Best design for 38-40" draw length?

[loon]

someone made a sinew backed compression pine bow and it seemed to work pretty well

[PatM]

Sure but how accessible do you think compression pine etc. are to people not living in the typical areas it is found?

[loon]

Could take a Korean design (bamboo/sinew?) and scale it up to maybe 62"?

[PatM]

I doubt there is that much pressure to achieve the draw length with the shortest bow ever made to reach that draw.

[LittleBen]

Ed,

The problem you are facing is the same we all face when trying to make the shortest bow for our draw lengths. The difference as mentioned is that as bow length goes up, the ideal draw weight for best performance also goes up.

I would personally recommend ipe backed with bamboo or hickory.

If you wanna keep it simple as possible, bendy handle 1.25" wide, 76".

If you wanna keep it shorter, you will need reflex and deflex. I build a DR longbow at lengths of 60-68" and I've tested one 66" 65# of that design to 31". I'm sure that at 45# it would handle a lot more. Probably 34" or more. I suspect a DR hickory or bamboo backed ipe can be made for your draw at 70-72" length.

For arrows I would consider 1/2" poplar dowels which come in 48" length. If they are too stiff you could consider 3/8".

[PatM]

'Poplar" dowels come in 7/16 generally as well. 

[EdwardS]

If there's any ipe in this state I haven't found it.  I'm not averse to trying it, but building a BBI would require buying a lot more than just materials-I don't have near enough clamps and I have a few pounds of hide glue so that's all I use.  Fixed income makes this harder than normal.

For arrows, I can always just order 500 4' tonkin stakes for 65 bucks and be set, but I'm working on making my own eventually.  Trying to ease back into working on this full time.

[PatM]

You only need free inner tubes and some glue.

[willie]

I'm not averse to trying it

Ed,
If you do consider ipe, be sure to investigate the woods reputation for respiratory reactions.

[LittleBen]

Ed, you definately don't need to go with ipe, any reasonable belly wood is fine given the relatively low draw weight. But, being able to glue up a bow with an RD shape will go a long way to getting to the draw length without just building an 80+" bow.

[EdwardS]

Yeah, ipe was out on cost alone.  Hickory is looking like the winner, as I can heat bend my D/R in and then sinew back it for good measure.  That will give me all the room I need-I've made hickory bows that drew 36" before.

Now I just need to locate a good source-it's not sold in the hardware stores around here as boards.  The search goes on, but it gets narrower every time.

[bjrogg]

Good luck Edward, interesting build. Sometimes I'm glad I'm only 5'5". It does seem to me thought at that weight and a long enough bow the bend should be the same and stress from that weight not that extreme. I would think it's very possible but I'm a short draw guy. Good Luck and I wish you good health too.
Bjrogg

[wizardgoat]

If you choose to go the longer bow route, I have some very long
yew staves, and some yew heartwood lumber

[loon]

Lumberyards. All they sell at the hardware stores I've been at is fir, pine and red oak.. and "poplar" I guess
Wonder how much bamboo backed hickory can be stressed

[ajooter]

This was a bow mike from boarior bows made.  It looks like it will get back to wear you want to be.

https  ://youtu.be/wS4Et8fxNe4