Hey gang.
Lord willing, I'll be buying a red oak board tomorrow.
What size should I buy?
I'm thinking a 1x2 as described in the poorfolks site.
http://poorfolkbows.com/oak.htm
I'd rather build a narrow limbed bow as opposed to a wide one.

I'd like the bow to end up 66" 45#@28"

I think I'll need a short grip for this to work.
Think I could get away with a 10" riser?
Sound like a plan to you guys?..1x2 and a 10" riser with a full straight taper to the limbs from grip to 1/2'' TIP??

THANKS!          

John

I'd say a 1x3 and make a wide(at the fades) pyramid bow with a straight taper to 3/8" tips.

I always go through the 1x6 piles of wood, the quality is better (straighter grained for bow building), then rip it so I have a spare.

i think.... just from what i have read and not experience... you want to go wider with oak.... 1 2/3 - 2" at fades.

The one that I finished a few weeks ago wound up 1 5/8" at the fades after the final sanding.  It is 66" but DW is 38#.  It has 1 3/4" of string follow  which was more than than I was hoping for.  Not the fastest, but it is a pleasure to shoot.  Draws very smooth with very little hand shock.  This is the one that I angle cut a 1 X 4 so I could follow the grain.

If you go with a 1x2 I'd really recommend going longer than 66" for a 28" draw unless it bends through the handle. I'd say go 68" or 70" for that width.

If you want 66" I would deinately go wider. Get a 1x3, and shoot for 2+" wide at the fades, should be ok.

I draw maybe 25" and for a red oak 1x2 I need minimum 62" and thats really pushing it with heat treating etc. and probably a short lived bow.

Thank you for the replies guys.

I'll heed your advice and come to a compromise.
...maybe a 1x3 (or wider) cut to about 2-2.25" and go with a 66-68" bow...

...Just went to take a look at my local lumber who said they were getting in a "bunch" of 1x2's and 1x3's in oak yesterday.
...they had 4....FOUR! and only 1x2's...

Then I went into another place I hadn't went to yet who said they had a few 1x3's oak. Got there and they looked at me like I was stupid when I asked where they were...they don't carry the stuff at all...lol.

The search will continue.
Might be going to the "big city" to catch a movie with the family.
Maybe I can talk them into letting me look through HD and Lowes stock...    

zradix i have been looking at doing the same as you and using oak and erics bbi as a guide, im wondering about backing mine in hickory/maple don't know how that will work but its the route i am going down at the moment
keep us updated on your progress
good luck with your wood hunting having the same problems here in uk

I found a board..
..on the way home I came up with another big question though.

I'll put it in another thread.

Thank you for the help guys.