3rd Hickory Flatbow done, pics

[briarjumper12]

 

 

 

Here is my 3rd Hickory Flatbow.  1 7/8 wide to midlimb tapering to slightly less than 1/2 in but not quite to 3/8.  65 1/2 ntn.  65 lbs @ 26 inches.  Chrono'd with 485 grain arrow...10 shot average 171 fps.  I very well pleased with the  performance of this one.  Not so well pleased with grip shape.  Finished out so slick I had to wrap pcord around to keep it from sliding around in the hand.  Maybe someday I'll make one that fits my hand good.  They always seem to fit good until I put the finish on then I think, "Man I shoulda done that differently."  Buffalo horn tips in the fuzzy pics.  Can't get camera to do good macro.
  Named it "The Wooly Worm".  
I'll try to get some full draw pics up sometime soon.
p.s.  if pics are to big let me know.  I sized them down in photobucket but they still look big to me.

Thanks,
John

[Mike Most]

Good looking bow,

Good work,

Mike

[NTD]

Looks good.  Got a full draw pic?

[KellyG]

She is a  looker for sure.
Kelly

[briarjumper12]

Originally posted by NTD:
Looks good.  Got a full draw pic?

Will get one when I have an accomplice.  Can't figure out the timer on the camera, if it even has one.

[Aznboi3644]

get some speed measurements with a 10gpp arrow...I like shooting heavy arrows

[briarjumper12]

Originally posted by Aznboi3644:
get some speed measurements with a 10gpp arrow...I like shooting heavy arrows

It'll take me while on that.  I am in process of gathering materials to build some serious arrows for 4 different bows, 3 I've made and one I bought.  Been keeping my eyes open for a good birch to cut.

[karrow]

good lookin bow! is that a leather strick plate?

[J. Holden]

How thick are the limbs?  Nice looking bow.  Wooly worm?

-Jeremy  

[OkKeith]

I have an eight foot long, 14 inch diameter Hickory log laying in the drive way waiting to be split. Hopefully it's destined for a few bows similar to yours. I plan to back them with cow rawhide.

Good job!

OkKeith

[briarjumper12]

Originally posted by karrow:
good lookin bow! is that a leather strick plate?

Yes it is.  Leather strike plate and leather on the antler rest.  I took the leather to the belt sander and ground down real thin then cut it out perfectly to fit the rest and strike plate.  Glued it on with super glue.  Then I took an antler tip and boned down the edges of the leather so's that it would blend in with wood.  After that I applied a little poly around the edges to really make it blend good with the rest of the finish.  Worked out pretty good.  Quiet on the draw and shot too.

Okeith,
My 3 bows are all out of the same log also.  It was an 18 inch pignut hickory.  Every stave so far has propeller twist though.  I just work with it though.  All three attempts have produced shootable bows dispite the twist.  You can't even tell it once you get it tillered.

[Pat B]

Nice looking bow! Looking forward to the full draw pic and an unbraced side profile pic too.
   Looks like you used para cord for your grip. That adds a lot to the bulk of the handle. I've been using hemp cord from Walmart with good results. I usually set it in Massey finish but left some without.
  If I may...by rounding over all edges more than what you have will help prevent splinters from raising. The wood you remove from the edges is dead wood(no positive effect) anyway and removing it shouldn't effect the draw weight any and could add some performance to the bow because you are eliminating some physical weight from the limbs. You could also narrow the tips from about where your hand is in the last pic to the 3/8" tips but leave the thickness. This will reduce the physical weight of the tips and give your limbs a faster recovery. Also, by reducing the mass from the outer limb tips, above the string nocks, will also reduce physical weight. It is dead weight also and doesn't have to be that big. Leave it long enough though so that a bow stringer still works on your bow.

[sulphur]

what pat said

[briarjumper12]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Nice looking bow! Looking forward to the full draw pic and an unbraced side profile pic too.
   Looks like you used para cord for your grip. That adds a lot to the bulk of the handle. I've been using hemp cord from Walmart with good results. I usually set it in Massey finish but left some without.
  If I may...by rounding over all edges more than what you have will help prevent splinters from raising. The wood you remove from the edges is dead wood(no positive effect) anyway and removing it shouldn't effect the draw weight any and could add some performance to the bow because you are eliminating some physical weight from the limbs. You could also narrow the tips from about where your hand is in the last pic to the 3/8" tips but leave the thickness. This will reduce the physical weight of the tips and give your limbs a faster recovery. Also, by reducing the mass from the outer limb tips, above the string nocks, will also reduce physical weight. It is dead weight also and doesn't have to be that big. Leave it long enough though so that a bow stringer still works on your bow.

I had another good bowyer I've been corresponding with tell me those same things.  I will definately be incorporating those suggestions into the next one, which is already in the works.  I would love some see some good bows in person.  I haven't found anybody within driving distance to compare too.  And pictures are hard to get a feel for.

The para cord does add some bulk.  It's just what I had handy.  I have't been able to get the hemp string for Walmart to have good results for me either.  I been thinking about gutting the paracord and just using the outer sheath. It would lay flat then.  I do like the warmth it probides on cold days.
Me and the 9 yr old went out yesterday and had gobblers within 15 yards.  Just when I was about he draw and shoot they spotted him moving and putted and ran.  Fun anyways.