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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: parson48 on July 27, 2011, 02:38:00 PM

Title: Hickory Potential
Post by: parson48 on July 27, 2011, 02:38:00 PM
Hey, all.

I have a leftover piece of hickory, straight grain, that's 3/4"x7/8"x67".

What do y'all think? Can I get a bow from a piece that thin? And, what would a realistic weight limitation be?

Thanks

Bill
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 27, 2011, 02:50:00 PM
Piece of cake Bill. Make an ELB out if it.
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: Pat B on July 27, 2011, 07:41:00 PM
I'd make a narrow ALB from it with a flat belly. Keep the width all the way out then taper the last 8" or so to 3/8" tips. You should be able to get 45# and maybe more.
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: parson48 on July 27, 2011, 08:33:00 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. I was hoping to end up with something 40# or more.

I'll just think about it for a while. It's too hot to do anything in my workshop (garage),

Bill
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: Adam Keiper on July 27, 2011, 09:14:00 PM
If the stave is clean and with a working handle, you'll get 40# @ 28" out of it.  I'm partial to round bellies, but the only trouble with them on staves "that" skinny is that the depth might match or need to exceed the width for the weight you want, which makes for a bow that is as apt to bend side-side as it is back to belly.  I'd proceed cautiously with a thick flat belly and gentle facets.  Once you get it strung, round the facets over as you can to drop weight.  I have a feeling you'll end up in the middle with a squarish ELB.
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: okie64 on July 27, 2011, 10:37:00 PM
I had a scrap piece of hickory leftover last winter that I made a bow out of. It was 1" wide by 7/8" thick and 68" long. I made a flat bellied bendy handle and ended up 52# at 28". I had the tiller dead on and pulled it to 60# at 28" and lifted a splinter on the edge of one of the limbs. I had to wrap it and glue it down and its been shootin great since then. I heated 2" of reflex into it and its still holdin about an inch of it when unstrung. Heres a pic.
(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee503/Jamey_Burkhart/008-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: fujimo on July 27, 2011, 11:40:00 PM
i love those types of bows okie, never used to while i was making solid handle bows- but now i almost exclusively build them to bend thru the handle.
that is a very nice bow!!!
Title: Re: Hickory Potential
Post by: okie64 on July 28, 2011, 04:51:00 PM
Thanks fujimo. I love the way the tiller looks on those type of bows at fulldraw. I still build stiff-handled bows too but the bendy handles are my favorite type to build and shoot.