Walnut bow

[short slugger]

I am attempting my first self bow, black walnut, silk backed, 64 long, 2 inches wide at fade, tapering at 8 inches from nock, to 3/4 inches. It will be 3/4" thick at fades, 5/8" mid limb, to 1/2" at nocks. It has 1 inch natural reflex already. Oh, this is a board bow. I am hoping to get a 60# at 27". My glue up at the stiff handle is mahogany and walnut, and will have deer antler overlays at nocks. Does this set up seem on track to get my desired results if tillered properly? Thanks in advance for your reassurances. Just don't want to kill myself on the first full draw.

[Pat B]

It is a little short for your first but it is doable. Take your time and make each scrape thoughtful. Your thickness dimensions will be determined by your tiller. After first stringing, and your string is tracking well and your limbs are bending evenly you will be able to reduce the tip width to about 3/8" and the 1/2" thickness should make it plenty strong enough.

[short slugger]

I have it at 66 1/2" long now but do not have a string in stock at 66". wanted to finish this week and since I have a 64" string....went with 64". Would I be better at 66" on my first attempt, and order a string. Thanks, Pat.   Tony

[ChristopherO]

I would think with Black Walnut you will be better of building the bow to work and then match the string to the bow.  I've made one BW bow and was suprised by how thin the limbs needed to be to accomplish the desire weight.  But it chrysaled after about 200 shots all over the belly.  Pretty wood but it needs to be flawless.  Mine wasnt' as I was in a hurry to build a bow and that particular board was sitting in the barn.

[Pat B]

Tony, go ahead with that one, just take your time. You will be building others anyway when this one is done.
   You ought to learn to make strings. They are very simple and you will pay what a spool of string material cost with each string you buy.

[Art B]

As Pat said, you ought to learn to make your own strings. It's real simple and easy and will pay for its self pretty quick. Making strings is also part (the first part IMO) of bow making in my opinion.

For a 66" ntn (nock to nock) selfbow you'll need a 63" string and for a 64" ntn selfbow you'll need a 61" string. Your string will be 3" shorter than your nock to nock length.

Your limb thickness is generous enough to get you started and that amount of belly taper will produce a more elliptical profile, if that's what you want. What I do in a case like yours is use an 1/8" belly taper to mid-limb and then carry that measurement all the way to the tips. I also start my side taper (to the tips) at mid-limb also. Not suggesting you do it my way, just giving you another view. Good luck.-ART B

[short slugger]

Pat, I will do the 64" version, and take my time. Art, I will use your version of 1/8" belly taper to mid limb from fade, then continue 1/8" to nock. This will give me more room for error in tillering. I have 2 sons, who each have 2 sons, so therefore, I have already  made 4 kids bows of black walnut for my 4 grandsons ages 7-3 years old. The design,{ I just looked at one}, was the same thickness of limb to nock from mid limb down. So in essence it will be the same design, but in an adult version. The kids design has held up thru about 3 years of hard use of shooting actual arrows, to the common use of sword play, bee swatting, brother smacking, walking stick, and javelin throwing. Pat, I reckon string making will be next, but between handmade hunting and folding knives, sheath making, and turkey calls and strikers for friends and family, string making will have to just fit in there. And heck, I wanted to start learning to reload for my 41 magnum revolver. But I can already feel the need to make more bows. My 2 sons saw what I was working on and have already placed orders. Gosh, I will just have to re-introduce myself to my wife of 35 years again soon.  Thanks for all your help. I will post again soon of my results, good or bad. Tony!

[short slugger]

As I said , I will posts results good or bad....bad it is. As I was planing in the side tapers, I noticed small, dusty holes which were not evident from the face of board or the original edges. Mealy, bored, dusty holes. I hoped by reducing the original shape and size, I could get rid of just one bad area. But one would pop up here, then there. I could have ended up with a walnut fishing pole had I continued. So scratch the board bow, yet I am not whipped. I will try again and post later. Thanks Guys! Tony

[Pat B]

That kinda stuff happens when you make wood bows.  Unfortunately for you, your kids and grand kids know what you are up to and they want in.
   We'll be here when you're ready for your next one.

[short slugger]

As long as they want in....it's a blessing to be a Dad and Paw Paw! Thanks,guys!

[Pat B]

Having 3 generations interested in the same thing is very cool. I envy you, PawPaw!