Red Oak super-shorty, an experiment -- pics included

[k-hat]

The full backstory to this is on PA, but here's a recent project of mine on the experimental side:

Ok, i went after it and got her done, at least to shooting in stage, i'll make her up later.  Camping with the boy tonight and we're gonna do some shootn  ;D

So here are the specs:  Red Oak board bow, 1.5 inches wide, tapers to 3/4" at tips, thickness is 3/4" handle to li'l over 1/2" at fades, to just over 1/4" at tapers.  Thickness constant from tapers to tips (mostly).  Somewhat of an Native Americans style profile, mostly intentional   .  48" tip to tip, nocks almost flush with tips (gonna modify to pin nocks later), slightly bendy through the handle, 60#@24".  Again on the backing:  1/32" white oak veneer (thought it was hickory, then i re-remembered it was white oak!), with linen glued over that, dyed with choc brown rit.  

This is, to date, the heaviest and shortest bow i've ever made, in fact it's my first shorty period.   This was all highly experimental, as mentioned, and was really a test of my bowyer skills and see what the limits of red oak are.  I planned on some set happening, which came out to 2".  Which is a lot for the length i think, but expected since it's narrower than you would normally go with red oak.  Again, this was a piece i otherwise would have used for handle risers, but she sat in the corner of the garage begging to be made into a bow!!

Pics:

tillered to 22"
 

handle profiles:
 
 

 

Full draw ;D
 

Love to hear your comments!

[Osagetree]

I did an osage like that once and it would put a feild point through 1/4" plywood at 10yrds. It was a heck of conversation peice but I let it get away from me.

The tiller looks great on yours and I bet it could tackle 1/4" ply too. I bet without the backings your bow would blow. Just a guess as I have never used oak.

Thanks for sharing the story here!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Nice tiller. I've been hunting with a yew paddle bow that is 47"tip to tip and 46" NTN and draws 51# at 23"

 I love the way it shoots. Mine also took some set but I figured it would as well. Didn't hurt the performance of it cause it will drive an arra.

 I think your bow turned out awesome and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well these shorties shoot.

[AKmud]

60#...! Wow, I never would have thought a red oak board would handle that much at only 48".  Great job!

[Shaun]

Saw some quarter sawn osage and white wood super short - some only 30" - bows in TX recently. They would pull 1/2 their length. The bowyer Randy was backing some with sinew, but they would shoot without backing. They were wider and more pyramid profile with less thickness taper.

Very nice work and tiller on yours.

[k-hat]

Thanks boys for your comments:)

I didn't think i'd get all the way to 60# either, expecting that to drop some though as i sand and shoot'r in.  Sure hope she holds up!

Well, i thought I had a supershorty Shaun, but 30", now that's super short!!

Shot a bunch last nite with my son out in the woods, blew an arrow up on a tree at about 50 yards.  Sad day, but she sure flings 'em!!

Accuracy, she shoots where i look.  The only problem is, i found that 60# on a shorty is a lot harder to pull than 60# on a longbow!!  Never really get to bring in those back muscles, though my form may need a little help since i'm not used to shooting the short draw.  I was worried about losing accuracy with a short bow, but this one is only lacking due to my weak limbs;)

BTW, no hand shock at all to speak of, and super quiet:)

Thanks again for your feedback!