Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bearbowman on December 24, 2008, 12:02:44 pm
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I'm not speaking of a particular wood species. this is purely a general question.
How do you feel about cutting in a shelf?
would you recommend it?
is it possible without affecting the integrity of the bow?
Bob
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Lots of guys do it, don't hurt a thing but you have to make sure there is enough wood in the handle.
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Lots do it but I don't. There is a chance that if the handle area bends at all the cut in area could split. Adding an arrow rest(I like a floppy or off the hand) makes more since to me...but that's just me. There is no reason to do it and in my opinion it is way more work...and I like a self bow to look like a self bow and not a glass lam bow. Pat
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Looks outta place an like Pat said looks like a glass bow. Looks really stupid to my eye an besides ya dont need it imo....bob
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I'm getting ready to start my first bow. i'm trying to ask as many questions as possible.
I figure I won't know if I don't ask.
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We like questions and folks that ask. How else can you learn. Pat
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I used to cut shelves in all my bows simply because I didn't know any better. I still cut them in boo backed laminated bows if they have a riser but with self bow style handles I no longer use them, I do slighlty narrow the arrow pass area. Steve
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I think they are dangerous for beginners. You must make sure the handle area does not bend at all or it's Rice Crispies time. I don't do it because I don't want to. Jawge
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It's possible, but to be honest I hate a cut-in shelf on a selfbow, for all the reasons already mentioned. I often add a small leather rest.
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Well, I must be the only one..... ::) I always cut in a shelf if the bow design/wood allows for it. There is no reason it will break any easier than a laminated bow as long as you leave it thick enough not to bend. I've made probally a couple hundred selfbows with arrow shelves and I've never had one brake yet. I actually prefer the way it looks as well as shoots......To each their own I guess.
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I was waiting for ya to chime in ryano ;) :)
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What Ryan said...minus about 175 bows. ;D
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I have done a couple just because I dont have that many different spined arrows and more center shot helps with that...But I do prefer to shoot off the knuckle or leather and I mostly like my little bendy handle bows and a cut in shelf is a no no there. Cant hardly beat the comfort of a bulbous handle with a floppy rest, thanks Pat ;)
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Brian, You will have to thank Dean Torges for the bulbous handle idea and Mickey Lotz for the floppy. All I did was use their ideas(plagiarize) ;D
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I very rarely cut in an arrow shelf on a selfbow. I don't think it's necessary, and I also don't like the way it looks. For a beginner, I don't believe it's a good idea.
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Looks outta place an like Pat said looks like a glass bow. Looks really stupid to my eye an besides ya dont need it imo....bob
What Bob said :). But as Ryano said- to each their own. I've no problem cutting one in for people who ask for them.
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I guess all my bows are ugly then..... ;)
Here's a few of my ugly arrow shelf bows...... :-X ::)
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Here's a couple more. This should give you a idea what kind of thickness you can get away with.
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I cut shelves in my selfbows. I build bows because I like to so I do whatever makes me happy. ;D Sometimes I want to, sometimes I don't. I have a few bows sitting with no finish and no grip because I didn't feel like anything at the time. ;D ;D ;D
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Oh my god Ryano, their absoulute abominations, how dare you post such disfigured bows :o ;) :D
As you can see bearbowman self bows come in many flavors and to me all are of them unique and beautiful :)
As for a cut in shelf not being safe for a beginner lots of my first bows had cut in shelfs and I never had one
break. And if one should break and clout ya upside the head well you will have learned a valuable lesson eh ;D
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Yeah Ryan, those are downright hideous unspeakably unholy unclean things there- Better send them all to me so I can grind the shelves off..........;D
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Nice bunch of bows Ryan,I cut a shelf sometime and sometime I don't just depends on my mood at the time.I like
them on bow I plan on deer hunting with cause I leave it hanging and it is nice to have an arrow sitting on the string.
I don't think it make them pretty or ugly ,just what ever I feel like,I enjoy people liking my bows but really deep down don't care weather they like them or not as long as I do. I like to uses the twist in the wood if possible to help center shot one ,then glue on a leather shelf,but that ant always possible. :)
Pappy
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Yep The ugly ones are the dependible ones .Merry christmas Ryan
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Yep, pretty standard on my bows also. Nowhere near cut to center though. -ART B
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Not a big fan of the cut in shelf on a self bow. It just seems out of place to me. Although I am sure it would make a much simpler bow to shoot. Proper arrow spine would be less critical because the arrow would have to bend around the handle much less. I either glue on a small wedge shape to use as a shelf or just shoot off the finger.
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Beautiful, Ryan. Everyone, I have my reasons for not making bows with cut ins. They have nothing to do with appearance. My reasons would be silly to some but not to me. LOL. :) Jawge
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The only disadvantage I can think of to cutting in a shelf would be the inability to shoot it upsidedown or change hands. I usually shoot mine several times before cutting, just to make sure my mind is made up about which limb is gonna be the top and which one is gonna be the bottom. I usually make this decision before the bow is even tillered, but sometimes you're thrown a curveball and need to change things.
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Beautiful, Ryan. Everyone, I have my reasons for not making bows with cut ins. They have nothing to do with appearance. My reasons would be silly to some but not to me. LOL. :) Jawge
I'm pretty sure "because it's ugly" is a sillier reason than yours Jawge :).
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My first couple a bows had a shelf and they worked Ok. The last few do not. I like em both ways. Kinda depends on how the bow turns out fer me.
I must admit I feel that no cut in shelf is much more pleasin to the eye. Plus I feel it causes you to pay more attention to the spine of your arrow fer proper performance. Somethin, way too many archers seem to ignore. I think a center shot shelf may be part of the culprit there. Takin away the archer's paradox, takes away from the full experience. At least fer me.
TheWildCat
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My first couple a bows had a shelf and they worked Ok. The last few do not. I like em both ways. Kinda depends on how the bow turns out fer me.
I must admit I feel that no cut in shelf is much more pleasin to the eye. Plus I feel it causes you to pay more attention to the spine of your arrow fer proper performance. Somethin, way too many archers seem to ignore. I think a center shot shelf may be part of the culprit there. Takin away the archer's paradox, takes away from the full experience. At least fer me.
TheWildCat
The paradox is still there, just not as radical as wide handles.
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I agree with ya. The paradox is still there, but I feel it is more critical without the center shot shelf.
TheWildCat
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I don't, but that's because I mostly build bend through the handle d-bows.
Sean