New member here!

[Xander]

Hi y'all!

Just joined up to get some help through building a bow or two.  I've been reading on here for the last several days, read every page of the "so you want to build a bow" have read poorfolkbows, been getting some advice from a few people on my regular forum.

I shot traditional archery for years, but haven't shot at all in a long time.  My understanding is that I should likely start with a pyramid bow.

After my reading I have settled on what I suspect to be solid specs for my first bow, please let me know what could be changed/improved.

Quartersawn Red Oak
48#@28"
62" NTN
2 1/4" at the fades
1/2" at the tips
8" riser
13/16" limb tickness
Laminated reflexed tips


Here is the plank I bought today, it is 6" wide by 96" long, so plenty of wood to account for the less than perfect grain orientation.  I can get a little over 6 feet of straight grain from the middle of this board if I lay it out on a slight angle.

I'm considering backing this bow, but the wood is just so pretty I don't want to cover it up!

 

 


Anyways, my ultimate goal is a very good shooting bow for target and occasional hunting of small game up to pigs.  No deer hunting with this.  Also, I plan to eventually make a nice osage bow backed with carbon fiber.  I have a ton of CF just laying around, a couple 48"x96" sheets of .030" thick and several yards of 284 cloth, several yards of 12" uni directional tape as well.  But Osage is pretty scarce round here, and its expensive to ship bow size sticks out here to CA.

So, the name is Xander, I'm a father to a three year old boy, got a great woman to roll her eyes at me, and I enjoy long walks at sunset stalking game.


Cheers!

[psychmonky]

Welcome Xander! That board looks pretty good to me. I'm more interested in your carbon/Osage project. Definitely keep us posted on that! I've thought about building one, but I always worried the carbon would overpower the wood.

[DVSHUNTER]

Welcome. The board looks nice, the beer looks empty. That's a good start. Leave the beer out when you start tilllering. Don't ask how I know...

[Xander]

Thanx guys!  You too, Millhimes from the double post thread.

Thanx for the words of confidence on the board, I had several different build alongs and web pages open on my phone to make sure I got all the right specs while searching.  I found a very nice board of curly hickory but it was divided right down the middle between sap and heartwood.  May still pick I up for a backing once I get there.

The osage/CF project is only going to go forward once I get some wood to bend how I want it.  I have never built a bow before and don't want to just throw away expensive material while learning.  I still have a few calculations to crunch before I even begin to shop for wood on that project.


For this current board, I also am hoping to use some spalted pecan for the riser that I harvested myself.  I still have a large amount available so I may try it a few places on a bow, tip overlays, back side grip lams, etc.  So far, how do my specs above look?  I may go down to 2" and straight limbed for the first 25%-33% of each limb past the fades.

But I don't know what I don't know, I need y'all to point me in the right direction.

Btw, that beer was frosty and full, but has been spent and replaced a few times already today, so no shop time for me.


Cheers!

[timbermoose]

best advice i can give is go slow, take your time, don't rush it. welcome, lot of usefull info on this site and the guys are top notch.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Welcome to the gang. I think the pyramid style is the way to go. From my experience with red oak boards I would think about going up to a 66" or 68" ntn and would consider backing it just to be safe. Have fun and post pics!!!!

[mwosborn]

Welcome!  Already good advice given - post lots of pics and these guys will give you all the advice you need to make a nice bow.

[Xander]

Thanx Hawk, I was planning on backing until I found this pretty piece of lumber, but better safe than sorry.  I'll likely use paper to back it.

So if I up the length to 66" - 68" how do the rest of my dimensions look?  Also, how many layers of paper should I use for backing?


Cheers!

[Roy from Pa]

Yup leave the beer out of the shop. I never drink beer in my bow shop, never....  

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Dimensions should be fine. Only 1 layer for paper backing. Titebond 3 works real well for the backing.

[red hill]

Now, Roy, this is a new guy to the bench. Don't go hood-winkin' him so soon!

Xander, steer clear of Roy's list! LOL!
Welcome to the bench.

[Xander]

Originally posted by red hill:
Now, Roy, this is a new guy to the bench. Don't go hood-winkin' him so soon!

Xander, steer clear of Roy's list! LOL!
Welcome to the bench.

Thanx for the welcome guys!

I may be new to this bench, but not to all shop benches...    

Hopefully, if this little project turns out well I will be making bows for my father, brother and oldest nephew who all shoot.  My younger nephew might be about ready this spring for one, he just turned 5.  The other one is 19 and 6'2" 220lbs, so no junior bow for him!


Cheers!

[Faithful]

Xander, where do you get the sheets of carbon? What does it cost?

[Xander]

Originally posted by Faithful:
Xander, where do you get the sheets of carbon? What does it cost?

The 284 (or 282 cloth is common) can be found at most plastics suppliers, right around $35-$40 per yard iirc.  The uni tape same thing, but cheaper.  I get mine from Tap Plastics.  If you live near one, check out some boat repair or supply houses (aka chandleries) as well.

Carbon fiber doesn't work well with polyesther resins, so avoid the cheap stuff that uses MEKP or H2O2 as a catalyst.  Epoxy or Vinylesther resin is best, I prefer Gougeon Brothers West Systems brand 105 resin and either 205 or 207 hardener.  Wet layups are fine if properly executed to avoid pools or dry spots, but vaccuum bagging is most efficient.

I have used CF for years on repairs and mods to my race boats so I always tend to have some laying around.

Cheers!

[northland archer]

Welcome, there are alot of great builders here.  I will be watching your board bow build with interest.

Treavor