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Message Board Q & A / Re: Embarrassing pop up ads
« Last post by JW_Halverson on September 11, 2025, 12:12:08 am »A win is a win
Recent Posts
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Bows / Re: 2025 Junior Bow Trade
« Last post by paulc on September 10, 2025, 12:10:01 pm »I have made some progress, but please don't wait on me! I am sure you all are excited to send/receive your creations....
Still have a ways to go on straightening this stave, I expect it will be straight enough to get serious on tillering by end of weekend.
Chinese Elm, 62" tip to tip. Paul
Still have a ways to go on straightening this stave, I expect it will be straight enough to get serious on tillering by end of weekend.
Chinese Elm, 62" tip to tip. Paul
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Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by Pat B on September 09, 2025, 11:29:29 am »
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Around the Campfire / Re: What Did You Do Today?
« Last post by Eric Krewson on September 09, 2025, 10:30:49 am »I planted my greens garden last Friday evening with perfect conditions for planting, I had this Monday evening; this is some kind of record for me. These are sprouting turnip plants, turnip seeds germinate quicker than the kale or collards.
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Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by Eric Krewson on September 09, 2025, 10:16:20 am »In 28 years of bow making I have never had a problem with superglue filled checks on a bow. My motto is "fill them and forget them".
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Bows / Re: Do you have a chronograph? Id like help.
« Last post by Badger on September 09, 2025, 10:14:53 am » Jim Matin, another successful flight shooter, made the statement that there is not much sense in shooting an arrow much faster than its critical speed. So he adds enough weight to the arrow to bring it just a bit over critical speed. I have no idea how he determines the critical speed.
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Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by Hamish on September 09, 2025, 04:23:47 am »Agreed. Cool bow. Checks stay well inside the edges of the limbs, totally safe.
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Bows / Re: Ash Reflex Deflex underway
« Last post by ifferentgravel on September 09, 2025, 02:37:37 am »That was a great write-up — thanks for sharing the full process, including the ups and downs. A few thoughts on what you described:
- Ash performance: Ash can be a bit unpredictable for bow wood. It’s easy to work and forgiving in tiller, but it’s also notorious for taking set, especially in shorter designs. What you saw (hinges developing near the tips and general set across the limbs) is unfortunately very “ash-like.” Wych elm should give you noticeably better results — it holds up to compression better.
- Length vs. draw weight: At 60" and aiming for 40 lbs, you were definitely pushing it. As you mentioned, adding 4–6" would have made a big difference in longevity. Ash bows usually prefer longer, lower-stress designs.
- Fire hardening / dry heat reflex: These methods can add stiffness and improve initial performance, but they don’t magically solve ash’s tendency to take set under repeated use. They work best when the underlying design is already well within the wood’s comfort zone.
Next steps:
- Try that same profile with wych elm — you’ll probably notice a huge difference.
- Don’t be afraid to go longer next time if you want 40+ lbs; less stress on the wood means less set and fewer sudden hinge problems.
- Your approach of shooting a lot before final finishing is exactly the right lesson — the wood “shows its hand” after a few hundred arrows.
Honestly, despite the setbacks, it sounds like you did a solid job on the tiller and the build. This one may not be your strongest bow, but it gave you a ton of useful feedback for the next.
- Ash performance: Ash can be a bit unpredictable for bow wood. It’s easy to work and forgiving in tiller, but it’s also notorious for taking set, especially in shorter designs. What you saw (hinges developing near the tips and general set across the limbs) is unfortunately very “ash-like.” Wych elm should give you noticeably better results — it holds up to compression better.
- Length vs. draw weight: At 60" and aiming for 40 lbs, you were definitely pushing it. As you mentioned, adding 4–6" would have made a big difference in longevity. Ash bows usually prefer longer, lower-stress designs.
- Fire hardening / dry heat reflex: These methods can add stiffness and improve initial performance, but they don’t magically solve ash’s tendency to take set under repeated use. They work best when the underlying design is already well within the wood’s comfort zone.
Next steps:
- Try that same profile with wych elm — you’ll probably notice a huge difference.
- Don’t be afraid to go longer next time if you want 40+ lbs; less stress on the wood means less set and fewer sudden hinge problems.
- Your approach of shooting a lot before final finishing is exactly the right lesson — the wood “shows its hand” after a few hundred arrows.
Honestly, despite the setbacks, it sounds like you did a solid job on the tiller and the build. This one may not be your strongest bow, but it gave you a ton of useful feedback for the next.
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Bows / Re: What do you think of this checking
« Last post by sleek on September 09, 2025, 02:20:06 am »Wow thats a sweet looking bow! I also think those checks add a nice bit of character and you will be fine with them
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Bows / Re: Do you have a chronograph? Id like help.
« Last post by willie on September 08, 2025, 11:48:19 pm »This is already pretty well tested. Allen is shooting his bows at about 1/4 grains per pound. I seldom test below 100 grains, but any testing I have done always shows more speed with less weight no matter how light you go. Using a chrono to estimate virtual mass is a very useful tool for a flight shooter/ bow builder
1/4 grains per pound? can you clarify?
on another thought,
Does more speed out of the bow always make for a longer shot? I seem to recall a theory that an arrow needs enough weight to "carry" well.