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 :dunno:
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.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1553.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1545.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1565.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1573.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1574.jpg)
nice!!
what taper do you use normally?
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?
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.
Very nice! How wide are the tips on this one?
Stunning! Nice job on the wood choices! Good looking tips too!
Trux - 1/2" tips. Thanks.
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
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
Very nice John!!
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.
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.
10/4 on the Steve Turray insight.
Nice job!
Nice bow, John! :clapper:
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?
Thanks everyone.
It was a single piece of ebony.
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.
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 :laughing:
oh yeah forgot to mention that is one nice looking Lb :thumbsup:
Very nice John. what length do you make your risers. They seem a little longer than mine. I settled on a total of .004 taper and seems best of both worlds for me.
Very nice John :notworthy:
Very nice. Bue--
Nice John!
I used to use a similar taper- 3x0.02 but less due my bad sleds and I`m very pleased. The one I built with 0.02 felt way harder during the draw.
Have you felt other differences than speed in the meantime?
I guess it's ok... :)
Thanks for the compliments Guys. And I suppose if Roy gives it an OK, it passed inspection. :laughing:
Bob - it's a 16" riser.
Moe - it does seem to have less of a thump at release, but I really need to shoot both side by side to tell.
I did shoot it some tonight when I got home - at least until my fingers went numb from the cold. (I have no use for snow and winter once deer season is over.) Here's some better pics outside.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1575.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1578.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1577.jpg)
I haven't shot it much, but I think we're gonna get along quite well.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1584.jpg)
I also took a pic of it unbraced to show what the profile looks like. My form is perfectly straight, but I always end up with just a touch of string follow once the bow is done. You really don't notice it unless you sight down the edge of the limbs like in the pic below.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Longbow2014/SAM_1589.jpg)
Very nice job John !!
she's a beauty john. well done.
It's a great job John.Clean and elegant.I get a little follow too just after destringing which seems to even out a bit later.
Amazing job! Your a true craftsman
Very nice. I like the clean lines. I think you will like the extra taper. Bob
I really like that one John! I've been having a good time building boo backed bows but now have a hankering to build another Hill style after looking at yours.
Really nice bow you've built. I like the long riser and long fade outs. Simple makes a great looking and shooting bow. Congrats.
Very classy, well done!
-Jay
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
I guess it's ok... :)
John,
I'll be by on the 25th to inspect in person, so don't schedule any trips out of town....
I don't trust ole Roybert's opinion when it comes to glass bows. Just 'cause he fantasizes about 'em doesn't mean he's fit to judge 'em.
-Dave
Hey cantaloupe-boy, don't make me come down there son.. :)
Dang it Dave. Looks like our work travel is coinciding all too well these days. I've got a trip to Connecticut that week I won't be able to get out of.
Roy wouldn't be able to draw it, so he really couldn't give an objective review ;)
LOL
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Hey cantaloupe-boy, don't make me come down there son.. :)
I'm trying. I figure if I can agitate you into coming down here, I just saved a bunch of gas money not driving up there....
:jumper:
QuoteOriginally posted by jsweka:
Dang it Dave. Looks like our work travel is coinciding all too well these days. I've got a trip to Connecticut that week I won't be able to get out of.
That's ok...I figure I'll be up there every couple of weeks starting mid-March. Weather should be warmer too.
John, great job on bow and string!
Neither one good without thy other!
Good shootin,
sweet looking bow! I patiently await the results on your taper rate performance results.
X2
OK, finally got some nice weather for some shooting, so I took out my two bows that are of equal draw weight, but different taper rates (0.002 vs 0.005 total taper), and shot them side by side with the same douglas fir arrows.
Qualitative Results....
*I really can't tell any difference in the smoothness of draw.
*Cast appears to be equal by my eye.
*Arrows flew the same out of each and hit with the same accuracy out to 25 yards (as long as I did my part).
*My newest bow with 0.005 taper rate seems to have a little less thump upon release, but not a big difference and I probably wouldn't know the difference unless I were shooting them side by side.
I need to hook up with somebody with a chronograph to get a real quantitative comparison, but as far as overall shootability, I can't say there is much difference.
Thanks :archer:
How wide is the bow at the fades and is it the same on both bows? A wide limb bow can get away with little limb taper since you also get taper from the reduction in width from the riser to the tips. A 1" wide limb tapers only a 1/2" from fade to tip. A 1.25" wide bow has more built in taper.
Mike - Yes, the bow with 0.002 taper had 1 1/4" width and the bow with 0.005 taper had 1 1/8" width.
Very nice looking bow.
Good job!