Question for bowyers///Antler tips = Handshock?????

[warden415]

I just wanted to ask if you notice any difference in performance (mainly handshock, or speed difference) in your bows with antler tips versus tips only made from wood or fiberglass/micarta?   I have only made a few bows myself, and always used wood/phenolic micarta and or fiberglass in the tips. But I love the look of antler!
I have shot a few bows that I considerd to have some handshock and they all seemed  to have antler tips. It may have been just the design of those bows and they would have had handshock whether they had antler or phenolic tips?  I just attributed it to the antler so I have stayed away from it on the bows I am building.
Steve

[Tyler Carlson]

I don't know about the handshock with antler, but an extremely knowledgable and respected bowyer told me that antler is somewhat faster than wood/fiberglass/micarta in fastflite applications because it is very light and strong and the other materials are heavier.

[ONE SHOT]

There are several things that can cause excessive hand shock. uneven tiller is one reason, bad Bow Design,also limbs tips that are too thick, not including the overlays be they antler, Horn, or any other material. But the improper taper of both the width of the limbs as well as the thickness of the taper of the belly of the limbs. Most new Bowyers make the common mistake of making the tips of the limbs on there Bows way to thick, thus causing unneccesary hand shock. You will never get all hand shock complety removed,there will always be a very small amount even in the most expensive and well Designed Bows, just a simple Law of Physics, for every action there is a re-action, due to the tremendous forces developed in the limbs....ONE SHOT...          :D

[Lewis Brookshire III]

Ive not noticed a difference in shock or speed. I think the size of the tips would make more of a difference. One tip I would give you though is to sand you antler down then coat it with thin super glue and let it soak in the pores of the antler before gluing them to the limbs or you might have a problem with them popping off in the future. I have had 4 sets of Antler tips pop off until I started doing that. I have never had a problem with phenolic or wood just the antler.

[leatherneck]

Steve, you got my bow done yet? I'm still planning on coming up sometime to see your work.