After Action Review

[robA72]

Hey everyone,
First off, I've been lurking here for almost a year before finally jumping in to my first build. You guys are amazing. I love the knowledge and helpfulness that you all give so freely.
So here is my first attempt at building a boardbow. I used most of what 4ester had in his tutorial and a little from another website. I used a piece of red oak from Lowe's and spent about 3 weeks (mostly weekends) building it. I tried my best to get the limbs evenly tillered but ended up with a hinge (right term?) in the bottom limb. It looked like there were two small knots in the wood at this same point. I managed to fire 6 shots (one a bullseye from 30')before the cracking noise made me nervous. Sure enough about 20 minutes after my first shot, it cracked. So what did I do wrong? I've already promised my kids a bow each so I have to get back into this. Any ideas from these photos or tips that I missed would be greatly appreciated.

[robA72]

   

   

[robA72]

Well crud,
I'm having a hard time getting pics to show up here.
Here is my photobucket link. Please take a moment to skim over my pics and let me know what I did wrong.

 http://s1302.beta.photobucket.com/user/robA72/library/?

[rmorris]

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[vanillabear?]

[vanillabear?]

[robA72]

Thanks Vanillabear,
The two knots were right on that thin spot you pointed out.
I can't wait to get started on my next attempt in the morning!
That said, can I scrap tiller a board bow the same as a stave? or should I stick to using the sureform?

[fujimo]

I know everybody uses red oak, readily available, and it will teach you how to make a bow, cos if you stray some, it does tend to fail.
I always recommend aspiring bowyers to use hickory, it will break too sometimes, maybe, but generally it is way tougher, and more forgiving than other board bow wood. I always feel such empathy for new bowyers who spend so much time building their first bows, only to have them fail.
I think in slightly experienced hands it makes a good bow, but it just doesn't seem to be a very forgiving wood. But then, inadvertently I spose those are good lessons too    
Don't give up, keep building!!!!

[LittleBen]

I second what wayne said about the hickory. I use red oak sometimes, but I hate it.

With that said, I dont know the specs on your bow, but it looks like it's either too short, or braced too high.

I shoot for 7" or less brace height on oak bows, and they should really be as tall as the archer. And it has a hing as mentioned, which certainly led to its demise.

Keep it up though, you'll get one soon enough.

[Mike Most]

I see the hinge on the right limb in the bottom picture, Do you have a gizmo or did you make one. Check Eric Krewsons posts here, that gizmo will help you tiller, (in thirds inner, middle and outer). If red oak is your best available option, be critical in looking at the wood available, quarter sawn, almost perfectly straight down the board, no imperfections. I prefer a scraper to a surform MHO thats my 2 cents good luck.

Sometimes that is the first board off the stack but most of the time you have to really dig through them.

[robA72]

Originally posted by LittleBen:
I second what wayne said about the hickory. I use red oak sometimes, but I hate it.

With that said, I dont know the specs on your bow, but it looks like it's either too short, or braced too high.

I shoot for 7" or less brace height on oak bows, and they should really be as tall as the archer. And it has a hing as mentioned, which certainly led to its demise.

Keep it up though, you'll get one soon enough.

Hey everyone,
Thank you for your input. I should have given you all some of the specs. It was 70" nock to nock, which is taller than me. And I think that brace height was about 10".
I actually ordered two hickory blanks from redmountain archery. So I can't wait to get to work on them and will keep you posted.
Here is a specific question: I purposely braced that bow high because I was hoping to lighten the draw weight. Was this way off base? I know thinning the limbs is key to a lighter draw but I thought I was getting somewhere with this method.
I know, I know; haha on the newbie right?
thanks everyone.

[robA72]

Originally posted by Mike Most:
I see the hinge on the right limb in the bottom picture, Do you have a gizmo or did you make one. Check Eric Krewsons posts here, that gizmo will help you tiller, (in thirds inner, middle and outer). If red oak is your best available option, be critical in looking at the wood available, quarter sawn, almost perfectly straight down the board, no imperfections. I prefer a scraper to a surform MHO thats my 2 cents good luck.

Sometimes that is the first board off the stack but most of the time you have to really dig through them.

Thanks for the input Mike. I did make a gizmo and it really helped. I can't find a scraper anywhere locally. The big box stores don't carry them. Any suggestions? I am tempted to use an old hunting knife.