riser lengths

bigbob2 · November 22, 2011, 06:01:00 PM

How many guys use 18" risers compared to 16' for their longbows. mine are straight laid 'boo cored, and glass backed at 68" ntn. What advantage or otherwise is there in going to 70" and an 18'' riser. I made one with an 18' riser on a 68ntn and less of the limb is working meaning it seems fast but not smooth on the draw.Thanks

monterey · November 23, 2011, 02:16:00 PM

Hi Bob, I have used 18" on all my long bows. Exception is a couple where I did a bad job tapering for the fades and had to go back ending up with a 17"

These bows have varied from 66 ntn to 68 1/2 ntn. None of them stacked, even at 32" of draw.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say it is not "smooth" on the draw? Are you saying that less is working simply because the limb beyond the riser is a bit shorter?

If you truly are having some sort of issue with the draw, then maybe you are getting some stack? If you are getting stack on a 68" bow with an 18 inch riser, then I'm going to suggest that the problem lay in the profile of the limbs or in the taper of the lams.

More description of the problem would help.

Roy from Pa · November 23, 2011, 04:17:00 PM

I make my risers anywhere from 10 inches to 13.

bigbob2 · November 23, 2011, 06:04:00 PM

Thanks for your replies Monterey and Roy . I value your input. I guess I do mean that less of the limb is working and while it doesnt stack as such itseems to require more of an effort to draw compared to one with the 16" riser.Gonna make the next 70" with the 18" riser.I use all tapers at .0001 with the 'boo lams.By the way I made a very efficient lam grinder using the 'running gear ' from a Makita belt sander and a pool pump motor. I posted a build along on our Aussie web site.Think anyone be interested over here?

Roy from Pa · November 23, 2011, 06:55:00 PM

Forgot to add, my longbows are all wood construction. I don't have a clue for glass bows.

wildcat hunter · November 23, 2011, 07:07:00 PM

Lam grinder, you bet I'm interested in how you built it.

monterey · November 23, 2011, 07:17:00 PM

bob, if you are going from a 16" riser to an 18" with all else being the same, it will be harder to draw since the shorter limbs will give a heavier draw weight. You could scale one of each out and that would show any difference.

If you want to build with the 18" riser and retain the same draw weight, you might have to thin the stack a little bit. Going to 70" will probably do it also if you are ok with a bow that length.

bigbob2 · November 23, 2011, 09:51:00 PM

Monterey , thanks I sorta thought a 18'' might give a little more poundage. Being 6'4'' I reckon it might be ok with my long draw.Re the lam grinder build along I am going to sort out some photos and see what I have to do to post them. If it doesnt happen today then it wont happen 'till monday as I'm going away to a comp.

bigbob2 · November 24, 2011, 12:06:00 AM

Just had a look at how to post images and it seems like a lot of hassles having to register with photobucket etc, so I'll take a raincheck on the lam grinder build for now. Sorry

7 Lakes · November 25, 2011, 03:27:00 PM

It sounds like a lot of hassle but Photobucket has several advantages.

1. If something happens to your computer all your pictures are stored on Photobucket's servers. You can reach them with any computer & internet connection.

2. Photobucket allows you to store pictures in different "Albums" it's easier to keep up with and you can send the album address to anyone and they can view the whole thing as a slideshow.