Dropping weight off a commercial bow

[mmattockx]

This may be an odd question, but what do you guys think about attempting to take a significant amount of weight off a commercially produced bow?

There is a takedown recurve in the local classifieds that is 65# @28". It is a nice looking bow in excellent condition and the price has gotten very reasonable (probably because it is just too heavy for the vast majority of archers). If I could get that down to the low 50# range it would be a great buy for me. But that supposes I can drop 12-15# off without screwing it up.

All thoughts/experiences/ideas welcome.


Thanks,
Mark

[Mad Max]

How wide are the limbs?
Is it a recurve?
I went from 65 to 55 on a recurve, 1-3/4 to 1-1/2

[Longcruise]

This may be an odd question, but what do you guys think about attempting to take a significant amount of weight off a commercially produced bow?

There is a takedown recurve in the local classifieds that is 65# @28". It is a nice looking bow in excellent condition and the price has gotten very reasonable (probably because it is just too heavy for the vast majority of archers). If I could get that down to the low 50# range it would be a great buy for me. But that supposes I can drop 12-15# off without screwing it up.

All thoughts/experiences/ideas welcome.


Thanks,
Mark

I've never taken more than a few pounds off of any bow and that usually just in the tillering and finishing process.   But that doesn't mean I don't have opinions.   

Being a TD, I suppose you will need to reduce width the full length of the limbs including the wedges?  That would then might call for some mods to the riser to match the limb widths?

It should be easy to calculate given that draw weight is linear to limb width. 

It seems that once you calculate the amount of reduction you would need to apply it as a percentage of existing limb width the for the full length of the limb?  If that's the case, it might be a concern with the existing width of the tips?  IOW, is there enough meat there to reduce the desired percentage?

You could reduce further by trapping the limbs?  In trapping you might want to apply the same percentage concept?

This percentage idea is meant to preserve the existing dynamics of the limbs?

Note the plethora of question marks above.   This post is just me letting my brain wander through a process.   Watch for enlightening critique of my thoughts! 

[mmattockx]

How wide are the limbs?
Is it a recurve?
I went from 65 to 55 on a recurve, 1-3/4 to 1-1/2

I don't know how wide, I have not looked at it in person. Yes, a recurve but with pretty mild hooks. I didn't really want to reduce the width as then I would have to tweak the riser to match, but that is a possibility.

The ad:  https://www.kijiji.ca/v-fishing-camping-outdoor/calgary/laminate-recurve-bow-rh-65-28/1569204161

It seems that once you calculate the amount of reduction you would need to apply it as a percentage of existing limb width the for the full length of the limb?  If that's the case, it might be a concern with the existing width of the tips?  IOW, is there enough meat there to reduce the desired percentage?

You could reduce further by trapping the limbs?  In trapping you might want to apply the same percentage concept?

Yes, both width reduction and trapping could be done and are easily calculated. I still have to do it accurately, though, and some days that is harder than it looks... I appreciate your stream of consciousness post, looking for lots of different views on this.

i like to hunt with a 50# bow, so i shoot every once in a while (maybe 2 or 3 times a week) with something in the 65# range. It keeps me in better condition for the 50# bow, especially in hunting conditions. if it's that reasonable, I'd use it for that purpose.

That is one way to look at it that I hadn't thought about. I would have to buy some new arrows, everything I have will be too weak spined for 65#. I guess there are worse things to have to do...


Mark

[Shredd]

Just throwing this out there...  If it does not mess with the limb bend to much, you could redo the riser and angle the limbs back a little more... That will buy you a few pounds...

[Bvas]

Just throwing this out there...  If it does not mess with the limb bend to much, you could redo the riser and angle the limbs back a little more... That will buy you a few pounds...

Wouldn’t that screw up the bolt and pin angle into the limbs?

[Shredd]

  You know what??...  You are right...   

[Shredd]

 You can go about 2* ....  Might have to tweak holes a little... I have shimmed my limbs and had no problems...