max draw length out of a 57 1/2" bow?

[CalebNH00]

planning to build a 57 1/2" bow and was wondering what was the max draw length that I could get out of it?

[MoeM]

I´d say it depends "a bit" on your design...
No real limits for a recurve like 46" herters or supermag^^
Recently someone showed a great longbow at this lenght here- guess the 28" looked alrigt on her.

[CalebNH00]

It's going to be a mix. It has red oak limbs, and a 8" glued on handle section. the limbs are 1" wide.

[macbow]

I'd say 1 inch is narrow for red oak.
I'd say with the non bending 8 inch handle maybe 26 inches and that would be pushing it.
Is this going to be a light weight bow?

[Roy from Pa]

Caleb, wood bows are different animals than glass bows. It's pretty hard to hurt a glass bow, but wood bows can not take the bending glass bows do. Oak is not the best choice for a narrow bow, you should make it 1 3/4 wide anyway at the flares. Just enjoy the journey and keep notes of what works and what fails.

[CalebNH00]

Macbow: I was going for a low draw of 30# or so.
Roy: I normally would go for a wider limb, but these are limbs cut of from an earlier bow( one that I made before I knew that narrow limbs are not the best).

[LittleBen]

If you're dyin to use red oak. $7 will get you a new wider board

[Roy from Pa]

Caleb, for $75.00 + shipping, you can get a BBO kit from Pine Hollow Longbows and make a sweet bow.
 http://www.pinehollowlongbows.com/Bow_Kits.html

[LittleBen]

I don't mean any offense by this but you seem to be having a little trouble getting a successful bow finished Caleb. My advice is to go for the low hanging fruit first, then the next lowest fruit and so on and so forth.

Long and/or wide for a good durable board bow. As I've said before hickory boards are cheap. Buy a bunch.

Also if your in NH maybe you can link up with an experienced bowyer in that area tha can help you through a bow or two. Might wanna see if anyone is in NH. Off the top of my head I think George Tsoukolas is in NH and he is a sage of the board bow.

Again no offense meant, just want to help you to all success in your bow making! Good luck!

[CalebNH00]

Ben: I will get a better board, because this one came out so crooked that maybe I should bend it side ways    :D  . I really don't like hickory, it is very hard to work with for me   .

[Roy from Pa]

Caleb, Do You Want A Real Bow Or Not, Son? LMAO

You will get there my friend. Heck Ole Lil Benny Boy went through a cord of bow wood before he ever got a shooter:)      

And even I still jump back when a bow explodes on the tree:) I just laugh and wipe away the tears and take a swig of Coors Light and start over..

[LittleBen]

Haha nice one Roy.
Didn't take a cord of wood to get the first shooter, just to get the first one that shoots worth the $5 I spent on it. I've got a whole cord worth of crappy bows. lol