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Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Board bow way too wide
« on: January 01, 2013, 05:46:49 pm »
I am making a red oak board bow from the TG build along
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=002064;p=0
And I like the simplicity, and how the pyramid design makes for very little tillering, it is 68" ttt 1" at the tips and 3" at the fades. 12 inches from the fades it is 1 3/4" wide, and I have been planning to cut it down so that it is no wider than 1 3/4" at any point, I know that this will mean that I will actually have to tiller a significant amount, and the draw weight will go down.But I was wondering if that will lead to some sort of catastrophic failure that I have overlooked. I will upload pictures soon.
-Billy
« Last Edit: January 02, 2013, 08:25:54 pm by Youngboyer2 »
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2013, 06:03:37 pm »
Billy, narrowing it to 1 3/4" should not have any negative effect. You may want to remove a little wood from each side so it stays symetrical.
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Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2013, 06:09:29 pm »
Thank you pat, I thought so but I was not sure, I haven't strayed from the buildalong yet and have been a little nervous to do so.
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When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline BOWMAN53

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2013, 07:00:19 pm »
Did you say that the tips are 1" wide?  Thats pretty wide, the norm is 1/2"
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Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2013, 08:55:40 pm »
Yes the tips are 1", I plan in thinning them later.
-Billy
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"You speak Treason!" "Fluently"-Robin of Locksley
When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2013, 09:04:13 pm »
Do you have access to a belt sander?
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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2013, 10:37:53 pm »
My first board bow was 3" at the fades but 1/2" at the tips. That's why I asked about the sander. You could retaper to 1/2" on a stationary belt sander. It wouldn't be too different from how I initially do the tapers on my bows after inrough them out on the band saw.
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Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2013, 11:57:16 pm »
Man I wish I had a sander, all work is being done by hand... I took it down to 2 inches at the fades and for the next 12 inches, it looks better, this Draw knife from Bevan R worked it down like butter, I left it1/2" thick(front to back) so I think it will still have enough power, thank you for the input guys!
-Billy
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"You speak Treason!" "Fluently"-Robin of Locksley
When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2013, 08:10:26 pm »
Trying to figure out pics
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"You speak Treason!" "Fluently"-Robin of Locksley
When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2013, 08:12:50 pm »
Ok I figured out how to upload pictures with smartfone... Pretty easy.
I finally got it bending, took the fades down to 2" and after some mishaps it is turning out pretty well
« Last Edit: January 02, 2013, 08:27:41 pm by Youngboyer2 »
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"You speak Treason!" "Fluently"-Robin of Locksley
When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline Newindian

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2013, 08:47:41 pm »
if you just want a thinner handle you could take it down to an inch wide or so without losing any weight
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Offline Youngboyer2(billyf)

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2013, 09:03:18 pm »
 I haven't even thought about shaping the handle yet... Decisions, decisions. I am just happy I was able to get it to the tillering stage on my own. I made the handle 4", I hope I can fit my hand & an arrow on there, it seems kinda small
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"You speak Treason!" "Fluently"-Robin of Locksley
When people ask "why didn't you do that the first time" you can be sure that they  have never made a bow before.

Offline Jim Davis

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2013, 01:53:03 am »
Quote from: Youngboyer2 on January 02, 2013, 09:03:18 pm
I haven't even thought about shaping the handle yet... Decisions, decisions. I am just happy I was able to get it to the tillering stage on my own. I made the handle 4", I hope I can fit my hand & an arrow on there, it seems kinda small

It's too late now, but I always make my handles 5" long so there is room for the arrow to pass on the handle  rather than on the tapered edge of the fade. On the fade, the arrow can be a lot closer  or farther from center from one shot to  the next if your hand isn't in exactly the same place.

Back to the narrowing. Your bow is exactly the percentage weak as the percent of  width you removed from the limbs. I'm guessing you now have about a 40# bow.

Jim Davis
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Jim Davis

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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Board bow way too wide
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2013, 08:24:01 am »
  A sanders not very primitive.
  By hand is way better once you go to far you can't but it back on.
  I prefer and make all my bows by hand.
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