Toy crossbow prod from red oak board. Need suggestions

[Blank]

I have a 25" long, 1 1/4" wide, 1/2" thick red oak boars I want to make Into a crossbow prod for a small crossbow stock. I'm looking at a 10-12" draw length. How much thickness should I remove? Bring it down to 1/4"? I want it to be strong as possible.

[jaxenro]

For my 24"  "longbows" I start at 3/8" at the center and 3/16" at the tips and go from there but they are only 1/2" wide.

[stuckinthemud]

These small crossbows are a lot of fun, just wondering if 12" draw from 25" prod is a bit ambitious? You may end up with a lot of set and poor string tension ☹

[Blank]

I am open to suggestion. I can reduce the draw length to whatwhatever length will allow to crossbow to work without taking set or breaking. If that is 10" or even 8", I'm fine with it. What has worked in your experience?

[stuckinthemud]

Just dug out the last one I built, 15" x 3/4 hazel prod took  1" set on a 5 1/2" draw. Used it to shoot pencils across the garden; has a 25 yard range. Had to use a smaller prod as the yew prod (same dimensions) scared my boy to death and he couldn't draw it. The yew took a 1/2" set but had a 40 yard range.

[Del the cat]

Just dug out the last one I built, 15" x 3/4 hazel prod took  1" set on a 5 1/2" draw. Has a 25 yard range. Had to use a smaller prod as the yew prod (same dimensions) scared my boy to death and he couldn't draw it. The yew took a 1/2" set.

Nice
Del

[stuckinthemud]

Yeh, its a lot of fun, big grins from a weekend project, just a nice simple push-pin trigger. The yew prod smashed the pencils (literally) against the garage wall at 15 feet.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

A buddy and I mess with them every once in a while. One has a regular trigger wth a rotary sear that holds the string and has a groove for the dart to sit. The prod is hickory backed osage. About 15" long, 5/8" wide and pulls about 9# at about 5". We use tape for the fletching and get good accurate flight to about 20 yards and ye little skewers make it across the 50 yard drive and stick into cardboard. They're fun little things.

Kyle