ideas for a giant bow

[bootboy]

Hi all.
My latest commision is from a good friend of mine. he wants a bow as tall as he is, and of high poundage. Somewhere about the 80lbs range.
normaly I would just go and try to build it. However this is a remarkable situation my friend is 7 feet tall, and have a draw of 3 feet.
I have a stave of birch, and a stave of walnut(all sapwood). I was planning to make it into a viking longbow for him, and give this  the square profile That I have been working on.

I just wanted to run my situation passed all you lovely proffesions and bow geniuses.
~thanks!
 Bootboy

[Skeaterbait]

Ok, first thing would be to go to the salvage yard and get some decent leaf springs..... maybe not.

I am afraid I can't offer advise but would like to formally request a build along for this one. Should prove interesting and educational.

[jamie]

is it black walnut or walnut. from my experience idstay away from the birch for sure. i think youd be better off with a piece of hickory, maple or ash. like skeater said id love to see ya do a build along for this monster. id have to use my feet to draw 36"

[330bull]

I bet Vine Maple would be an excellent choice. 

[JackCrafty]

As has been stated in TTB, any wood can be made into a good bow.  If you use formulas developed by Tim Baker - you will not have a problem making an 80lb bow with a 36" draw.

If it were me, I would make two bows (birch and walnut) for your friend...and let him choose the best one.  You can always cut down the one he doesn't choose...and re-tiller the bow for someone smaller (like the rest of humanity).

 

[Kegan]

Make it 86" long, and it should be able to handle that draw and that weight. Leave it as a normal D bow- 1 1 3/4" wide for the middle 43", tapering to 1/2" nocks. I don't know just how thick it would be, but I assume something like 1 1/4" thick at the handle and 1/2" thick at the tips. Maybe thicker though. I don't know which would be better, but any good hardwood should work as long as you tiller it slowly, and don't abuse the wood. I would brace it at about 7", but I think that's as far as you could go with birch. Black walnut should be able to stand more stress, but a 7" should alwso yield a faster bow.

And once you give him the bow, tell him Robin Hood was looking for him

[stiknstring]

My calculations show that with a six to eight inch handle section you should be in the nieghborhood of 78-82 inches.  No need to go all the way up to 86 if you do not have to

[Kegan]

My calculations show that with a six to eight inch handle section you should be in the nieghborhood of 78-82 inches.  No need to go all the way up to 86 if you do not have to

Whoops- I was talking about long, semi- Hill bows

[wolfsire]

is it black walnut or walnut. from my experience idstay away from the birch for sure. i think youd be better off with a piece of hickory, maple or ash. like skeater said id love to see ya do a build along for this monster. id have to use my feet to draw 36"

I once saw on the tube an african shoot a giant bow with his feet at elephants.  I have always wanted one.

[bootboy]

whoah great responses!
You guys want a build a long from me???

You got it, stay tuned for photos!

[Rich Saffold]

I have made several 7' bows for tall folks over the years..One is made of birch, and it's plenty fast still considering its 16 years old and been abused like a rented mule .

At these lengths the lighter woods can handle a bit more load, ..Easy to tiller too..

Rich

[bootboy]

STAY TUNED FOR THE 7 FOOT BIRCH LONG BOW BUIIIILD ALONG!!!!

[Loki]

I regular shoot a 79" Bow,it's great!

[adb]

I'd make an 80" hickory backed osage ELB.

[koan]

Wow...you gonna use a winch to exercise the limbs during tillering?....Brian