Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Carle1953 on March 29, 2011, 01:18:23 am

Title: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 29, 2011, 01:18:23 am
How short of a bow could you make out of Osage for a draw length of 30 inches?  At what point does it become necessary to sinew back?  My bow is 55" n-t-n, 1 1/16 wide at the fades on out to 6" from the tips. I have the bow drawing 45 lbs @ 23" without sinew backing at this time.  Any opinions on how much further I can go? I have a bendy handle with elliptical tiller and flipped tips. I really don't want to take it to the breaking point to satisfy my curiousity, so any help is appreciated.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: juniper junkie on March 29, 2011, 01:26:03 am
I would be scared to go that long of draw with the length. you are over 50% of length for the draw. but I am kinda chicken when it comes to bows breaking on me ;D bending in the handle is going to help. curious to see what the osage experts say. how about some pics at the draw you have it at now?
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: gstoneberg on March 29, 2011, 01:52:28 am
I'm not much of an expert, but I would probably keep an unbacked osage bow I wanted to go 30" in the 62" or longer range.  If it bends some through the handle, maybe closer to 60" but the tiller would have to be done well to avoid set.  I have a very short bow that pushes past those limits but it really isn't much fun to shoot...lots of stack.   Takes some real skill and a good design to do it right and so far I don't have it what it takes.

Good luck,

George
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Pat B on March 29, 2011, 01:58:36 am
Under ideal circumstances two times the draw length. That's perfect wood and perfect tiller.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Ifrit617 on March 29, 2011, 08:58:00 am
I wouldn't  go that far but I think that'll could push it a little farther.. I have a red oak shorty that's only 47" long that draws 23" and 55#. It was made from a board an is unbacked, so I figure that your Osage could pull at least 25-26"... Probably more.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: aznboi3644 on March 29, 2011, 01:01:58 pm
I'd say with good tillering you can do it.

Hell half eye makes plenty of white wood shorties 48" drawing 26"

Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 29, 2011, 03:08:32 pm
Enjoy your bow as is. You got the max. already. Jawge
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Del the cat on March 29, 2011, 03:49:32 pm
Draw = half the length of the bow is more than enough for most of us, and that's with a bending or V minimalist grip.
Of course you can get more but you'll likely end up with it stacking due as the limbs will be coming back almost parallell to eachother, and you'll be getting pinchy fingers too.
Just 'cos you can do it, doesn't necessarilly make it a good idea...I daresay you could milk a Lioness ::).
Del
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 29, 2011, 05:49:23 pm
Thanks everyone.  I seem to be having problems with posting pictures. My files seem to be to large.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 29, 2011, 06:02:42 pm
I have tried to crop my pictures and they are still too large.  Help, anyone got any ideas?  Thanks
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: bubby on March 29, 2011, 09:30:42 pm
twice the draw length + 10%, get you're pics on photobucket and they are automatically sized to post, Bub
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 30, 2011, 02:36:21 am
Thanks everyone.  If I use the twice the draw length + 10% I end up with a max of 25" on a 55" bow.  I am now at 45 lbs @ 24".  So in theory I should be able to go at least to 25" draw.  I got the pictures in photobucket, now if I can figure out how to get them here.  Thanks again.  I guess the yellow dust has gotten to me because for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get the link from photobucket onto this post.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Acutus on March 30, 2011, 02:47:45 am
Carle, Once they are on photobucket hover over the pic you want to post look for the IMG tag click on it it'll copy then you just paste into your post. Hope that helps.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: bubby on March 30, 2011, 07:26:46 am
click on the pics that you want to post,then go to bottom of the page and click on actions, then generate link codes, then click on full size bullien boards and forums. Took me forever to get this right, Bub
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: crooketarrow on March 30, 2011, 10:27:47 am
     At 1 1/16 at 30 you'll differntly over stress your limbs if it don't break first, you'll diffently end up with lots of string follow if it dose hold together. At 1 1/2"s you may make it but do'nt at 1 1/16. Even if you sinew it your boarder line at 30"s.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Stingray45 on March 30, 2011, 12:17:36 pm
With the way it is right now, you could probably stretch it to 26" at that current length with good tiller. You can sinew back it but that would still be tough to get all the way out to 30" but I'm sure it can be done. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 30, 2011, 04:42:08 pm
Okay, I am trying again to at least post one picture.  How is it possible for a horse bow to draw so far?  Do static recurves also act like syahs?  Are they making levers out of the tips and change the form of the arc in the limbs?  If the pictures don't work, I am going to find my kids and bribe them into teaching me how to make this stuff work.  Thanks again
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 30, 2011, 04:56:55 pm
One more try.  Sooner or later something has to work.  Too bad it doesn't work the way I think it should.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 30, 2011, 05:03:44 pm
It worked. Here are some more.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: aznboi3644 on March 30, 2011, 05:41:15 pm
composite bows can draw so far and be so short because they only use wood as a core...horn and sinew are much more elastic than wood alone.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Kegan on March 30, 2011, 05:48:41 pm
You've got a beautiful tiller on that thing. I'd just go ahead and sinew it- it's earned it. You'll get a nice little shooter and won't have to worry. Sinew is magic ;)
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 30, 2011, 05:53:56 pm
Gorgeous tiller you have going. I agree on the sinew thing, its magic!
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: bubby on March 30, 2011, 05:56:37 pm
tiller look's great, look's like ya gonna have a great bow their, Bub
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on March 31, 2011, 01:21:10 am
Thanks everyone for your input, I have decided that I am going to leave her alone. The most I could get in the ends is not worth the chance. This is probably the hardest piece of hedge I ever put a tool to. The bow only weighs 16 oz. It is only about 5/8" in the fades.  Teaching myself to short draw this bow is amazinging with 26" arrows. I am going to sinew it and go from there.  Thanks again.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Stiks-N-Strings on March 31, 2011, 01:58:33 am
Fantastic! we got to see some short full draw pics.
Title: Re: bow length vs draw length
Post by: Carle1953 on April 01, 2011, 01:47:44 am
Here are a couple pics with draw at 24". I put sinew on the back tonight.  Now it is just a waiting game.  Hopefully I got the sinew down evenly so it won't change the tiller.  If it does I will try and deal with it. Thanks everyone for your input.