Need help with Hickory pyramid kids 28" draw?

[Martin Schutte]

Hi guys I`m jumping into bow building eventually with my first bow being a kids bow out of 1" hickory pyramid style with silk backing! My daughter is 12 and draw 28"!

My first real Q is what dimensions can I use for this bow and what poundage 25 30 35 will be the best on her bow for her!

She is almost as tall as me and we are already battling to get shoes and clothes for her       so daddy is unsure of using some of the pyramid stile dimensions out there any help please!!

Thanks Martin

PS: I`m not @ work these mails go there but will keep an eye on this topic!!

[LittleBen]

How tall is she? Jeez, I'm an adult and only draw 25"! Anyway, considering she is likely to keep growing, I would probably build it for a bit more than 28".

Generally for a straight limbed, stiff handled bow you want 2x draw length plus 8-12" or so. I'd go for 68" personally and tiller it to 30", assuming it isn't taking too much set when yu get to 28"

Id shoot for 25#@28". Better to work on for, and figure draw weight later. Since your choice of weights leads me to believe that hunting isn't in the near future, I would go with the low end of your range.

If you decide to go to 30# I would stick with 1" but over that I would go wider, proportional to the weight. So maybe 1 1/4" for 35#.

Lastly, if your hickory is good, a backing shouldn't be necessary.

[Martin Schutte]

Hi LittleBen thanks for the reply I`m 1.86 meters tall, with freakish long arms! She is literally 4 fingers shorter than me, I draw 31" and after her bow I will make myself a 40-45 pounder.

To what thickness can I take it down before starting floor tiller, and is it fine if if I glue up extra wood at the handle section or leave the first ever bow like it is rounded off course?

I will back it to be on the safe side! So if you decide to make a bow like this it will be safe to say 68" over all length 1" handle 1 1/4" fades to 1/2" tips?? Does that fall in the correct ball park?? Thanks for all the help!

Martin

[monterey]

The 1/2" tips are a bit wide for a pyramid design, but that's just a personal prejudice of mine.  If it were my build, it would be 1.75" at the fades tapering straight down the sides to 1/4" to 5/16" tips.  Once again, that's just me and furthermore I've never worked with hickory!

[Martin Schutte]

Hi Monterey thanks for chiming in I will think about your measurements a bit, and maybe tweak my design!

This will be my first bow ever so maybe over engineering and a couple snags is gonna happen!

Martin

[Martin Schutte]

And so it begins I did cut it to 68" and 1.75" wide 1" thick and glued on a white ash riser!!

I will start cutting the limbs and riser today.

Then I will see where I`m at!

 

 

[LittleBen]

I think Monterey has good advice leaving it wider. That's definately more width than yu need for even 35#, but having a bit wider won't hurt besides maybe 1-2m/s arrow speed.

Now it's time to read up on the board bow build alongs. They will walk you through step by step. Sorry I don't have the links handy, but Google will find them for you.

[Martin Schutte]

Hi LittleBen I followed Monterey`s specs and will follow all the build alongs 4est trekker`s is actually the main one because its the most detailed that i know of. Thanks again for all the support and advise!

Martin

[tsorenson]

Hey Martin - looking forward to following along with a fellow first timer also working with hickory! I'd like to see how your silk backing goes - I'm debating whether or not to back mine. Seems I change my mind every time I go downstairs to work on it. Good luck!

[Martin Schutte]

Hey Tsorenson I`m also trying to figure out, to back or not to back but got to the conclusion, Just back it. My daughter is going to shoot with it and if something goes wrong the backing will sort of be a safety line. When i get to my bow i will back it with sinew, just to be on the safe side!! Thanks for guiding me on you`re build along I will try doing it on this one, my biggest shortage is string material(B50/B55) our main archery shop that is the only one that supply trad shooters/bowyers is waiting for stock from the states side. So that suck big time!

Martin

[Martin Schutte]

I'm still busy with this bow and got some work done the other day but spike(The Sun) is keeping me from doing any work we are scorching here in South Africa.

How is 42.5 degrees Celsius, 107 Fahrenheit        sounding so my massive 1 car garage/workshop is trying to kill me!!
Hope for cooler weather and rain        

No aircon in my house all fans running at 8pm it 37 to 39 degrees celcius, hot wter comes out of the cold tap it sucks!!

Cheers guys