Bow limbs outta truck springs? Don't be afraid to look!

[hormoan]

No not litterally. I'm wimpy   :D  

You talented ones have my mind a buzz with attempting to make a bow. I'm thinking that I would start with limbs only for one of my risers for a start. Not having any forms for the limbs and, I know I can make them. My thoughts keep going back to seeing nice long big truck leaf springs that look like they would make a awesome form. For longbow style limbs. Then again with my gas axe and some heat and the proper application of torque presto maybe recurve style.

So my question is do any of you use them? Or has my mind sprung? Could have happened back in the 70's      

                Brent

[BigRonHuntAlot]

You been drinking the Moose Drool again.  :p    

[kennym]

I like your thinkin! Keep us posted on this project!  

[hormoan]

Dang Ron must be something else, I never did get one of those Moose Drools. The name just kind of scared me off. And thats doing something considering it was COLD BEER?   :D  

                 Brent

[BigRonHuntAlot]

LOL You be sure to take pics when you get it laid out. Sounds interesting.    

[kctreeman]

I'm sure they would work.  We are building bows not watches.  It's not as complicated as people make it out to be.

[Starkman]

I was speaking with Jerry Fisk, a very well known bladesmith and told me he wants to make a damascus bow.  I thought he was joking...maybe not after all.
Bob

[SOS]

I LOVE it....that's Moose Drool.  Don't be afraid...good stuff!

[dachba]

I have a Navajo knife made from a truck leaf spring... (grin)

Dave in Ft. Collins, CO

[Jason Jelinek]

Some Indian bows (Asia) were made of tempered steel.  They looked like recurves and were used for ceremonies/war/hunting.  I think a truck leaf spring would be a little thick, but using tempered high carbon steel (spring steel) would make a nice bow if you kept the mass down.

Jason

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Brent is talking about using the springs to make a form guys., not actual limbs...LOL

[uncowboy]

I have seen them used in home made X bows. They were very sucessfull. J.Michael

[Osagetree]

I got what you mean hormoan. It does sound like it would be possible.

That is what I really like about this site. New ideas, thinking out of the box, originality, cost effective ideas.

Keep us posted if you try it out and I don't beat you to it!

[hormoan]

Osagetree I’d be proud if you gett’r done first, you have a head start having done a lot of limb work already. And I have NONE!!!!


Thanks for the replies, I have had more than one chuckle out of it all. I know it sounds kind of crazy, BUT I keep seeing those same limb flowing lines in old truck leaf springs. Taking two of them contoured in the same lines, length is no issue for 3pc takedown designs. They can be clamped together for a form, and should be plenty heavy enough. And with proper clamps and the right amount of heat, bent at your desire. Not so sure you could not lay up both limbs side by side on some models. So much for crazy random thoughts!


                                                        Brent

[R.W.]

The truck spring form idea has possibilities. Most of these springs are 3-5 inches wide, so wouldn't you have to cut them length wise, also? If you didn't, wouldn't your lams slide around a lot, allowing them to end up out of alignment?

R.W.

[bayoulongbowman]

if that works??? cool idea!!!

[Crooked Stic]

I think you might be on to something here.