how to attach antler nocks?

[blades7558]

i would like to attach deer antler nocks to the tips of my new long bow, its eastern red cedar. my idea was to shave the back  of the bow where the tips would be and have about a 1" square area to glue to, i would also shave the corresponding side of the antler. i have plenty of space between the part where i would reduce the wood and where it starts bending some 3". my main concern is since i will be reducing the thickness of the tip in a diagonal direction thus cutting through the rings, will the force of pulling the bow (65 lbs) be enough  to strain the grain to the point of cracking/ spliting.

also i plan on leaving about 3" of antler hanging off the tips for aesthetic reasons do you see any functionality problems with this besides adding weight to the limb tips?

[mikekeswick]

I would use a 1 1/2 inch glueing surface and make sure the surfaces mate PERFECTLY...with a good glueline there is nothing to worry about. I guess the only problem with 'extra' length past the wood  would be extra stress on the glueline every time it touches the ground or gets knocked.

[Pat B]

Extra length equals extra weight on the tip of your bow. Everything out beyond the string groove is excess baggage anyway why add more if not needed. Also there is a better chance of it getting bumped off.

[blades7558]

thanks mike and pat, the tips are pretty wide on the bow, so i would have to use a thicker part of the antler to cover the whole tip thus having hang over. i might reduce the width of the tips but it might also make the overall look weird.. maybe i can come to a middle ground and reduce the tips/ have a little hang over, i do quite like the idea of having little horns on the end of the bow ( i also backed it with deer hide fur on)

i have small carving tools, i read in TBB that sinew users cut grooves into the base wood for a better bond, would this help me ? i can set it so the grooves match up perfectly.

[PEARL DRUMS]

You backed your bow with hair on hide?

[Pat B]

Blades, It depends on the glue you use as to whether you score the wood and horn(antler). I just added some Am. Bison horn tips on a bow a few nights ago with TBIII. I made both the tip and horn flat, smooth and well mated glue surfaces. I wrapped with rubber bacd as a clamp. Works great.    If you are using hide glue, epoxy or Urac that have gap filling properties you would want to score both surfaces.
  My thoughts too, Pearlie! 

[blades7558]

yes i did pearl i call it fuzzy bow.
 ok pat i have tb III ill use that

[PEARL DRUMS]

You will never notice the long antlers on the tips then. Go for it! TBIII will hold just about anything down.

[TurtleCreek]

  You gotta post pics of the bow when you're done, sounds really interesting!

[blackhawk]

Yes I need to see this fuzzy monster creation too

[crooketarrow]

  Like Pat and others said 3 inchs over the tip is just dead unneed weight (mass). But also there no glue know that will whole it on if pressures put on the tip when stringing. I have added a tine tip to the uper limb. But never the bottom. EXTURE PRESSURE WHEN STRINGING OR DROPED AND HIT WILL POP IT OFF.

[blades7558]

lol i will post some pics of it as soon as i get it done, i had figured that someone would have thought of this before.

[PatM]

Hair on backing was mentioned in one of the earliest issues of PA. Not the greatest idea since it adds weight and eliminates the ability to actually finish the bow against moisture.
 I guess you can brush it it though.

[soy]

Can't wait, need pics.now

[Pappy]

  ERC, 65 lbs.hair on hide/3 inch tips passed the end,good luck with all of that. Looking forward to seeing it. Pat and Crooketarrow a right on it not holding when stringing and hitting it and popping it off,I never go passed the wood with tips just for that reason,I guess if you are really careful and don't plan on using it much that might be cool to look at but I use mine a lot and am not really all that careful with them. Good luck and keep us posted.
   Pappy