2014 Annual Bow Swap

[LittleBen]

Man everyone is really taking off this year. I've got a couple in the works right now, but not yet picture worthy.

One is a 64" hickory bow with a little character and about 2.5" of reflex, tad of deflex. Don't know if it will make target weight or survive. It's only 1.5" wide with an 8" stiff handle, but I heat tempered the belly hoping that would prevent compression fracture.

Another is an all heartwood yew bow from belly splits off of a billet set another TGer was generous to send me. Back rings are pretty violated, and I still have alot of twist to deal with, but that may become a sinew backed bow, or a bamboo backed bow. Also 1.5" wide, and currently 69" total length. Any idea how long for a 28" draw? I'm debating if the bow wants to be a sinew backed recurve or maybe a hickory backed ELB replica ...

Third possibility is a tri-lam R/D bow with forward handle, which would be 66" total length, probably hickory back (possibly bamboo), maple core, ipe belly. I need to make a few of these for various friends/trades so maybe I'll crank out another for the swap.

Tough decisions. I think I'll just make a few and shoot them to see which turns out best.

[halfseminole]

Got a dilemma here, I have a set of ERC and hickory for backing that I originally planned to use for my swap bow, but I drew someone with a requested weight of 50-60 pounds.  Not sure I trust ERC that far, should I go with a hickory selfbow instead?  I have done one of those in the past that turned out well (toasted belly, nice tip overlays and thread binding for pretties) but I think rawhide-backed hickory would work better.  Any thoughts?

[Dmaxshawn]

Walnut looks good bud!!

Cameron you could back trap that bow and get it to 55 really easy.  Or Just go ahead and send it to me.  I can handle 60 just fine.  Looks great

[LittleBen]

Ed,

Hickory won't NEED a backing as long as the grain is straight, but I don't rawhide can hurt, thats for sure.

My thought on ERC are this:

It is a light wood, so it needs to be wider than any hardwood. To be safe for a 50# bow, I'd say 2" wide minimum (2.375" wide for 60#), from fades to midlimb or 2/3 of limb, then taper to 1/2" nocks, and 66"-68" long, with a 4" stiff handle, 2" fades. Thats for a 28" draw. Add 2" for each inch of draw past that.

I'll also warn you that even at 2" wide, it's not overbuilt and you'll need to tiller well. If you want to be safer go 2.25-2.5" wide.

ERC is light weight so even at that width it's not going to be a really heavy limb or anything.

ERC can also handle some fairly extreme abuses like heavy sinew backing and short recurve designs, but they also must be fairly wide, and really take alot of care and a bit of experience. I would not recommend something like that until you've got a few more under your belt.

On the plus side with ERC it works realy easily with a scraper and hand tools so hopefully it won't bother your joints too much ... I know mine appreciate the easy work!


Hickory .... I love hickory, I think you can;t go wrong there. 50-60# shouldn;t be a problem with hickory either. I'd probably go 1.75" wide for 50 and maybe 2" wide for 60# at 66" long also for a 28" draw .. same deal as before.

[Echatham]

halfseminole build that ERC so i can watch even if it don't pan out    

[Dmaxshawn]

Came up with a game plan for the spalted myrtle and koa Lams.  Going with this piece of walnut and myrtle with black and red glass

 

[David Flanrey]

Shawn, gonna look good.

[Trux Turning]

Wow that 56"er is nice looking- I'd trap it and drop those 5 pounds.

That's going to be a good looking riser Shawn!

[LittleBen]

I second what Dave said. Trap that bad boy! thats a killer bow.

[timbermoose]

agreed that 56'er is nice. hell i'd live with a few pounds heavier bow. will need new arrows anyhow, right.

[red hill]

I agree in regards to your bow, Cameron! I'd work out a little and build up to handle the extra weight... If I wasn't so old and decrepit with so many aches and pains. LOL! Very pretty bow.

[fujimo]

learning  question for me...
will trapping the back drop enough weight??

[bigbob2]

Been doing a little work between orders on Trade bow, and thinking this might be how I go for belly lams.Its Hairy Oak/ Black wattle with silver ash chevron and Black gidgee accents .Colors will 'pop' under glass. Might take me a while to get it done as I went from real quiet to quite busy in a couple weeks.Any thoughts on the lams?

[heartlandbowyer]

Looks pretty sweet to me, the oak has a real rich color, nice!

Cory

[Gator1]

Hope you guys don't mind, I'm gonna follow this, wow, is there some talent amongst your ranks....

           

[Roy from Pa]

Nothing finer than hairy oak:)

[kennym]

Nice work guys!! I've been at my "real job" all week and haven't made any headway at all!!  

[Roy from Pa]

Ya got plenty of time ole boy..

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Nothing finer than hairy oak:)

Can't figure out if this is a dirty joke or not ... haha

Anyway, Bob I think those lams are killer man! How could you not like a set of spliced lams? Especially with that nice contrast. I say go for it, does look like alot of work though.

[delongbows]

Bob those lams are awesome! I definitely wouldn't mind if they showed up on my doorstep.

Well, I fine tuned the tiller on the TD and dropped a few pounds this evening. As of now, it's ready for final sanding and some finish. So, in the spirit of fun, I'll give the specs just in case y'all wanna start doing some guessing.

#52@28" 1/8"positive tiller for split finger