Short Selfbow Ideas???

[jasonbker]

Been out of making bows for a few years due to health problems... I was wanted to start a spring project Osage bow and was wanting some suggetions on building a shorter selfbow. I was thinking a 62" model that will draw 30"... Below you will find a few of my current ideas.. Thank you in advance for your suggestions... Jason  

1) 62" NTN
2) Ridgid 4" handle with 1 1/2" fades
3) Limb width from fade to midlimb 1 3/8"
4) 1/2" tips
5) Sinew backed

[Pat B]

Sounds pretty good to me. When you have it tillered out reduce your tips to 3/8" or less. Leave then about 1/2" thick and you will have the strength without the excess physical weight.
  You might even kick the tips up a bit to give better string angle at full draw.

[wingnut]

All I can say is pick the best piece of wood you can find.  All the stars will need to align to make it happen and the sinew is the key.

The design is solid but you are asking a lot of a selfbow that short to go too 30" . . more then once.  LOL

Mike

[jasonbker]

All of my bows in the past have been 64" or better other than my recurves... I agree with the best piece of wood idea... I think 2-runs of sinew will make it safe... I know a lot of persons like to induce reflex with heat... I plan on not using heat in the hope the wood will be more stable... Thanks for the input... Jason  

[Pat B]

The sinew is definitely the key. If not for it a bendy handle bow would be an option and still could on this bow to help distribute the stresses.

[jasonbker]

Got the wood in today... looks like  about a 10" diameter tree with paper thin rings... That should help with reflex... The only bad thing is there very little wood to work with and there's several knots... I think the astrology aspect may need to come into play...

[Pat B]

In a 10" diameter tree, even with thin rings and a few knots is a lot of wood to work with.
  How about some pics of the log and staves when split out.

[dave_570]

That short ?? u might think about a horn bow.

[jasonbker]

Well the bow survived shoot-in and came out 50# @30"... I will try to post a few pics of the process for ya'll to check out...