Hello TG'ers. I am new to the site and fairly new to bowmaking. I have recently made a hickory pyramid design bow that is 66" NTN, 50# @ 26" with leather shelf and grip. My mentor told me I should work with hickory for several bows before trying a new wood and he has given 3 more hickory staves. I am trying to see what other design/layouts are out there for hickory besides the pyramid. I don't have any of the normal books on bowmaking, but am hoping some of you would give me some ideas on designs or the layout for some hickory bows. I am working up to making a Penobscot Double Bow out of hickory, but want to make a few before tackling that design. Any ideas or help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.
I just finished a D-bow in hickory. I wanted something different too so I went with a bending handle design. Maybe that's not what you had in mind?
I wanted hunting weight so I went 1.5" wide most of the length (66"). I trapped the belly such that the belly is wider than the back. It came out too light, about 45 lbs., and has a little over an inch set now.
With 500 grn arrows it shoots really nice and the bow is very light in physical weight.
I'll post pics if you'd like....
Cook PM me your email I have some books for you...
Hickory has a lot going for it, but two things it has against it: it's low in compression strength and is very hygroscopic (soaks up ambient moisture, leading to excess set, loss of poundage, tiller change, etc. This will be compounded by the excessive summer humidity in Missouri.). You can combat both of these fairly easily.
First, be sure that the belly of a hickory bow is wide and fairly flat (either dead flat or only slightly radiused). This will distribute the compression force even over a wider surface area than, say, a round bellied English long bow.
Secondly, be sure that you maximize the working length of the limb. You can do this by allowing the bow to bend, even slightly, through handle or keeping the riser fairly short. Just because you can bend the bajeezers out of hickory before it'll break doesn't mean you should.
Third, you can heat treat the belly of the bow to increase its compression strength (helping to prevent excessive set). While it's hot, burnish it with a glass bottle or piece of antler to compress the fibers further. Also, trapping the back will create a higher ratio of belly-to-back surface area, thus combating set.
Fourth, keep your bow in a climate controlled environment when not being shot. This includes air conditioning (which reduces relative humidity) in the summer. If you leave it in a hot car for a couple of hours on a July afternoon and then string her up for a shoot...you'll not like the results. :) The same goes for the staves...keep them climate controlled, particularly in the summer, and be sure the moisture content of the wood is low...even lower than you would typically shoot for in an osage, elm, ash, or hackberry stave.
I hope this helps. These are just a few of the many suggestions that can be used to fashion a fine hickory selfbow. Best of luck! :)
SteveB.
Id shure like to see your pics.
That pyramid is exactly what I would recommend. Another great design would be to carry the full width out to midlimb and then taper to 1/2" nocks. You could go as narrow as 1-3/4" for a 50# bow. I'd stick with the 66" length for a 26" draw.
Traxx...will do, tonight.
Cuban, i sent me email address. Thanks again
Bad news Cook the books I have are enormous and I can't even compress them enough to send in an email. I'll see if I can think of something.
Thanks cuban. Hopfully you can come up with something. If not dont fret over it, you tried.
Hope Cook doesn't mind.....I tried to do the charcoal stain thing but it only shaded the wood slightly and darkened the grain. I'm going to try again on some vine maple.
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-6.jpg)
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-5.jpg)
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-4.jpg)
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-3.jpg)
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-2.jpg)
The grip is more of a locator for the hand as I'm shooting off the glove with this one.
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled-1.jpg)
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Untitled.jpg)
Not a problem steve b
Nice bend!
Thats what a long flat Dbow,is sposta look like.
Thanxx fer postin.