Del's miniature, must see performance pic.

[Del the cat]

I made a miniature arrow, with a bodkin stile head, (unfletched at the moment) and tested it against one of those little soft drink cans.





Not bad eh! So even if those mice make themselves armour out of beer cans I'll still get 'em!
The head was made from a nail, nice soft steel which is easy to drill and file. I sawed the end off the nail, drilled a hole down it and then epoxied it onto another nail so that I could hold it while I filed it to shape. A bit of heat removed it from the the nail once it was finished, the arrow shaft is a wooden skewer from the cooking section of the local store.
Del

[Josh]

that's pretty awesome del!  How did you make that point? 

[medicinewheel]

WOW... that's COOL !!!

[Del the cat]

that's pretty awesome del!  How did you make that point? 

It's partially explained below the pic, I also did a bit of work on it by mounting it in a drill press (it was epoxied onto a bit of nail, to let me get it in the chuck) and carefully using a file on it.
I use my drill press as a 'poor mans lathe'. I tidied it up with needle files once it was on the shaft.
I shall look out for some small feathers to fletch it.
The nock was cut on my little hoby bandsaw.
Del

[Josh]

Cool I see the explanation now below the pics... Don't know how I missed that... All I saw was the text at the top...     That is a pretty cool laminate bow you made there.  I have one I started out of a piece of red oak I just haven't put a finish on it yet or made any arrows... I am having a hard time making a string that will stay together for mine... -josh

[Del the cat]

Cool I see the explanation now below the pics... Don't know how I missed that... All I saw was the text at the top...     That is a pretty cool laminate bow you made there.  I have one I started out of a piece of red oak I just haven't put a finish on it yet or made any arrows... I am having a hard time making a string that will stay together for mine... -josh

I make continuous loop type Dacron string, it's a good quick easy way to get started.
I want to make a totally natural string sometime of course, but have soooo many projects before I get round to that one.
Del

[radius]

i dunno Del, after the last time you tricked us...i bet you photo-shopped that pic and this one's a lie, too!   

let's see one of the cat shooting it!

[Diligence]

way cool Del....I wonder if you would be able to make a mini atlatl....and toss a dart with it?....lol

j

[Del the cat]

Hey Radius, you cat teaser!
It's genuine...the first shot was too central and the can just flexed and it left a dent, the second shot penetrated as the can is stiffer near the rim, what surprised me is the way it penetrated the back too. The bodkin shaped point doubtless helped.
I've still got the can transfixed by the arrow standing by the PC  .
It would be interesting to shake up a full can and try it...but maybe not indoors!
Del

[Aries]

Thats awesome!! i love mini bows they are too much fun! This is about the best one ive seen so far. how big is it? and what type of woods did you use??

[Del the cat]

Thats awesome!! i love mini bows they are too much fun! This is about the best one ive seen so far. how big is it? and what type of woods did you use??

Here's the link to the thread...I originally posted it without the cat picture, so you couldn't see it was a minature...I teased everyone for a day pretending it was full sized, and then let the cat out of the bag  .
18" long 3# at 8" draw Cherry/Ash is the quick answer.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,17833.0.html
All the info and more pics on that thread.
Del

[Lombard]

That is inventive Del.

[Swamp Bow]

I shall look out for some small feathers to fletch it.

Quail feathers!  I keep looking at the primaries floating around my pens and thinking that they look like they need to be on a shaft.

Too bad you can't bow hunt over there.  A squirrel would be considered "big" game.  How about a hero shot with a house mouse?

Swamp

[elk country rp]

are you by any chance snowed in?     

[The Gopher]

i love that bow, it looks so good that the bow looks full sized next to a giant pop can!