tone it makes to tell if it is tuned properly for optimal flight with a specific weight bow. I’ve also seen him tap a bow to tell the draw weight by the tone it makes.
39
Trading Post / grooving tools for horn bow making
« Last post by Mafort on September 08, 2025, 02:12:24 pm »looking to see if anyone has any good grooving tools for hornbow making. tried making my own but i dont have the hands for it. i have a yes wood stave, sinew galore, and feathers. or if you know where i can find one on a website that would be helpful as well.
40
Bows / Re: Do you have a chronograph? Id like help.
« Last post by Badger on September 08, 2025, 11:00:24 am » This is already pretty well tested. Allen is shooting his bows at about 1/4 grains per pound. I seldom test below 100 grains, but any testing I have done always shows more speed with less weight no matter how light you go. Using a chrono to estimate virtual mass is a very useful tool for a flight shooter/ bow builder