Hickory Potential

parson48 · 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

PEARL DRUMS · July 27, 2011, 02:50:00 PM

Piece of cake Bill. Make an ELB out if it.

Pat B · 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.

parson48 · 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

Adam Keiper · 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.

okie64 · 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.

fujimo · 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!!!

okie64 · 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.