Latest Hill Style - better pics added pg. 2

[jsweka]

Hi Guys,

I just finished up my latest longbow.  It's 68", 58# @ 28".  The riser is Macassar Ebony that I got from Big Jim and the limbs are Honey Locust/actionboo from Kenny.

I changed up my typical design a bit on this one.  It's 1 1/8" wide at the fades and has a total of 0.005 taper in it.  It did take a bit more effort in tillering than I normally need to do - maybe due to the higher taper rate        

I'm really pleased with this one and can't wait to give it a real work out.  It was dark tonight by the time I got the handle wrap on it. I did shoot it a little bit before applying the finish and it does seem to have less of a thump at the shot than my other straight limbed bows (probably due to more taper and lighter tips).   Here's a couple pics in poor indoor lighting.  I'll get some more tomorrow outside.

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

 

[bamboo]

nice!!

what taper do you use normally?

[Todd Cook]

Absolutely stunning. Love the wood combos. Love that slightly dished grip.

I build mine very similar to that, but with less taper. What made you decide to increase it?

[jsweka]

Thanks!

I normally only use 0.002 taper, but on this one I wanted to move more bend out towards the tips.  Dave Grant (canopyboy) was at my house a little while ago with one of his bows that had more taper in it and you could clearly see how different the limbs bent at full draw compared to my typical design.  I liked it and wanted one - so I built one.

I'll have to do some real comparisons between this one and another I have that only used 0.002 taper.  Both are the same weight, so it should be a good comparison.  I'll let you know the results.

[Trux Turning]

Very nice! How wide are the tips on this one?

[Bodork]

Stunning! Nice job on the wood choices! Good looking tips too!

[jsweka]

Trux - 1/2" tips.  Thanks.

[BenM]

Looks great John.  I want to make my next a bit narrower like your one here.  That macassar looks great.  Interested to see what the stats are between your .002 and .005

[heartlandbowyer]

Looks great John, I'm interested in your findings between the two tapers. I'm guessing you should get a bit better cast with the .005 taper. By the string angle it looks like the taper is about perfect for your draw. You may have to lessen the taper or maybe add a tip wedge for a longer draw, but what the heck do I know I've never built a Sweka style bow.
 
Nice job
Cory

[BCWV]

Very nice John!!

[jsweka]

Thanks guys!

Cory - good observation.  I didn't even think to look at the string angle in that pic.  You're right, it's close to 90 degrees and for a longer draw it would be good to add at tip wedge or have less taper.  It will be interesting to shoot this bow and a 0.002 taper bow through a chronograph to see if speed differs.  Not that I really care as much about speed as how it feels when shooting.

A couple years ago at Denton Hill I had a conversation with Steve Turray (Northern Mist Longbows) and he told me that to fit a bow to a customer's draw weight he adjust the taper more so than the length of the bow.

[heartlandbowyer]

I've taken some vibration out by sanding a little more of my tip overlays so I bet having more taper and less mass at the tips will be a good thing on your bow.

[heartlandbowyer]

10/4 on the Steve Turray insight.

[bjansen]

Nice job!

[red hill]

Nice bow, John!    

[monterey]

That full draw photo shows a beautiful bend.  Think you got it tillered just right!  Am not seeing it approaching that 90 deg from my pov.

Man, do I love that ebony.  Was it a single piece or lammed up?

[jsweka]

Thanks everyone.

It was a single piece of ebony.

[critman]

Man she is fine, fine, fine! That's three times as good as fine! Your a very gifted bowyer John. Gives people like me something to shoot for.

[soy]

That is a question I've been asking myself does a similar Bow (length and weight)have a drastic change in cast depending on your taper rate...more meat vs.less weight on the outer part of the limb....I have also noticed the difference between thump (less taper) and vibration (more taper) I can't wait to see what you find so the voices stop  

[soy]

oh yeah forgot to mention that is one nice looking Lb