Author Topic: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?  (Read 1875 times)

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Offline Lost Oki

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2023, 12:25:57 pm »
Strung and shot the bow this morning using 31" 500 weight arrows with 125 grain field tips.  Definitely a heavier draw weight that bow #1.  Pic is bow #2 at full draw (28"), longer fade/handle (by approx 13/16") is top limb.  Bow length is 62 N to N. 


Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2023, 02:58:32 pm »
Very nice tiller, Oki. Jawge
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Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #17 on: January 15, 2023, 03:16:53 pm »
congrats :)

Offline Lost Oki

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #18 on: January 15, 2023, 05:41:35 pm »
Thank you gentlemen.  Now to finish handle, shoot, then finish and shoot. 

Offline Pappy

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #19 on: January 16, 2023, 07:54:34 am »
Looks good to me, nice job. :)
 Pappy
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Offline Lost Oki

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2023, 11:38:57 am »
Finished out the bow using Ebony stain and sealer with a water based poly for top coat.  Then wrapped the handle in a white deer skin I have on hand. 

I had left the bow in the shop for several days without any sealer, humidity went up to 65% and I lost draw weight.  Using heat gun at 3" from bow I got back a few lbs but ended up with 32 lbs.. Not sure what to do from here.  Is it possible to add draw weight (searched but could not find any info) ?  Could I add to belly, (back has burlap glued down).  I have been trying to get to 40 lbs but so far #1 bow is 35 and #2 is 32 lbs (both are Red Oak).  I am new at this so I need all the help I can get.  I have Oak, Cherry, Walnut on hand.

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #21 on: January 22, 2023, 12:52:27 pm »
as I said earlier,,, sinew will add more weight,, cut the bow to 58 inches,, apply two good layers of sinew and you will hit your 40# easy,,
I have applied sinew to shot in bows,, with good results,, not the first option, but is a doable process,,
« Last Edit: January 22, 2023, 12:58:05 pm by bradsmith2010 »

Offline Lost Oki

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #22 on: January 22, 2023, 03:21:53 pm »
can I add sinew over the burlap or do I have to remove?

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #23 on: January 22, 2023, 03:46:53 pm »
Start another one, Oki. New bowyers making underweight bows is how new bowyers learn.
14 was my magic number.
Also, wider is better...1 3/8" to 1.5" will get a little more weight.
Jawge
« Last Edit: January 22, 2023, 04:12:27 pm by George Tsoukalas »
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2023, 05:04:27 pm »
great advice from Jawge,,
you would have to remove burlap from back,, and prep back by sanding and cleaning,,
it would probably be quicker to make a new bow,, but if you want to learn about sinew,, it would be a great way to learn,,

as far as making bows underweight,,,  you may not be getting it strung when it is heavy enough to tiller it even and still hit your weight,,


Offline Lost Oki

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Re: Can you build a bow out of 1 inch square Red Oak?
« Reply #25 on: January 22, 2023, 06:43:54 pm »
Well, I do have another 1x6 that I could get at least one bow out of.  I did work on the 1"x1", do not have a scale yet but its well below what the other two are, used a D shape.
Looking back ya'll are right, should be tillering before I have been.  Thanks again for the feedback.