1st Brd Bow DONE pics pg 2 please comment

[fish n chicks]

I finally had a chance to rough the bow in, add the tip overlays, add the riser overlay, and shape to near final form. Not without issues of course.

First, and foremost, i'm an idiot. Yes, you heard it here folks. I cut the board to 60" instead of the recommended 68 and it's final NTN is 59". I'm making my first bow for my fiance, who I thought this practice bow would be awesome for. Trouble is, it's got a draw weight of.. I don't know... an elephant? It's really tough to pull past 21". Pics of the tiller are attached. I'm hoping some insight on how to bring the draw weight down will be offered. I was actually considering turning it into a split limb by cutting a groove in the limbs. Anyone do that to a wood bow before?

The thing I didn't get a chance to get to was a backboard for my tiller. It'll have to come this weekend, but from what I saw she looked pretty good. Then again, my eyes are only 2 weeks old. That's where you vets come in. Anything stand out?

Since I went with a bulbous grip, I use a 1" dowel at the midpoint of the bow (where the web of your hand would go too) with 2 1/2" dowels to geep it from over swiveling, and to hold other flat grips. The 1" dowel and 2x are removable as one piece. I am also going to be attaching pulleys and clips this weekend hopefully.

Also, my tips suck. All that pretty material, and I got lil nubbies. It's almost like why'd I put them on? But they're not totally ugly, and the way they look under a quick alcohol wipe is awesome!

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[John Scifres]

You need to reduce weight by making it thinner (back-to-belly) or narrower (side-to-side).  Your bow specifications (wood type, NTN length, draw weight, and style of bow) will decide your next step.  Don't draw the bow more than the desired weight, ever.

[Pat B]

Your handle cutout scares me!

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Your handle cutout scares me!

Okay. In what way? like boogie man scares you or like it may fail due to the reduction of material at the fulcrum?

[ranger 3]

I'm like Pat, I think you cut the window to far and it might break there. Not to much wood left in that area.

[4est trekker]

Yeah, that's three for the handle scarin' the bajeezers out of me!  Best case scenario is that thing will twist all over the place.  Worst case, get your goggles and hard hat ready.  

Remember that a centershot bow does not make a more accurate bow.  That's mostly determined by properly matched arrows, a good draw/release, etc.

Thanks for posting.  Hope you're not disappointed with the replies.  Keep at it, and keep posting.

[Pat B]

Not much wood in the center where most of the stress is. Plus the way the top fade is cut in so abruptly it is likely to crack up the limb from that point.
 4est is right about using a correctly spined arrow. That is what makes a bow accurate...not the bow. A sapling bow with a properly spined arrow will be more accurate than a $1000 bow with the wrong arrow.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I would have agree about the handle, It does kinda scare me like the boogie man. LOL
 As far as a split limb wood bow... I'd leave that to the wheelie guys.
 Stickbows are a whole different world my friend.

[scrub-buster]

I think the only split limb wooden bows are due to cracks.  And they are not done on purpose.

[Eric Krewson]

When people move from a recurve to building a selfbow they often want to make the handle of their selfbow similar to their recurve if possible.

I did this with my first selfbow. I even made a working recurve selfbow. Guess where it broke, right in the sight window. The handle was somewhat like yours but a good piece of osage instead of red oak.

You made a rookie design error like a lot of us have made before. Looks like you have a good eye for detail and I expect you will make some fine bows in the future.

[Bob Barnes]

man...you have some real talent here helping you...  

Not anything to add except you have obviously done a lot of work and learned quite a lot doing so as well.  Your tips and grip show that... the limbs are way stiff and need material slowly scraped off the belly working from the fades towards the tips...but leave the last few inches stiffer.  You never draw one past the weight that you intend it to be...so only pull it to what you think is the weight you want...keep it light...get it bending pretty...and think about the next one.  I have helped students make dozens of red oak bows and don't trust the riser either...that stuff really likes to let go on grain lines so the cut out is a problem for sure.  If you get it bending pretty, at a very light draw weight...it could make a great decoration for your shop or den.
Bob

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Bob Barnes:
man...you have some real talent here helping you...      

 

You are absotively right Bob. That's why I don't cry when I hear criticism. Believe me, compared to my old man you guys are softies.

I put much thought into the CORRECT method of adjusting the bow's weight, and a split limb design is not what I got into this for. Well, not one on accident. Maybe one day. But I took the limbs down to 1/4". You guys may be spooked yet again, but relax, remember this is a bow for my can't draw a youth bow fiance. and the bow is a short 59".

 I started at 1/2" thick, draw weight was near 87#. Then I went down to 3/8" and got 58#. I know she can't pull squat so I took it to 1/4" and got 25.6# at her 26" draw lenght, and a great bottom tillering limb and a not so great top one. The pics can describe it better than I can. What i'm seeing is a flat spot on the right limb between lines 4 and 5.5/6? Tell me what you guys see please. The left limb looks awesome to me, but I have rookie eyes, so again, unleash your fury! Or wisdom! And as far as twist at the handle, I see none. It draws smooth with no (knock on wood) cracking or crying from the board. She simply seems happy minus her limb.


My tillering machine may or may not be made right. I went based on what I saw here and a couple other posts, but overall there aren't too many GOOD FREE plans to build a proper tiller. At least google and this site's search engine didn't help much.

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[Eric Krewson]

Make yourself one of these to check your limbs tiller.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001047#000000

[Pat B]

The right limb looks to be hingeing right at the fade then about 6" of stiff area then a slight hinge then flat again. Left limb looks pretty good but a bit stiff out about the last 1/3. I usually keep the last 6" stiff.
  Make one of Eric's Gizmos. Such a simple idea with great wood bow building value.

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Eric Krewson:
Make yourself one of these to check your limbs tiller.

  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001047#000000  

Mr K your input has been invaluable. Thanks for the gizmo link. I can't get into the shop fast enough.

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Pat B:
The right limb looks to be hingeing right at the fade then about 6" of stiff area then a slight hinge then flat again. Left limb looks pretty good but a bit stiff out about the last 1/3. I usually keep the last 6" stiff.
  Make one of Eric's Gizmos. Such a simple idea with great wood bow building value.

Thank you Pat. That is what I was hoping to get, some info to help sharpen my eye as to what I should be looking for. I saw right away what you described, and will be making one of Mr. K's gizmo's later today. Thanks again guys this thing is coming out AWESOME!

[fish n chicks]

For those of you who had input, thanks again. The bow is nearly complete with the exception of finishing, which I should be able to do tonight. I bought a string for this one cause I didn't have the patience to wait for the materials to come in the mail to make it, but my next ones will also have home made strings.

This thing shoots like a dream. No hand shock, feels awesome in the grip, and stacey shoots it like a pro! Considering she's never even been able to draw a bow, I think the happiest part of the build was seeing her shoot this:

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and this!

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I'm going to have to research how to add the string nock, and I think i'd like to finish it off with silencers too. I have also started a lil sleeve for her made out of camo fleece.

There are those that certainly were afraid of that grip, but let me reassure you, there is PLENTY of stock left to keep the bow in line. No twisting in the hand or on the tiller, and it feels AWESOME. I did model it directly off my K-Mag, so I was hoping that helped, which it did. Now to make her some pink and black flu-flu's and she's ready to never shoot it again!   :D

[fish n chicks]

My first board bow is complete, and what an awesome experience. It's no wonder it's said you can't build just one. I've got orders for 3 more from my brother and a couple of friends!

I don't think I can say thanks enough to 4est, pat b, and Mr. K. Your guys' input was awesome and appreciated. This is the final product. I'm going to name them "Nooch Bows" short for Noocha, my last name. This is #1 of ____ lol.

I look forward to comments, suggestions, criticism, whaterver. Just gimme some please!!

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[fish n chicks]

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