Nicely done.
In light of my recent clumsiness on the tillering thread, please don't read anything into this post or these questions. They spawn from sincere interest, and no interest in carrying a grudge. Hope you feel the same.
I've always been intriqued by side nocks and yours seem executed perfectly. Have you opinion wrt to the possibility such nocks might induce limb twist? I realize their use is well represented in antiquity, from many cultures, and don't doubt their efficacy, just interested whether you have considered this.
Do you know offhand the total mass wieght of your arrows. I noticed your pile choice ranged lower than typical for the states, where 125 grains seems the standard and only rare exceptions to the heavier side usually. I think perhaps because our interest tend toward the hunting side, justification for higher FOC.
What are you thoughts/preferences on string material: all natural, dacron or newer hmpe? Elbs are probably my favorite form, but premium yew would cost me $200 while I have premium osage (virtually all other hardwoods including red mulberry and winged elm) literally growing on trees as suitable, in my view, candidates... Although it's admittedly hard to make a truly representitive elb (war versus Victorian yard) from osage, it being so dense it's perfectly unsuited to the design. Back to the point, on the long, narrow bows I've made (being careful not to tread upon the rigid definition of elb), I've found low mass, low stretch string to be particularly desirable and was curious about your experiences.
Hi, yup, good to move on.
I got the side nock info' from Alan Blackhams (non commercial) website. some excellent stuff there
http://www.alanesq.com/sidenock.htmI'd think they could induce twist on a shorter flat limbed bow, but seem ok on the longbow, the angle is so slight at that length. Although I do notice the string seem to creak a little as I draw!...
I did weigh some arrows but can't put my paw on the data
. I think you are right about the hunting bias in the US giving you the tendency towards heavier arrows. I use the 70gn piles for anything upto about 40# and 100gn above that unless handshock/vibration becomes an issue. I like the flatter trajectory for field shooting. Mind there is a guy at our club shooting 125gn piles from 38# ELB...dunno why.
String material, I've previously used Dacron (or elastic as it is sometimes know... joke) I just bought some Angel Majesty and I feel it gives more speed without making my accuracy any worse than it already is. I have made a Flemish twist linen string for one bow justfor the heck of it, but I prefer the continuous loop style (possibly a hang over from my early days making crossbows ... oooh I said the C word
). The Angel Majesty caught me out being sooooo low stretch I made my first string too short, which persuaded me to finally get round to making a string making jig from some old Dexion.
I'd love to try some Osage and Hickory, but I s'pose I should consider myself lucky that I eventually found some decent Yew growing where I could borrow it with impunity
, I also lucked out when I got talking to a tree surgeon who was just about to to out some nice old Yew at a big old country house near me
, that'll keep me going for a year or two.
I think that about covers it!
Del
(BTW, I had a look at some of your old posts and found the short Osage bow you'd made, very handsome with perfect tiller (with the whole limbs working hard, which is how I think it should be) and great looking grip, just the sort of bow I'd like to make if I had some Osage)
