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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 27, 2018, 09:59:02 PM

Title: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 27, 2018, 09:59:02 PM
Anyone used packing tape to get the thinnest side plate possible? Trying to get "over the hump" with some arrows that are a bit too stiff. Currently using moleskin which is quite thin itself.

I'm really trying to keep my big Simmons Tree Sharks without changing my arrow setup substantially.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: J. Cook on August 27, 2018, 10:03:51 PM
Just wandering if you are that close...if you could slightly increase your brace height to slightly "weaken" the shaft in effect?  Not an answer to the side plate question, but something to consider.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 27, 2018, 10:14:33 PM
Just wandering if you are that close...if you could slightly increase your brace height to slightly "weaken" the shaft in effect?  Not an answer to the side plate question, but something to consider.

Everyone says that raising brace height will weaken spine. I don't understand that, when in a bow's sweet spot. It certainly doesn't work for me, even with fairly large changes.
Title: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: onemississipp on August 27, 2018, 10:49:26 PM
Give us the arrow setup. Brace height to weaken spine is an interesting thought. So if you lowered it, it would stay in contact longer with arrow. This could push a weak arrow further around the bow or a stiff arrow further from the bow.

To me lowering brace would weaken an arrow..


May be worth check if you are that close.. or simply adding a bit more weight up front will help.


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Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 27, 2018, 11:00:03 PM
34" Easton Axis 5mm, .260 spine. 75 grain HIT inserts, currently 200 grain points. I draw 33" and my bow is 64 lbs at that draw length. There are no other carbons at 34" length in a .280 spine that I can find for sale.

Misc.
- nock fit is as loose as I can get it.
- I do have a spray painted cap dip on the back of the shaft (maybe 3-4 grains of weight)
- I have moleskin in the limb grooves, removing that might get me a hair more power?
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 27, 2018, 11:01:36 PM
I really want to keep these arrows in the 10-11 gpp area, and adding more point weight will hurt that effort. If I have to use 250 grain points, so be it, but that's a last effort in my mind.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: onemississipp on August 27, 2018, 11:07:40 PM
It’s possible the your side plate may need extending.. causing the arrow to bow a bit and push more right for right handed or left for left handed..like the plunger..


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Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: McDave on August 27, 2018, 11:07:53 PM
Counterintuitively, sometimes increasing the width of the side plate will help.  Try using a side plate of Martin Rug Rest material.  It is thicker than the material you are using, but softer.  The softness of the Rug rest works like a crude plunger button: a soft rug rest is like reducing the pressure on the plunger button.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: bigbadjon on August 27, 2018, 11:41:36 PM
I'd try something like medical tape or duct tape. That should protect your finish and still be all but shooting off the riser.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: TomMcDonald on August 28, 2018, 12:20:45 AM
Just wandering if you are that close...if you could slightly increase your brace height to slightly "weaken" the shaft in effect?  Not an answer to the side plate question, but something to consider.

Everyone says that raising brace height will weaken spine. I don't understand that, when in a bow's sweet spot. It certainly doesn't work for me, even with fairly large changes.

Raising the brace height will stiffen the spine, lowering the brace height will weaken it.

Thinner string, moving your silencing apparatus further up towards the string nocks, and using electrical tape as a side plate is what I've done in the past. I used one layer of tape and then reinforced it on the other side of the bow so it didn't come off.

I also used thin wall brass tube as footing which seemed to stiffen the shafts a bit.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: monterey on August 28, 2018, 12:22:58 AM
Shoot it with a bare window and if that works you can get away with something very thin such as the suggested tape.  If that doesn't work, go at it with a rasp. :)
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: hybridbow hunter on August 28, 2018, 01:29:24 AM
That shaft is really way too stiff for that point weight if your bow isn't cut far past center. I used that axis shaft to kill a water buff in Australia cut to 33 1/2" out of a border recurve 68# at 32" with a window cut 5/16" past center (so with a leather strike plate I was truly centershot) with...450 gr up front. Not sure 1/16" gain in strike plate thickness will bring you a solution.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: bigbadjon on August 28, 2018, 10:22:11 AM
He might have some difficulty finding a weaker shaft in his required draw length. I believe if he drops to a .300 fmj the length of the shaft is 33 inches.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: hybridbow hunter on August 28, 2018, 11:17:25 AM
black eagle arrows make 34" shaft in various spine
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: DanielB89 on August 28, 2018, 12:21:48 PM
It may have been stated, but, have you tried the martin rug rest as an option yet? 

If they're not flying erratic and are just impacting to the stiff side for your hand, I can guarantee you that using a martin rug rest will adjust your arrow poi.

Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: bigbadjon on August 28, 2018, 01:12:19 PM
If he is already to the point of shooting directly off the bow riser the rug rest material will not give the arrow a weaker reaction. It only works that way if you are replacing a material of equal thickness.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: two4hooking on August 28, 2018, 03:37:19 PM
I shoot right off the wood.  no plate...

I have also used black electrical tape before.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: the rifleman on August 28, 2018, 06:59:09 PM
Raising the brace height will make the arrow behave dynamically weaker.  Lower the brace height and the arrow will be dynamically stiffer.  Ive used this many times w many bows and shooters and the results are always the same.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 28, 2018, 07:13:54 PM
Hey all, thanks for the help. I cannot go softer in spine. The next closest arrow is the black eagle, at .350. a .09 change in deflection, and too much to keep arrow weight where I want it.

I will try raising the brace height further and see if it does anything though.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: onemississipp on August 28, 2018, 07:17:33 PM
Hey all, thanks for the help. I cannot go softer in spine. The next closest arrow is the black eagle, at .350. a .09 change in deflection, and too much to keep arrow weight where I want it.

I will try raising the brace height further and see if it does anything though.


Please let us know how it goes!


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Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: mahantango on August 28, 2018, 10:02:49 PM
I've used black tape on occasion with bows cut far from center. Raising brace height is not about length of power stroke but about the angle of the arrow in relation to the riser when it leaves the string.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on August 29, 2018, 06:50:42 PM
Folks wanted to hear results. The long and short of it is that raising brace height about 1/4" did weaken the shaft a bit. Adding 50 grains of point weight got me even closer. Not sure what I'll try to finish this out though.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: Doug_K on August 29, 2018, 08:25:55 PM
Couple things I've done to fine tune with point weight with carbons and aluminums. Small brass washers behind the broadhead; I believe 3 rivers sells them in 5 & 10 grain increments.
Also, something else I've just recently done to get my judos to match my broadheads was fill the hollow center of a broadhead adapter with lead shot prior to glue up. This added 10-15 grains, though i'm sure that would vary depending on the size shot. You could also just fill it with molten lead for a little more.
Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: onemississipp on August 29, 2018, 08:56:42 PM
Folks wanted to hear results. The long and short of it is that raising brace height about 1/4" did weaken the shaft a bit. Adding 50 grains of point weight got me even closer. Not sure what I'll try to finish this out though.

Thanks for the update!


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Title: Re: Sideplate materials: AKA fine tuning my bow
Post by: the rifleman on August 29, 2018, 09:44:48 PM
Yep--- raising the brace height will indeed cause the arrow to fly in the direction it would if it were weaker.  Glad it worked for you.