question about bow lumber--need help

[TimberBound]

I have a question about the kind of draw weight I could get out of a standard 1 by 2 that you get out of a hardware store, the kind that isn’t actually 1 inch by 2 inches but is really a bit smaller. Do those kind of oak boards have enough depth (from belly to back) to make a rigid handle bow slightly under 2 inches wide at the handle tapering to about ½ inch nocks with a ntn length of about 70 inches and a draw weight between 50 and 60 pounds at 28 inches? Basically, is a slightly under 1 inch thickness at the end of the fades enough material to tiller out a 50-60 pound bow of the above given dimensions?

Thanks a lot,

Timberbound

[Keith Deters]

Yes you can.

[TimberBound]

Thanks for the reply. How thin (roughly) should the limbs be at the fades and the tips in order to make a 50-60 pound 70 inch bow?

Timberbound

[Pat B]

Check out Jawge's of Ferret's site for all the info you'll need to make a bow with the lumber you have(if the grain is OK,aye Jawge?).
   Pat

[TimberBound]

Yeah, I've been to both of their websites, and there is a lot of good stuff in there all right, but what I'm looking for is actual thicknesses, which I can't find on their sites. Everybody says how wide their selfbow is, but no one says how thick it is. I know that it is totally dependent on how that particular peice of wood tillers, but can anyone measure the thickness of their selfbow at the end of the fades and at the tip and post those measurements? It would be of great help to me.

Thanks,

Timberbound

[Eric Krewson]

Having made over 100 wood bows I can say that every piece of wood is different and any measurements will be general. My bows have around 3/4" thickness at the fades and 1/2" at the tips. This is a round belly bow. Looking at a flat belly bamboo backed osage bow I have close at hand, it is 1/2" at the fades and 3/8" thick at the tips.

[TimberBound]

Thank you Eric, that was exactly what I needed! Thanks a lot,

Timberbound

[tim-flood]

there is a Tim Baker "First Bow" article in the how to section you should take a look at especially for a first bow.
you start with a home depot 1x2 red oak board that costs about $6.00.
 http://tradgang.com//noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000043

[Lost Arra]

Originally posted by TimberBound:
I have a question about the kind of draw weight I could get out of a standard 1 by 2 that you get out of a hardware store,

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,1370.0.html

Probably not his first board bow.  

[TimberBound]

That bow would have packed quite a punch Lost arra! I knew about Tim Baker's bow directions, and they have also really helped me. I guess I just wanted to get some real final measurements to help me know what I'm looking at.

TimberBound

[flntknp17]

You'll be amazed at what kind of weight you can get out of a 1x2x72 oak lumberyard board!  I have one out in the garage that was the first full size bow I ever built.....it pulls 73# at 28" and is only about 62" long.  It started out as a 1x2x72 from the hardware store and I tillered it, and then kept cutting it down 'till I got the weight I wanted (at the time!).  No need to back an oak board if the grain is OK.

Matt

[poekoelan]

I think ( could be wrong ) that the maximum draw weight will have alot to do with the late wood / early wood ratio. A really dense one could make a very heavy bow, but if the stave has a lot of early wood, it might not make a bow as heavy as you are wanting.

I've made a few bows from red oak 1x2s ( they are all bendy handles though ) and the thickness varies on them. I've noticed that the dense ones are noticably thinner when finished.

[ishiwannabe]

Can anyone recommend a detailed book and or video for a wanna-be bowyer? Red oak boards from Home Depot huh...any suggestions as to what to look for in a board and what to avoid?

[poekoelan]

The Traditional Bowyer's Bibles. Volume 1 covers the essential stuff and volume 2 covers boards. Best books I ever read in my life.

[ishiwannabe]

Great...thanks. Checking out this site showed me Im not ready to make one yet. Much to learn.