Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: RyanY on June 11, 2020, 06:30:28 pm
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Poplar longbow I recently finished up. 68" ntn 35#@28". Going off of dimensions from a previous poplar bow, I made this one narrower for a lighter desired draw weight and slightly longer for less of a chance of failing in compression. In addition, I also trapped the back and heat treated the belly. Finished underweight initially and then gave it another temper to bring the weight back up a couple pounds. Retains around 3/4" of reflex but definitely follows the string after some shooting. There's definitely a spongy character to it but it shoots as good as any other bow I've made at this weight. Accidentally made the tips a little small for my liking but it's held up to some shooting so far. Interestingly, I calculated this bow as coming in a 17oz for the dimensions. Came in under 16oz mass weight.
People consider poplar a subpar bow wood but I think there's quite a few reasons to use it.
1. Available just about anywhere.
2. Fairly easy to find straight grain.
3. Relatively inexpensive.
4. Very easy to work with hand tools.
5. Tests your bow making skills.
6. It's FUN!
If osage is king, I think poplar is the jester!
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More pics
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Few more
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Forgot to add that this was a good bow to try out a new handle design for myself. Needs a little tweaking but its close to perfection for what I'm looking for.
Also this bow is asymmetrical with symmetrical working limbs. To do this, I made the fades different lengths to accommodate the shift in the handle position.
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Pushing that envelope, Doc! Well done. :OK
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Very nice work whether it's crummy wood or not :D :D
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here we go again!
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Looks really good. You got the most out of that piece of wood.
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Sweet bow :)
It will be interesting to see how it holds up to long term shooting.
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That's a nice bow. So the bottom fade is shorter, right? That is a clever way around the balance/symmetry issue. I usually like the Torges style bulbous grips, but was just thinking about adding a "locator" type thing for my next one...it looks like that is kind of what you did here. Anyway, great work!
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Thank you for the kind words friends!
Timbo, yes the bottom fade is shorter. I like a one inch difference between my limbs when I make the bow asymmetrical so the bottom one is 3.5” long and the top is 4.5” long. I feel the same way about a bulbous grip but I felt it would help to have a groove for more repeatability. Just wanted to make it subtle and elegant and not too “pistol-y” if that makes sense.
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Well done.
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Simply fantastic, poplar and that very nice bow,
Are you weight thys poplar wood, what is the weight for 1 m3 , like 350 kg /m3 or lighter?
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Thats a great looking bow! I have a piece of poplar that I've been reluctant to use after reading so many bad reviews, but you have rekindled my enthusiasm for getting one started. And I really love that handle design - very nice!
Can you tell me how you got those red lines at the ends of the fades? Its a nice touch, I would like to try that some day.
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Nice job! I hope to see you at Elm Hall this year.
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Its funny how there have been a lot more poplar bows made lately, since Kramer Ammons uploaded that popular board bow build on youtube. I guess poplar was what he had and used but now there are a ton of beginners who think poplar is the desirable choice. Over on r/bowyer we've been seeing questions like "i can't find poplar, all they have is oak, can I still make a bow?"
Anyway, awesome job. Great heat looking treat, and a very pretty bow overall.
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Thanks fellas,
Kamil, I’m not sure of the density, this board was heavy compared to the other ones in the stack. If I get around to it, I’ll dry a piece from the off cut and measure it’s dry specific gravity.
Freeflynick, the line is the glue line for the handle. I think it colored when the glue heated up when heat treating.
Ryan, Elm hall would be fun! Not sure if I’ll be able to make it due to the corona virus. I’m trying to be causptious about exposing others since I work in healthcare.
Santanasaur, I think the best part about using poplar is trying to remove bow wood stigma. I love Osage as much as the next guy but variety of wood species is a beautiful part of the bow making world. Limited availability of some woods shouldn’t keep people from building bows.
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Excellent work with a not that common wood!
Can't remember seeing a bow made of poplar. I often thought about using it (we have much here in my homeland), but never got the time to look for a good stave from that wood.
Yours turned out fine, love the profiles especially the dead straight unbraced.
What is the tip overlay material?
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Thank you simson. The tip overlays are also of poplar.