Recent Posts

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71
Bows / Re: What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by RyanY on May 28, 2025, 11:22:25 pm »
I generally recommend the working limbs be at least 1-2” longer than the draw just for a smoother draw and margin of safety. So 24” x 2 plus an 8” handle and fades section would be around 56”. Nothing wrong with going longer either.
72
English Warbow / Re: Draw Lengths and Arrow Weights
« Last post by Wyrda on May 28, 2025, 11:21:16 pm »
Quote from: Del the cat on April 24, 2025, 05:30:31 am
Indeed, do you own experiments, draw your own conclusions.
You may find this post from my blog interesting.
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2011/11/mass-velocity-and-energy.html
Del

Thank you del. The relationship between arrow weight and efficiency is well established but I always like graphs. What I am interested in as mentioned, is the relationship between draw length, bow length, arrow weight, and efficiency. For example, we know that a longer draw length stores more energy, but we also know in the case of ELBs, longer bows are more inefficient. So the question is, how fast would a longer ELB drawn to 32", compare to a shorter ELB drawn to 28"? And as I mentioned, I am wondering if the advantage of longer draw length only shows a benefit with heavier arrows, as Joe Gibb's test with relatively light arrows did not seem to yield any benefit drawing from 28" to 30". I have been doing some more research which does seem to support the idea that longer draw lengths are better with heavier arrows in terms of GPP, eg., bows like yumi or Chinese manchu bows with very long draw lengths of 35" or more do very well with arrows of 15gpp or even higher, often shooting them over 170fps . Meanwhile Turkish flight bows optimised to shoot light arrows over 300fps and only have draw lengths of around 28"

I would like to do my own experiments but I don't have the resources right now. This forum has a lot of great info I've been reading but it seems dead now. I assume the warbow scene is still active, is there any place still on the internet for warbow archers to talk that isn't a facebook group?
73
Bows / Re: What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by Terrier on May 28, 2025, 11:16:06 pm »
@Sleek

I'm still just getting started with bowmaking...  It hasn't been a year yet since I caught the bug, but I started to get the hang of tillering after about 9 bows.  A few abject failures along the way, but I'm up to 16 now, with a few shining moments.

I've had some success with a few Hickory flatbows, and churned out five 60-62" Osage Cherokee Hunting bows (simple D bows) that turned out nice.  Most of the Osage was gifted to me, but I've used most of it.  The Osage I found around my place had really tight growth rings, and was the source of some of the failures in my early attempts.

I recently cut several trees and stocked my basement with Elm, Ironwood (Hornbeam), Hophornbeam, Sycamore, Tree of Heaven, Hackberry and a beautiful 80' Hickory tree that'll yield 30+ staves.  I have one more big log to split. Most of the hickory is 6 1/2 or 7' long and split to about 4- 4 1/2", and pretty straight.  There's a little woodpecker damage to some of it, but most of the damage is deep enuf to work around and not be an issue.

The bows I had in mind to make are just regular Hickory Flatbows.  I want to keep practicing with that style for a bit to hone my skills and get better.  I'm not too keen on getting into recurved limbs just yet. I'm sure that'll get my attention soon enough, but I don't wanna get ahead of myself.  Still a rookie.

@Jim Davis

Thanks for the formula!  That should come in handy.


@Badger

I had lower 60's in the back of my mind, so thanks for that info...  I still have to physically check both people to verify their real draw length and not rely on a measurement from their chest to fingertips.  My own draw length is 1.5" shorter than that kind of measurement.
74
Bows / Re: What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by Badger on May 28, 2025, 10:44:19 pm »
   I think I would go about 62" maybe 60". You have a good opportunity to avoid any set and a very smooth draw curve. The only short draw bows I built were also very short bows but I witnessed something one time that made a big impression on me. Larry Hatfield used a 70# glass longbow 67" long to break the 35# record. He just short drew a much heavier bow. On wood bows the ability to avoid set would be a huge advantage. Just build it about like a 50# bow but never draw it past 22"
75
Bows / Re: What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by Jim Davis on May 28, 2025, 09:40:02 pm »
22" DL x 2 + 15% = about 51"
76
Bows / Re: What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by sleek on May 28, 2025, 08:53:50 pm »
I love building short bows and having friends like that would be so much fun to make bows for. Short bows have a potential longer ones dont in terms of efficiency. You can make a 22 inch draw bow thats in the mid 40s inch range. Most bows start taking set at the 22 mark so you can make some killer bows here. The key will be working limb area and string angle at the tips, which can be adjusted via recurves. 35 pound bows can be made to shoot very hard with the correct design. What type bow are you thinking and how wide are your staves?
77
Bows / What Length for a Hickory Flatbow
« Last post by Terrier on May 28, 2025, 06:22:19 pm »
Hey fellers,

Here's an issue I've been cogitating on for a while, and would like some other opinions on...

I have a couple of folks in my circle that I want to build Hickory Flatbows for that have draw lengths of 22".  Both are adults, but they just aren't 'big' adults.

My understanding is that the general standard for a Hickory flatbow style is 67" long and is safe for a 28" DL @ 45 lbs.  If I'm building for a 22" DL at 35 lbs or so, what would you consider a minimum safe overall length?

Thanks in advance!

Jackson
78
Primitive Shoots and Events / Re: Mojam..?
« Last post by PaulN/KS on May 28, 2025, 11:59:02 am »
100+ views and no info...
Bueller.. Bueller... Mojam...?
 ???
79
Flintknapping / Re: Some of my points
« Last post by GlisGlis on May 28, 2025, 07:12:42 am »
nice points!
did you tried to haft and shoot some?
80
Bows / Re: 2025 Junior Bow Trade
« Last post by stuckinthemud on May 27, 2025, 07:19:25 pm »
Straightening forward or backwards is relatively straightforward, but straightening side ways can be difficult,except at the tips where the narrow timber is easier to manage.  Once you get over 3/4 inch the timber starts to fight you and if you ask it to do too much you can get a split along the grain , so yes, get it thinned down, the heat will penetrate better and with less timber to fight you have more chance.  If it were me, though, I'd be using dry heat
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