brace hight

[Pappy]

Between 5 1/2 and 6 on most of my bows,short or longer.
   Pappy

[George Tsoukalas]

My longer bows are braced 7-7.5 in string to back of bow which just about clears feathers and a little more. You don't want to brace a shorty that much. 5 in like half eye said is tops. I make arrows with shorter fletch for shorties. Jawge

[JackCrafty]

When you look at old Indian photos, low brace height on a short bow usually meant low string tension as well.

Plains Indians didn't care if the feathers made contact with the bow, especially in the North, but most fletchings on Indian arrows were shorter than the brace height.

"Proper" brace height is determined by the specific tradition you are following.  There are several traditions, so you must decide which one you wish to follow before building your bow.

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, and it also really affects arrow flight. I brace at the lowest height at which good flight is achieved. Jawge

[anasazi]

Thanks for the info every one i guess we will see how it goes and i will let you all know

[bubby]

tim baker rates tree o heaven as a borderline bow wood s.g. of 50, it's a med density hardwood with simillar physical properties to red oak, here's a link to a bow posted, Bub
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,30212.msg399499.html#msg399499

[lostarrow]

The trees around here don't get to be 10" in dia. I don't think. Maybe that might make the difference. I have another stave that I will eventually try. I heated it because it felt as though it would take a ton of set . The one on your link looks as though it took 3-4" if I'm looking at it right. What do you think?Druid 's post looks like a great bow but the wood looks nothing like the stuff I have or the bow in the link. Come on Anasazi, fire one up and let us know what you find.

[bubby]

i couldn't find the link but somebody posted a molly tree o heaven and it took little set, might have been 1-2 yrs ago, personally i think a flatter back is the ticket with this wood, jmho, Bub

[Oglala Bowyer]

Ana, all my bows are shorties.  Lakota style to be exact.  I would recommend 4 1/2.  My fletchings are plains style so they are cut low crop, which doesn't affect my shooting at all.  Currently, I am shooting my 47 NTN plains style "D" bow and am drawing it 21 inches.  So you should be able to draw it 20 inches.  I find that if my brace is a little under five inches I can squeeze an inch or so more.  Six iches puts a lot of stress on them limbs and in that case may cause stacking early on.

[anasazi]

With such a low brace hight does the string ever hit the back of your hand or wrist when you shoot?


Hey thanks every one for your help and info i do really appreciate it