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Author Topic: A few questions about white oak board (new question added)  (Read 5812 times)

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Offline arachnid

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A few questions about white oak board (new question added)
« on: March 19, 2016, 04:02:23 pm »
Hi Guys.
I got my hands on a very straight grain white oak board. I wanted to get as many bows as I can out of this board so I cut it to 1 3/4" wide staves. I want to make two 30# bows (one practice bow for me and one for a friend starting archery). I was thinking on a pyramid design but I'm not sure about the width- is it too narrow? I've made a pyramid bow out of white oak but it was 2" wide at the fades. Should I make a parallel limb bow? (I'm making one bow for a 29" draw and one for 26" draw, both stiff handle)

Second question- I got some short pieces about 1/2" thick out of that board. Can I splice them and make a bendy handle?

Third and last- I want to add some reflex to the bows. I have bad experience with boiling the tips. Will steam work better?

Thanks

Dor
« Last Edit: March 25, 2016, 01:55:29 am by arachnid »
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Offline bubby

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2016, 04:33:13 pm »
You should be fine at that thickness, start with the limbs even taper about 5/8" thick to start and tiller to weight from there.
Soak the tips a few hours and then steam 45 min and you should be hood i kind of steam/boil mine
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Offline Pat B

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2016, 04:58:37 pm »
1 3/4" is plenty wide for a 30# bow. For the 29" draw make it a few inches longer.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2016, 06:11:38 pm »
 :'(thanks guys.
How about making  bendy handle from  spliced billets ?
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Offline bubby

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2016, 07:22:08 pm »
Not the best idea, make a nice pyramid with stiff handle and flipped tips, plus white oak likes a nice belly toasting
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failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2016, 12:52:39 am »
When do I toast the belly? Before/after/during tillering?

And about steam bending- How much time to I need let the bow dry again before shooting it?
« Last Edit: March 20, 2016, 01:14:27 am by arachnid »
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Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2016, 08:23:44 am »
I`ve noticed that one stave is better then the other.
This one has a bit of a run-off on one limb (on the rest of the board the grain is straight):


What do you say? Can I leave it unbacked or should I back it (I have a paper-thin stripe of rewhide for backing)?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2016, 08:32:11 am »
I see grain running out on a severe angle half way down the board?
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Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2016, 08:36:39 am »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on March 20, 2016, 08:32:11 am
I see grain running out on a severe angle half way down the board?

What do you call a "severe angle"? There is a grain run out, that for sure. I don`t know if it`s "severe".... :o ;)
I guess I should back it?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2016, 08:42:26 am »
A few run outs are ok. But I see at least 5-6 before it gets blurry. I would back it, but I'm scared of boards. Nothing gets me running the other way like bending wood in a direction nature didn't intend.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2016, 09:07:35 am »
Since I have no execs to staves, it's board or no bows for me :-\

I'll try to take a clearer picture.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2016, 09:11:55 am »
Just don't let my fears scare you! We all have our own quirks.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Pat B

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2016, 09:57:12 am »
How is the grain along the sides? That is as important as along the back.
 Rawhide will help prevent splinters from lifting but it won't prevent a lethal flaw.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline bubby

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2016, 11:06:36 am »
If the edge grain is good i would go ahead with it, your not building a heavily strained bow at 30#.
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failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline arachnid

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Re: A few questions about white oak board (Pic added)
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2016, 11:19:55 am »
Here are some more pictures:

From the other way:


From above:


Edge grain:


I can spot 4 run-outs in the intended limb profile.
There question is not should I use it or not, it`s should I back it or not.

(I just realized that after 4 years of building bows, I still have SO much to learn.... thank God for PA :laugh:)

Dor
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