Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: lonbow on February 08, 2026, 04:17:52 am
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A customer asked me to build him a laminated warbow (ipe and hard maple backing). The target draw weight is 120 lbs @ 30". Do you have any suggestions for dimensions?
Thank you!
lonbow
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A lot of wood! Seriously badger is your man. I think his bow holds the unlimited English longbow record.
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I don’t think it’ll take as much wood as you’d expect. Just did a quick measure of thehackberry bars Ipe I’ve been playing with. It pulls 75# at 27” and if the tiller was shifter to circular instead of elliptical to handle the longer draw in the same dimensions, would reasonably be in upper 80-# range. And hickory will be a bit more poundage than the hackberry. Of same dimensions. It’s 1” wide 10” each way from center. Tapering to about 3/4” wide 10” from the tips, then down to 3/8” nocks.
So for the weight you’re wanting. Length wise I would go 76” to start as you can always trim down and retiller if it doesn’t feel right when shooting or end up a bit underweight if there isn’t much set. For dimensions si would start with1 3/8” at the center to about 10-12” out. Then taper down to about 1” wide 10-12” from the nocks. Then down to 1/2” for the nocks. For thickness taper I start the center as a square, and taper down to about 3/4 to 7/8 ratio rectangle mid limb, then back to square at the tips. The back corners are just rounded over and the belly is rounded to about half the limb thickness. This is usually my starting point for floor tillering. For bows in this range I will pick myself up to get enough pressure to bend it. Being a hickory backed Ipe, I bet you’ll end up with a smaller stick than you expect to hit weight.
I hope the directions make sense. If not, feel free to ask
Kyle
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I would you boo or hickory as a backing. Hard maple might work, but it's not as good in tension as the forementioned options. I have had some failures with maple backings, especially with really dense hardwood, narrow elb designs. The tension is really increased when the back is narrow. Not as crucial to use maple when its a wider flatbow, especially when the belly wood is of medium density timber.