Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: arachnid on November 24, 2014, 09:26:01 am
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Hi Guys!
It`s been a wile since I finished a bow and I wanted to share this one with you all.
I have a carpenter friend that helped me quite a bit when I first started making bows.
Unfortunally, he`s got to close his shop, so I went to his place and asked permission to
scaveng for any good board. I found a piece of african walnut and took it to use it as a core
for a long time planed bow. After ripping a core lam, I had just enough of that walnut left to experiment so I backed it with
some red oak stripes I had (yes, you read it right- RED OAK BACKING). I went for a simple flat bow
and had no expectations. During the rough cut, I exidentaly cut the fades to short and the handle piece poped off!
I went on and ended up with a bendy handle flatbow. She`s only 30lb@26" but, oh man, she zipps these arrow! After 100+ shots
she took almost no set!
She might not be the prettiest bow on my rack but I`m very pleased with the results.
Stats:
66" TTT red oak backed african walnut
Ipe tips
Cork built up handle with leather grip (I still need to work on my stiching...)
30lb@26"
Tips:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CTj7ieudleU/VHMg6P-XQuI/AAAAAAAADpQ/s9bb221_Ytw/w649-h865-no/20141124_134800.jpg)
Front profile:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-55dQGJveLCo/VHMeBgeY1FI/AAAAAAAADpA/ElPOLznozRY/w649-h865-no/20141124_134738.jpg)
Braced:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f-zZJWA-_v8/VHIi7z3uyPI/AAAAAAAADoM/4ziZj0H_kF4/w649-h865-no/20141123_195912.jpg)
Full Draw:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FXvEFcWCkF0/VHIlaXCbLOI/AAAAAAAADoc/dLGu-FV2IV0/w649-h865-no/20141123_200010.jpg)
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Well done sir, I love it when experiments work out.
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Good looking bow, nice work. :)
Pappy
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Cool, great tiller.
I love experimenting, I think those bows we try with no expectations can often surprise us the most. :laugh:
I suspect there's a "sweet spot" for bow draw weight and length to get the best speed/draw weight ratio.
There comes a point where piling on the draw weight doesn't give as much improvement in speed (power maybe, for shooting heavier arrows) but I reckon 35# to 45# is pretty near the money. Ok 60# will give more grunt, but not twice what you get from your 30#
Sorry I'm rambling now :-[
Del
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I see what you mean Del.
I don't have a chrony but I think this bow preforms like my 40lb white oak backed ipe just becaus the design is better.
And to think I almost left this walnut at the shop becaus I thought it too soft for a bow...
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What more could you want? File that under the success column!
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Any idea what African walnut is really called, like scientifically. Lots of those tropical hardwoods have funny names.
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Possibly coula edulis?
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Now that is a very successful experiment. Well done. Jawge
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- According to the wood database it`s called "Lovoa trichilioides"
- Thanks a lot George! How`s the tiller looks?
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Nice tiller!cool tips! 8)
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Well done, experiments are the key for improvement!
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Thanks, Arachnid, I will look it up....