Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JWMALONE on January 21, 2018, 06:07:01 pm

Title: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: JWMALONE on January 21, 2018, 06:07:01 pm

Hello guys. Still working on a hickory bow. Decided to chop it down to 67 inches. Longer bows are easier to tiller but gotta learn some time. So my question is would #55-#60 be in the safe zone for a hickory flat bow 67 inches t2t @28 provided the tiller is good?

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: Badger on January 21, 2018, 06:14:58 pm

  Easily, just make it about 1 3/4 wide and you should be fine. Make sure the wood is dry enough.

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on January 21, 2018, 06:19:07 pm

Easily. I’d probably use 1 3/4 - 1 7/8” wide limbs for the 60# draw. The wider, for the same length, you go the higher te draw weight you can go. If you go 3” wide you could probably go 80-90# if you wanted. Just make sure the wood is good and dry.

Kyle

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: Greenriverwoodcraft on January 21, 2018, 06:28:50 pm

That's a perfect length for that draw weight but I would do 1 3/4"-2" wide just for safety but I have made lots of bows in that weight range from hickory over the years and most were between 66"-69", but for a 27 inch draw 67" is more than long enough.  Like they said  make sure its dry or it will take set really bad, and also heat tempering the belly goes a long way on hickory and I have added a full 7 pounds to a bow just by heat treating the belly, 10+ if I force it into a reflex at the same time I heat treat. 

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: JWMALONE on January 21, 2018, 07:05:54 pm

Thanks guys, forgot to mention this bow is 1.5 wide might better stick with #50-#55 I don't know. The last bow (red oak) exploded so I decided to go longer and lighter this time. Then decided I will never learn to swim if I don't jump on in there.

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 21, 2018, 07:27:38 pm

No problems with what you have.  It would be nicer if it was a bit wider but 1.5" should work.

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: JWMALONE on January 21, 2018, 08:20:37 pm

Thanks Mark. Plan on heat treating been reading your post and the tbb.

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: burchett.donald on January 21, 2018, 09:38:45 pm

  JW,
             Hickory is about bullet proof, it and White Oak...Don't think it will explode on you either...Maybe take some set...Like Greenriver already said, do a good heat temper on the belly...Your tiller on your last bow tells me you will have no problems...
                                                              Don

Title: Re: How manny pounds can hickory handle.
Post by: Pat B on January 21, 2018, 10:28:17 pm

If a hickory bow blows up it was rotten wood. Hickory will probably bend in half and splinter but sound hickory is too tough to blow up.