How wide do you make your tips?

[LittleBen]

Specifically for wood bows. Also, I know narrower is supposed to be faster but at what point does it no longer matter? Is there much difference between 3/8 in and 1/4in?

[David Flanrey]

Make mine around 3/8.  Not so much for speed but for quiet.  And I like the way they look.

[macbow]

I like 3/8 on my BBI and BBO bows. Narrow and tapered in thickness.

[Pat B]

3/8" for me too. I start with 1/2" then narrow the tips after I'm sure the string is tracking well.

[bigbob2]

Depends on poundage and bow but varies between 1/2'' and 3/8'' for mine.

[karrow]

i lay the bow out with 1/2 inch tip but most of the time after finish sanding and shaping they end up 3/8 or just over 3/8. 3/8 is what i like.

[John Scifres]

Tim Baker found that "On bows of average length and strength, 65 grains (about 1/7 ounce) of weight at each tip affects arrow speed by about 1 fps." [TBB V.1 p. 66].  

I just weighed a 1/4" wide x 3/8" thick 4" long "bow tip" of average density osage at 110 grains.
If my math is correct, a 3/8" wide tip will be 30% more massive.  In other words, it will weigh 165 grains, so 55 grains more.

So, best case scenario, a 3/8" x 3/8" x 4" tip that is narrowed to 1/4" wide will gain approximately .9 fps.

[LittleBen]

Thank you John. I like your approach. Sounds like quiet shooting is as important a result of narrow tips as speed is. .9fps is essentially imperceptible.

[wakolbinger]

Tiny. As tiny as you can stomach.