Bow from apple branch

[troutremble]

I have a 6' apple branch that is 1-1/8" thick at one end and 3/4" at the other. I have peeled the bark off and then let it dry for a couple of months. I know I need to taper the large end to match the other, do I taper only on what will be the belly of the bow? What type of nocks do I cut in? I have made several bows from board lumber that worked out well but I wanted to try somthing different. Any other tips would be welcome.

[Pat B]

Remove wood from the belly side of both limbs. You will be limited to the weight you can maintain with the smaller end. Simple side nock(a grove cut only on one side of each limb; opposite of each other) or pin nocks will do fine and are easy to do.   Pat

[Springbuck]

That is a pretty small branch, but the Thompsons listed apple as a candidate for ELB design.

  Whatever you do, I would make them close to the same, i.e. not with one side round and one flat in cross section...

  I would make stiff tips (narrow and deep) and a mid-limb cross section a crowned rectangle or something like that...

  I've been eying some apple suckers that shot up really long after a severe pruning, so let me know how it comes out.

[troutremble]

Thanks guys, I will get to work on that this week. I also have a branch 2 1/2" diameter that I will play with after this one. I will post results as soon as I can.

[troutremble]

Thanks for the help guys, got a nice bow for my 14 yr old girl out of it. 28# @ 28" I had to patch a small crack on a knot on back of bow with combed linen theads, worked out good though. Will post pictures later and will work on larger branch.

[Roy Steele]

I would think your first limb is to small.But it would make kids bow and give you pratice on your bigger limb.Apple makes a good bow.I'm told I've never tryed one.Good luck.

[Jeremy]

Those smaller limbs can make a nice assymetrical bow similar to a Yumi in a hunting weight.  You end up holding the bow well below the center, but with just a little tweaking of the "tiller" they do shoot nice.