Author Topic: A Succsessful Experiment  (Read 3502 times)

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Offline arachnid

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A Succsessful Experiment
« on: November 24, 2014, 09:26:01 am »
Hi Guys!

It`s been a wile since I finished a bow and I wanted to share this one with you all.
I have a carpenter friend that helped me quite a bit when I first started making bows.
Unfortunally, he`s got to close his shop, so I went to his place and asked permission to
scaveng for any good board. I found a piece of african walnut and took it to use it as a core
for a long time planed bow. After ripping a core lam, I had just enough of that walnut left to experiment so I backed it with
some red oak stripes I had (yes, you read it right- RED OAK BACKING). I went for a simple flat bow
and had no expectations. During the rough cut, I exidentaly cut the fades to short and the handle piece poped off!
I went on and ended up with a bendy handle flatbow. She`s only 30lb@26" but, oh man, she zipps these arrow! After 100+ shots
she took almost no set!
She might not be the prettiest bow on my rack but I`m very pleased with the results.

Stats:
66" TTT red oak backed african walnut
Ipe tips
Cork built up handle with leather grip (I still need to work on my stiching...)
30lb@26"

Tips:


Front profile:


Braced:


Full Draw:

Offline ajbruggink

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  • Aaron Bruggink, Oostburg, WI, USA
Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2014, 09:39:56 am »
Well done sir, I love it when experiments work out.

Offline Pappy

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2014, 10:51:22 am »
Good looking bow, nice work.  :)
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2014, 10:58:13 am »
Cool, great tiller.
I love experimenting, I think those bows we try with no expectations can often surprise us the most. :laugh:
I suspect there's a "sweet spot" for bow draw weight and length to get the best speed/draw weight ratio.
There comes a point where piling on the draw weight doesn't give as much improvement in speed (power maybe, for shooting heavier arrows) but I reckon 35# to 45# is pretty near the money. Ok 60# will give more grunt, but not twice what you get from your 30#
Sorry I'm rambling now  :-[
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline arachnid

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2014, 11:26:22 am »
I see what you mean Del.
I don't have a chrony but I think this bow preforms like my 40lb white oak backed ipe just becaus the design is better.
And to think I almost left this walnut at the shop becaus I thought it too soft for a bow...

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2014, 10:47:32 pm »
What more could you want?  File that under the success column!
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Springbuck

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2014, 12:09:22 pm »
  Any idea what African walnut is really called, like scientifically.  Lots of those tropical hardwoods have funny names.

Offline PatM

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2014, 12:22:17 pm »
Possibly coula edulis?

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2014, 01:09:23 pm »
Now that is a very successful experiment. Well done. Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline arachnid

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2014, 05:16:04 pm »
- According to the wood database it`s called "Lovoa trichilioides"

- Thanks a lot George! How`s the tiller looks?

Offline bushboy

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2014, 10:21:55 am »
Nice tiller!cool tips! 8)
Some like motorboats,I like kayaks,some like guns,I like bows,but not the wheelie type.

Offline simson

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2014, 01:40:09 pm »
Well done, experiments are the key for improvement!
Simon
Bavaria, Germany

Offline Springbuck

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Re: A Succsessful Experiment
« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2014, 02:58:24 pm »
  Thanks, Arachnid, I will look it up....