New project: Hornbeam "lever bow"

[bushboy]

I've gone as narrow as 3/16"and a bit wider for hunting bows.make sure to use 1/4 sawn material.the depth is that of a small chain saw file,also leave enough wood as to not file through the overlay.here's another, ebony on elm.never slipped once.

[FilipT]

Here are some pictures of the bow, it is almost ready for tillering. I put it in the house because it needs to dry completely.

Overall profile


Lever


Handle and fades


One limb


Belly

[FilipT]

Can I make your type of nock in my levers without gluing on some overlays?

[bubby]

It isn't a good idea to cut through the back at the nocks

[FilipT]

So some 1/4" tip overlays are enough like bushboy said?

[bubby]

Yup as long as you don't cut all the way through them

[PatM]

You can also do an insert and then cut into the back safely.

[FilipT]

How do you mean insert?

[PatM]

 Like the sliver of horn or bone in a composite bow. A slot or a v in the tip with a tougher material glued into the slot.

[bushboy]

I use a belt and disc grinder to shape my tips.it's quick. And easy.if I have time after work I will put up some step by step photo's

[bambule]

I've build some bows out of europoean hornbeam. It's a very dense wood. Most of my tries broke on the back cause of the very dense belly. You need a very thin limb when they get that wide. I prefer nowadays a narrow limb design with a shallow-d-section.
Good luck

Greetz
Cord

[FilipT]

This bow has thickness of 20 mm, if I get them thin, it will lose wideness because of relatively high crown. I'll see what it will do on tillering, will not speculate further before that.

[joachimM]

European hornbeam is told to be very strong in compression, and moderate in tension. Crowned back in tension-weak wood (relative to belly) is pretty risky if you ask me.

I'd back it, but maybe that's just me.

have a look here too: http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/63969/European-hornbeam-physical-qualities

[FilipT]

Crown is not so pointing out despite what I said, I meant to say that it almost didn't allow me to make bow at width I want as sapling was relatively narrow. If I make limbs thinner now, before any work on tiller, it would make bow narrow.

[FilipT]

Will blocks made from black locust heartwood function as a good tip overlay?