Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Frode on December 15, 2009, 10:43:37 pm
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Hello all,
Briefly, I'm new to archery and bow building since October '09, when I attended a local Renfaire event. I'm interested in history and traditional technology, but I'm not big enough or bad enough or young enough to seriously entertain heavy combat demonstrations (ie. getting bashed on by bigger, badder, younger modern Vikings). Someone invited me to an archery practice, my wife took archery in college and enjoyed it, and said I might too. I was hooked, and got my first 30# fiberglass bow. It didn't take long to see that that wouldn't do forever, and what was needed was a good wood longbow. Which I couldn't afford, but surely I would have at least a 4% chance of being able to make one that wouldn't blow up on me too badly. My first bow was based more or less on the instructions on the poorfolksbows.com site, a red oak board bow with a handle, 72" long, approx. 45# @28", linen backed. Miraculously, it hasn't exploded or otherwise misbehaved, despite numerous imperfections.
(http://picasaweb.google.com/anthonyspangler/FrodeSFirstBow#5415643609814974162)
(http://picasaweb.google.com/anthonyspangler/FrodeSFirstBow#5415643647144884226)
My second is a maple board bow with handle, also linen backed, still in process.
My first question (of many, many yet to come) is, how much of a radius do I need on the back edges? Both of these bows are rounded over about 1/16th max, with no sign of trouble, but they're both still young.
Here's No. 2, so far;
(http://picasaweb.google.com/anthonyspangler/FrodeNo2#5415644270393075602)
I feel pretty good since neither of these have broken, but I get a big dose of humble when I see all the amazing work being done here!
I'll gladly take all the advice and help you care to give.
Frode
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Frode,
The pics you posted dont seem to be working.
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great looking bows..... I am no bowyer but those look pretty good to me, go kill something with them and let us know how thay did.. ;D ;) Hawk
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well just judging from the braced profile they look to be bending evenly. We love full draw pictures here so crank em back and get a good side-view full draw pic up on each of em for us. By the way welcome to Primitive Archer!!!! There is a wealth of knowledge shared here besides the nicest people in the world. hope you enjoy your stay. :) :) -josh
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Those are some nice looking bows. The first time I looked the pics were not coming up. But they are now. dont hesitate to ask questions on this site. The guys on here are all really good guys and they will help you out with about anything you need. Get some full draw pics up, we all like to see a bow at full draw.
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You know I used to feel the same way ,when I looked at the bows on this site humbled. But now I look at as a wealth of information to keep making bows ,if we made the same style and type all the time it would get old . Very nice bows and welcome to the brotherhood .
Dennis
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good job by jumping in a doing so well right out of the gate...
you may want to radius the edges to something closer to 3/16ths of an inch to help keep them from lifting a splinter.
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Hey Frode: I'm impressed!!!
Is it upper limb on the left hand side on both bows?
We need FULLDRAWS!!!!!
(We are all VERY nice people here, but we have VERY short patience for MORE PICTURES!!!! ;D ;D ;D )
Go ask many questions here, and you'll be helped!
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I feel pretty good since neither of these have broken, but I get a big dose of humble when I see all the amazing work being done here!
...
Ps: I won BOM few x's and I still get my dose of humble over here kinda often; that's the motor of it all...!
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Frode,
Those bows look good to me, they are bending, I'll bet they fling a mean arrow. Keep it up. You may not be aware of this.....this stuff gets real addictive in a real big hurry.
These are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.....If the bows suit you that's all that matters, again they look good to me.
Half eye
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Good job! Full draw would show tiller and that's the name of the game. Then we could really help you. :) Jawge
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Nice work,and what Jawge said. :)
Pappy
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Thanks all, for the welcome and kind words!
I'm going to increase the edge radii on both bows to the recommended 3/16ths today. So far, the only thing I'm close to killing is the wooden leg of a target (it will be mine one day, oh yes, it will be mine). I do like the way the red oak bow shoots, and it does deliver the arrow with a much more satisfying thump than my fiberglass bow, but beyond that I'm still too much of a noob to describe the differences.
And medicinewheel has hit on it; I want to learn to build bows, but I need to learn to do better documentation. Full draw pics coming soon, I promise.
As for the addiction, well, that warning has come too late. Missus Frode walked in while I was roughing out the maple bow and said, "You couldn't stop with one?!", rolled her eyes, shook her head and walked out. She was smiling, though.
Anyway, Thanks Again,
Frode
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Way to go! I'd say you did tremendously well for being just out of the gates. Ditto on the full draw pics. I started with that site, also. Then found PA a few weeks later. I can't say enough about the help you'll get from this crew. My next major information source was the Traditional Bowyers Bible books. Start with the first, if you're interested. Welcome aboard!
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...I started with that site, also. Then found PA a few weeks later. I can't say enough about the help you'll get from this crew. My next major information source was the Traditional Bowyers Bible books. Start with the first, if you're interested. Welcome aboard!
Thanks Parnell,
That's about what my time line was like, too. Actually, I have the first three TBB books out from the library currently, read through all of them once so far. I have them conspicuously placed, and have dropped broad and none too subtle hints about what great resources they are, and how the value of books goes far beyond the cover price, etc., etc... oh, Christmas is coming, you say? I hadn't noticed. ;D
Frode
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My camera doesn't handle closeups well, but here are few pics showing the newly rounded back edges on the red oak board, a shot of it strung, and a full draw shot.
The distance between the string and handle (brace height?) is 7". Does that seem right? The string is twisted a bit tighter than in the earlier pics.
I'd been advised that there was a flat/stiff area on the upper limb, but there was some question as to whether or not it could be corrected without ruining the bow. Your thoughts?
You can see from the full draw pic that my technique would be to blind my prey with head glare, then strike.
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Good tiller. I like a little more movement from the fades on but that's personal preference. Jawge
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Thanks, George. That raises another question about the differences in bows that curve quickly or through the entire limb, vs. those that seem to curve more quickly near the tips.
That's for another day, though.
Frode
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You can see from the full draw pic that my technique would be to blind my prey with head glare, then strike.
I hear ya brother. ;D -josh
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Got you red oak board bow bookmarked for Dec BOM fun. Any more?
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Thanks, Oldbow! I strung and shot a half dozen from the maple bow tonight, it still needs a bit of work on the upper limb. It's a lot heavier draw than I'm used to so far, 50+ at full draw, so I have to decide whether to take it down a notch or just try and man up. :-\
Frode
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... It's a lot heavier draw than I'm used to so far, 50+ at full draw, so I have to decide whether to take it down a notch or just try and man up....
I would not take down weight below a draw weight you have already pulled!
Your fulldraw looks good! - It's often hard to tell from the pictures but maybe it bends a bit too much in the lower limb; if it feels okay in the hand, leave it alone.
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I would not take down weight below a draw weight you have already pulled!
I was afraid you'd say that, medicinewheel! Oh well, pass the Wheaties. ;D
Well everyone, here it is, tillered some more to even out the limbs. Currently about 50@27". It looks more even to me, but I defer to more experienced eyes. I welcome all your comments!
Thanks,
Frode
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Frode, when a bow does most of its bending mid limb on it actually begins to stack ( rapid increase in poundage) as full draw approaches. That is one of the draw backs to that design. To counteract the stacking the bow must be made longer. Jawge
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Getting the near handle wood to move a little more should help. Jawge
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Frode, when a bow does most of its bending mid limb on it actually begins to stack ( rapid increase in poundage) as full draw approaches. That is one of the draw backs to that design. To counteract the stacking the bow must be made longer. Jawge
Getting the near handle wood to move a little more should help. Jawge
Hi George,
I took just a bit off in the first third (or so) of each limb, and smoothed it all back out. It seems a bit faster out of the fades, and the draw dropped to 47#@28".
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Frode
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Tiller is beautiful. I like it. How's she drawing for you. Jawge
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Tiller is beautiful. I like it. How's she drawing for you. Jawge
Smoother, now, thanks. 47#'s a bit more than I'm used to, yet, but it doesn't bind up near the end like it did initially. I think I understand the concept of stacking a little better now, too.
I won't call myself a bowyer, but Missus Frode is starting to think she's a bowyer's widow, so no more work tonight, but tomorrow I'll finish it up and post with some (hopefully) better pictures.
Thanks again,
Frode
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Oh great....a PatB Clone........................ :P........ ;D............. ;)
Nice Tiller Frode....I like it....just kidding on the Pat thang!!!