Hey everyone, I'm still a newbie to the boards but I couldn't wait to dive into the warbow/ELB section of the forums. A little run-down on myself: I've been fascinated with the english longbow/warbow for almost a year now after reading Bernard Cornwell's "Grail quest" series, along with his other work "Agincourt". Being a history buff of everything from World War 2 to the Roman army, I fell in love with the idea of the English Longbowman.
So when I started making bows a couple of years back, immediatly I had the desire to make a true english longbow. But the problem I always encountered was a lack of quality bow-wood. I live in the suburbs, with all the immediate forest in my area being federally protected wetland. So far I've been stuck with red oak boards and the occasional maple stave from the lumberyard. But now I really want to take it up a notch.
I know that pacific yew grows in my part of the state, but unfortunately (right now, at least) I'm not in a position where I can put the time, money, and effort into drying and working a full-sized yew stave. So after doing some research I stumbled onto the laminated bow. It seemed like the most economical idea for my situation, so I decided to give it a shot. But before I go any further, there's a number of questions I was hoping to get answered.
1. I don't have any experience with heavy-weight bows, the most I've ever drawn being a 70# compound (Just once, mind you. I didn't sacrifice ALL my primitive roots
) Mostly I shoot bows in the 40# to 55# range. Would starting with a bow that draws 60# @ 28" and around 70# @ 32" be a reasonable start?
2. Taking that into account, what are some basic dimensions I should follow? I'm familiar with the EWBS 3:5 ratio rule, and commonly having such bows be over 74" long. But what about handle size, mid-limb width, tip size, etc?
3. I know this is going to sound a little hokey, but what are some bow quality, lumberyard-available woods I might be able to use that might look something like yew when glued together? I had thought of Osage at first, but none of the mills in my local area have any at all.
I'm probably going to end up staining it, so maybe that could help with the color later on.
4. In terms of the laminations themselves, would I be able to cut them with a table or circular saw? Or would I have to find someone with a bandsaw?
5. Glue: I know this isn't probably an area to skimp on quality, but with a 60# to 70# bow, would I be able to use Titebond 3 to glue up the laminations, or am I going to have to fork over the $30 for Urac?
I know I've got a ton of questions, most of them pretty noobish, but I really appreciate any help you guys can give me. Thanks a bunch!
