Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jax666 on February 13, 2015, 07:00:36 pm
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I got my TTBB Volume !-IV today. Reading about Board Bow in Volume II. I have also read Jawge, Bubby, Sam Harper, and The Ferret about BB's and may try one to practice on. I feel less guilty about turning a 1"X2"X6' into kindling than a nice piece of Osage. It sounds like it is possible to build a very serviceable bow from a board. I would probably start with a board from Pekin Hard Wood before Menard's.
Back to reading.
Jerry
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It is possible. Just remember to use straight grained stock. Jawge
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It's not only possible, it's probable, i have board bows with thousands of shots thru them and shoot just as good as they did the first time and at draw weights of 50# and up, it's all in board selection and tillering plain and simple, jawges site realy tells in detail board selection
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Boards are great to learn from and can make great bows. And don't discount bamboo or hickory for backing, they can turn an average bow into a great shooter.
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Boards are still wood. Carefully selected boards, and especially laminated boards, make excellent bows... every bit as good as stave bows IMO.
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yes I have made some nice shooting board bows,, I enjoy shooting any kind of wood bow :)
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This is a great build-a-long for a pyramid board bow from Tradgang.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=002064;p=1
My first good bow was built following these instructions. Very detaild and easy to build, better then Sam Harper's IMO.
Dor
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A straight grained hickory board can make a sweet bow, and the hickory backing is built in. :)
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I have seen picture of board bows made from red oak, white oak, hickory, and hard maple. I plan to get my board from a lumber yard not Menard's. I will definitely back it. I live in Central IL and I have heard Hickory is not the best for this area because of the humidity. What would you suggest I start with. I have a nice Osage so I am looking for a practice bow that if I screw up is no loss. I plan to stay in the 35-4o lbs range.
Jerry
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Made a few board bows. ;D Using the likely selection ... red/white oak, hickory, ash, hard maple. Most successful ones have been maple, but that's likely because I got hands on a wide super-grained piece ... and it just so happens that board came from Home Depot. But, yes, it does hurt to pay the big box store prices!
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I live in Central IL and I have heard Hickory is not the best for this area because of the humidity. What would you suggest I start with.
Jerry
HICKORY!!!! That wood be my first choice. But don't become focused on species specific...be more focused on a board from proven bow woods with proper grain selection as that's more important.
And what's wrong with Menard's lumber?
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And what's wrong with Menard's lumber?
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Nothing except I have 2 Menard's close to me and every time I am in either I go through all of the oak, hickory, and maple 1"x2"x6' and 8' and have not found any with good grain. I hope Pekin Hardwood has a better selection even if I had to buy a larger piece and cut it down. I am hoping Pekin Hardwood will have someone who will work with me.
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Boards are still wood. Carefully selected boards, and especially laminated boards, make excellent bows... every bit as good as stave bows IMO.
Agreed
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For what it's worth...
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For what it's worth...
thank you kindly for posting this!
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For what it's worth...
Thanks
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My first few are from boards broke a few also still have some that shoot real good. Don't give up if you break a couple. I would bet some of the great builders broke some. If you ain't breaken you ain't maken. All it takes is patients and practice.
Good luck and never give up you can do it.
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Looked at Maynard's again and they had some pretty wood, but the grain was not real straight. I checked the bigger boards too. It is easier to make a big piece smaller than vice verse, but also checked the smaller ones
Jerry
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My first board bow is made from an oak flooring board , I saved a few good looking boards and while working on some osage staves I decided to take a break and picked up one of the boards , 4" handle , 1 1/2" fades , 2" widest point with even taper down to 3/8" tips , 3/8" thick limbs , 57" NTN , 35# at 24" ( I have a short draw length ).
It has one spot in a limb that was a little concerned about so I kept it a little light , I've been thinking about sinew backing it one of these days and bumping it up to a hunting weight bow ( 40# minimum ), but for now I use it to show folks that they don't need staves to build a bow .
I have a few others set back and plan on a takedown , they are shorter than the board I used .
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My first board bow is made from an oak flooring board ,
Oak flooring boards1? Were these old or modern?
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Just be prepared to walk away of you don;t find a straight grained board.
I have walked more than a few times.
Jawge
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Jax, "pretty" wood makes lousy bows! At least from a furniture maker's POPV of what pretty is.
Long, straight, boring lines. Board bow success is based upon choosing the right board.