Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: billmac on April 11, 2007, 05:22:20 pm

Title: rounded edges
Post by: billmac on April 11, 2007, 05:22:20 pm
When you guys are making selfbows, do you round the edges of the limbs?  Front and back?  I've read that sharp corners have a lot of tension.  Is that why they round the edges of 2x4s?
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: woody on April 11, 2007, 05:44:34 pm
I think the chapter on board bows in TBB Vol. 2 recommended rounding the edges to about a pea-sized edge, but I think that is only for the back. I'll have to check again.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Ryano on April 11, 2007, 06:29:25 pm
I like to round all the edges on my bows. ;) sharp edges just leave more of a chance of pulling up a splinter on the back or compression fractures on the belly. :(
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Pat B on April 11, 2007, 06:50:57 pm
What Ryan said!   Pat
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 11, 2007, 07:11:02 pm
All 4 corners. Rounded'em up; head'em out; move'em out! Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Pat B on April 11, 2007, 07:17:31 pm
Who do you think you are, Jawge...Roudy Yates!  ;D   Pat   
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on April 11, 2007, 07:21:33 pm
......". Roundy Yates"..... ;D ;D ;D ;D..............bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on April 11, 2007, 07:54:29 pm
All 4 corners. Rounded'em up; head'em out; move'em out! Jawge
I thought we were talking about self bows, nobody mentioned Rawhide.  ;D Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: 1/2primitive on April 11, 2007, 08:08:51 pm
Yep, I round all of the edges.
       Sean
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Gordon on April 11, 2007, 08:24:03 pm
I round all the edges. It looks and holds a finish better.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on April 11, 2007, 08:41:21 pm
Rounded corners dont dent near as bad either.  Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Hillbilly on April 11, 2007, 09:35:46 pm
I like to round 'em too.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on April 11, 2007, 10:06:41 pm
 "round n' round we go ! ;)........bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Pappy on April 12, 2007, 07:31:22 am
I also round them,just not as much on the back,a little more on the belly side,I keep the sharp edge smoothed off all the way through the tillering process,I have a little piece of rough sand paper and hit the edges after each scrapping before pulling on the bow.
   Pappy
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 12, 2007, 10:30:31 am
I knew only the old timers would get it. Head'em up! Move'em out! Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on April 12, 2007, 11:09:32 am
I knew only the old timers would get it. Head'em up! Move'em out! Jawge
Hey Im not an old timer and I got it. Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on April 12, 2007, 12:50:56 pm
 u may not be an ole'timer yet BUT keep hangin' around with the ole far## and u will be one soon enuf' ! :D  :D....bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: jpitts on April 15, 2007, 11:54:01 pm
Maybe he's Mr. Favors.....or maybe Wishbone :D ;D
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on April 16, 2007, 01:04:31 am
Im not old, just lazy.  :-X Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: tom sawyer on April 16, 2007, 01:15:28 pm
I do like Pappy, I round more judiciously on the back just so I don't pull too much of my back ring off.

In addition to preventing splinters, I think the outer edges of a limb do less work than the wood nearer the center.  So you are getting rid of less-working wood by rounding.  There's something called the Poisson effect, its where the edges of a board curl up when you bend it.  I'm not quite sure of what is going on here but I think it demonstrates that there are not equal forces acting across the limb.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: jpitts on April 20, 2007, 12:57:18 am
Tom Sawyer,
I think, from what I've read of Poisson's ratio , and the effects of Hooke's Law is that the back is trying to narrow due to the stretch tension applied, but, the compressive forces also applied to the belly counteract the effect.  I think.... ::) ;D
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: tom sawyer on April 20, 2007, 05:30:48 pm
Makes sense.  I suppose I'll have to actually look it up one of these days. 
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Kegan on April 20, 2007, 07:47:21 pm
Round all the edges, especially for wide flatbows. For ELB's round the back just a little, and the belly a good deal, diving the cross section of the limbs a "D" shape.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: duffontap on April 20, 2007, 11:02:27 pm
Leaving the corners perfectly square allows me to get yew/osage performance out of lumberyard boards.  By roughing out bows on a table saw I can easily build 6 bows an hour.  When I'm finished tillering it I intentionally break it and take extensive notes on the process.--Oh wait, I round my edges and it takes me 4 months to build one bow. 

I really like what Torges has to say about rounded edges in "Hunting the Osage Bow."  I think he handles the subject better than anyone. 

           J. D. Duff
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Uncouth on April 21, 2007, 04:05:26 am
It seems to me that many of the Native American Museum pieces I have seen have sharply squared edges, I remember thinking how perfectly square the corners looked, thinking "I can't cant do that even with modern tools".
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: D. Tiller on April 22, 2007, 01:52:53 am
Were the bows sinew backed? If so I can understand the sharp edges. Sinew would take all the strain on the back then,
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on April 22, 2007, 02:00:31 am
Most of the museum bows I have seen from the southwest are more of an oval cross section.  Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: roofus on December 22, 2008, 09:06:57 pm
This is the beauty of a site like this. This is an old post but I had the same question.
Just shows a little bit of searching and reading goes a long way. Thanks for the info!!
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: cowboy on December 22, 2008, 09:25:57 pm
Well, I might as well chime in. I'm not an oldtimer but middle timer @ 43 ::). Can't say as I've ever heard of Roudy Yates but sounds like rawhide to me ;D.
 Yup, round them corners.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: sailordad on December 22, 2008, 10:37:37 pm
ya i'm like cowboy,not a real ol' timer but i did get it right away ;D

i have learned to round all my edges,mostly for asthetic reasons and feel,atleast thats why i do it.
that and cause everyone here has told me to in the past.


                                                                                 tim
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Jesse on December 23, 2008, 02:02:05 am
I round the edges but not as much as some Ive seen. Im a bit confused on this subject. I talked to a profesional bowyer that told me rounding the belly causes a lot of set and slow arrow speed because it puts all the strain down the center on a small portion of wood instead of evenly across the limb. But the ELB bows work fine with a rounded belly ???  I round off the corners just so they are not sharp looking and have had really good luck so far.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Keenan on December 23, 2008, 04:11:50 am
  Round em up,,,   Rollin,,, Rolin,,,, Rollin  Ye ha!!! :o
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: stiknstring on December 23, 2008, 11:06:54 am
YOu guys are making miss Belushi and Akroyd....Blues Brothers!
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: wakosama on December 23, 2008, 01:36:51 pm
If you're using rawhide of fabric backing... do you round?  Before or after backing...? 

Thanks...

LUK
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: DanaM on December 23, 2008, 01:55:27 pm
wakosama when I linen back a bow I round the edges after. I use a new razor blade knife and cut the edge off at a 45, then use fine sandpaper to round the edge.
Sometimes the linen will fray some so I just use a little glue on the exposed fibers and lightly resand.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: troutbum76 on December 23, 2008, 01:59:26 pm
wakosama when I linen back a bow I round the edges after. I use a new razor blade knife and cut the edge off at a 45, then use fine sandpaper to round the edge.
Sometimes the linen will fray some so I just use a little glue on the exposed fibers and lightly resand.
i does this apply to board bows also
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: DanaM on December 23, 2008, 02:02:20 pm
Actually the only time I've used linen is on boards ::) Guess I should have specified that eh ;)
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: wakosama on December 23, 2008, 02:08:37 pm
Thanks... that sounds like just smoothing over the edge, not noticably radiusing it like I think people mean with total wood bows.  So I'll keep the back edges square and fabric it and then just round over a little. 

I guess I was wondering if people seriously radiused the edges and wrapped the fabric around the edge down onto the sides of the limbs.

LUK
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Badbill on December 23, 2008, 02:23:07 pm
I don't remember were I read it, but somewhere it says to round them to avoid splintering. So, I round them too.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: ballista on December 23, 2008, 02:53:02 pm
mhm- Im not sure if you'd round a crown if it was backed, but most of my longbows arent backed- and are kinda trapezoided in cross section. -jimmy
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 05:56:56 pm
To achieve true old timer status you must know what actor played Rowdy Yates. You can't look it up and you can't do an internet search because if you do you're only a computer geek. :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: wakosama on December 23, 2008, 06:23:06 pm
I don't remember him ever shootin' a  bow though.  Hmmm... maybe in Bronco Billy?
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 23, 2008, 08:04:43 pm
Yes, on wood and bamboo backed bows also.

George, I'm not an old timer but I sure like to watch the old movies, so I do know who it was.  ;D Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on December 23, 2008, 09:25:01 pm
 "Make my Day !" ;D....bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: John K on December 23, 2008, 09:36:41 pm
"are you feeling lucky punk" I'm not old just guessing  :D 

JohnK
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 09:37:50 pm
Justin,  "Rawhide" was not an old movie it was a series. Move'em out! :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 09:38:47 pm
Show offs. Name please. :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on December 23, 2008, 09:41:45 pm
Who sang the song fer the tv series ?  ;D Jawge and I know do ya ? ;D ;D ;D...........bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 09:45:47 pm
Frankie Lane? Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: John K on December 23, 2008, 09:47:39 pm
 ??? got me
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on December 23, 2008, 09:50:35 pm
We have a "WEINER " er I mean a " WINNER !" ;D Yup says Jawge, Frankie Layne. "Head em, move em out, Rawhide ! " ;D........bob
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 10:13:24 pm
Bob, half these kids (under 50) think "Rawhide" is something you put on the back of a bow. :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 23, 2008, 10:28:04 pm
Sorry George, I meant "shows."  ;) We have a channel on TV that shows nothing but the oldies. It ran for quite a few years originally, but there are reruns still on.  He was the king of spaghetti westerns.  "If my percentage goes down, it's liable to effect my aim."   Justin
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 23, 2008, 10:33:07 pm
Justin, that's a great channel. Those old westerns were awesome. BTW the answer is Clint Eastwood played Rowdy Yates. Round those edges, everyone! :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: cowboy on December 23, 2008, 10:53:12 pm
I had it narrowed down to Clint Eastwood, but you answered too soon George. Guess I never really watched Rawhide.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: sailordad on December 23, 2008, 10:59:32 pm
with an alias as "cowboy" and you never watched one of the best ever western tv series.

shame shame,now everyone knows your name  ;)


                                                               peace,
                                                                     tim
p.s.

yes i knew it was clint that played rowdy,and i even knew frankie layne sang the theme. and i aint even fifty(getting closer though)
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: wakosama on December 24, 2008, 12:59:46 am
Wait a minute.... I thought the "Blues Brothers" sang "Rawhide".
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Hillbilly on December 24, 2008, 10:37:24 am
;D
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: roofus on December 24, 2008, 07:12:59 pm
I'm under 50 but, Rawhide was great, Bonanza was great, But the Lone Ranger was the man!!! ;D
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 25, 2008, 10:25:23 am
The Lone Ranger was a great show. Then there's a the Rifleman which was, for me,  the best 30 min. western. Yes, The Blues Brothers did Rawhide in their movie and they did it well. Frankie Lane--Blues Brothers. Hmmm. I'll take Frankie Lane. Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: stiknstring on December 25, 2008, 11:53:25 am
You guys are cracking me up.....MERRY CHRISTMAS BOYS.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 25, 2008, 12:27:06 pm
That was/is a great show George. But his kid Marc can sure get annoying.  ;) Still anyone who can handle a rifle the way he can is worth watching. 
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 25, 2008, 12:38:07 pm
Pa! LOL, I know what you mean. Chuck Connors was quite the athlete. He played basketball for the Celtics and baseball for the Dodgers and Cubs way back when. He was the first to break a backboard according to Wikipedia. :) Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: roofus on December 29, 2008, 06:11:04 pm
The Lone Ranger was a great show. Then there's a the Rifleman which was, for me,  the best 30 min. western. Yes, The Blues Brothers did Rawhide in their movie and they did it well. Frankie Lane--Blues Brothers. Hmmm. I'll take Frankie Lane. Jawge

Ooo Good ONE!! Forgot about that one. Don't forget Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days, and of course Wild Wild West.
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 29, 2008, 06:58:16 pm
I loved Wild Wild West. Great show. Jawge
Title: Re: rounded edges
Post by: sailordad on December 29, 2008, 08:35:37 pm
ok those are all god,but how about the high chaparral.
now thayt was one of my favs,oh yea dont foget F TROOP