Possible longbow from poor wood?

[creehunter]

Hi all - I`m new to bowmaking and I've been following the tutorial ``Wanna build a bow buildalong`` with 4est trekker. That bow is coming along great and I've ben wanting to make a longbowtype bow but this time I've got some rather iffy wood (red oak but the dimensions are 65  1/2 inches by 3/4 inches thick by 1 1/2 inches wide). My question is (and 4estrekker please feel free to chime in): what would be the required specs (layout) for a 45 lbs bow with that 61 inch length? I'll be backing it by the way. Thanks and I'll be sure to post pics once they're done!

[Zradix]

It's a great thread you're looking at.

Iffy wood isn't what you want bud.

61" won't work for a 28" draw...especially with iffy wood.
...maybe with a bendy handle....maybe... and maybe if you could go 2" wide..maybe.

My advice would be to find some longer, wider, better grain wood.

Red oak can work just fine...just needs to be wide, long and good grain.

I'd try at least 66" and at least 2.5" wide for your 1st.
The shorter they are the wider it has to be to bend enough.
The longer it is the narrower it can be.

Really..your best bet is to follow the dimensions in the thread...or maybe a touch wider.

Have fun!

[creehunter]

Thanks - the grain's awesome but its the length and width - I searched through the entire stack (with my girlfriend waiting outside )  :(

[Zradix]

yeah...a good board can be tough to find.

[creehunter]

Well, is there ANY type of adult bow that can be made from such a short board? I, going to back this sucker.

[Zradix]

3 pc takedown.
bendy handle bow...maybe
or a short draw bow.

I'm no expert here...but I've made just a few.
They're may be more options I'm just not aware of.

the 3 pc doesn't need to be fancy....
if I HAD to work with that piece for an adult bow that's what I'd do.

[John Scifres]

I have made a bunch of bows and I could not get a full draw bow from a 61" long, 1-1/2" wide red oak board.

[creehunter]

Righteo then I'll have to wait for the next shipment of wood in my area    Thanks ppl.

[creehunter]

Oh crick I made a mistake - the board is actually 65 1/2 inches long. Sorry bout that - any hope?

[Zradix]

yes hope.

still pretty narrow though...
Keep your handle short as possible.

[KenH]

I'd make it bendy-handle; then you should be able to get 28" draw.

[monterey]

It's also a good prospect for a kids bow at 58 to 62 inches.

If you can teach your girlfriend to browse for bow wood, well, then ya got something!!  

[creehunter]

bendy handle ? Sorry guys - its actually 65 1/2 inches long rather than 61. My mistake.

[John Scifres]

That's better.  Yes, make it bend through the handle instead of having a riser and fades and you can do it.  It will still take some decent set but if the grain is good, it will live.

[Zradix]

listen to John Scifres.

He knows WWAAAYYY more than I do.

[KenH]

Bendy Handle - basically NO riser, just a slightly thicker place at the handle area.  That way the bending stress goes all the wy from tip to tip, no from riser to upper tip and from the riser to lower tip.  Here's a photo of a bendy handle flatbow I made recently.  It's 1.5" wide at either side of the handle area, but the handle itself is only 1" wide, but then wrapped in parachute cord.  In thickness, I added two .07 thick pieces of wood , one 3" long and one 5" long in that handle area, during glue up.  So at the handle its .14 thicker than the rest of the limbs.

The bow is 58" t-t-t and draws 56# at 26".
 [/url] [/IMG]  

The nice straight 2x2 next to the bow is the form I used to glue the bow up on.

[mikkekeswick]

You should be able to get a 28 inch draw from that board. When people say bendy handle just bear in mind that the handle only wants to bend a fraction at full draw. It should really only be felt and not be noticable to the eye. Too much bend in the handle tends to loosen your fillings!
I would keep your bow 1 1/2 wide all the way to 8 inches from the tips.
Make the tiller elliptical and not an arc of a circle.
Trap the back as red oak is way strong in tension - not so great in compression.
I would also heat treat the belly. once it's bending around 10 inch at your intended weight.
If you sinew backed it it would likely reach 28 inches in better shape.

[John Scifres]

I would not waste sinew on your first red oak bow.

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by John Scifres:
I would not waste sinew on your first red oak bow.

X2

[fujimo]

maybe some drywall tape- or silk, or burlap??!