Author Topic: Bracing height on short bows?  (Read 1887 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Del the cat

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,322
    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Bracing height on short bows?
« on: May 13, 2010, 04:13:15 am »
Nearly finished my latest (experimental), it's a Ash backed Cherry, only 50" long, with a ~5" rigid grip. (Still that's a whole lot bigger than the prototype O:) )
Wondering how high should I brace it.
I'm trying to tease the most draw I can out of it, but I'd be happier if it didn't go BANG.
She's braced pretty low on my adjustable tillering string at moment (about4") and I've had it back to about 23" (I didn't hang about too long to take a close look!).
I wondered what the general thoughts were... scale it down from a longbow bracing height? (e.g If a 70" bow is 7" BH, then 50" would be 5" BH [just example figures])
Or just increase it until it stops whacking my wrist ;D.
Del
« Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 04:27:14 am by Del the cat »
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • Member
  • Posts: 9,425
    • Traditional and Primitive Archers
Re: Bracing height on short bows?
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2010, 04:16:36 am »
I'd brace it between 5-5.5 in as measured from string to back of bow. Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline Del the cat

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,322
    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Bracing height on short bows?
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2010, 04:18:06 am »
Blimey Jawge, that was quick, can't you sleep!? (It's about 7:45 am here, I'd better get to work!)
Thanks!
Del
« Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 04:28:38 am by Del the cat »
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline dragonman

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,142
    • virabows.co.uk
Re: Bracing height on short bows?
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2010, 08:11:10 pm »
I agree try 5" first and see how it feels and shoots
'expansion and compression'.. the secret of life is to balance these two opposing forces.......

Offline Del the cat

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,322
    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Bracing height on short bows?
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2010, 06:27:44 am »
Cheers guys, I've made the string (continuous loop) it's turned out about 5 3/4" (from the back) which is ok as the grip is quite deep.
I had to fettle the arrow pass a tad, but she's shootin' . Got her back to 24" a bit nervy and I didn't hang about (about 55pounds).
Just done a bit of smoothing and scraping (It can afford to loose a few pounds) and given her a wipe of Danish oil.
I'll post it up over the weekend (Assuming it doesn't explode first!)
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline Pappy

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 32,206
  • if you have to ask you wouldn't understand ,Tenn.
Re: Bracing height on short bows?
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2010, 07:06:38 am »
Can't wait to see it,it may feel a bit heaver than it is ,short bows tend to stack a bit at the last
of the draw because of string angle. At least that's my experience,I usuall flip the tip a bit to help out on that if I plan on pulling them out passed 20 or so.  :)   
    Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good