135lb holly bow

[FilipT]

EWBS should really start with tillering bows to 30" and measuring records with them. I don't know why they insist on 32".

[WillS]

It's all being changed now.  Many people who shoot heavy bows are now using 30" or just over.

[FilipT]

That is cool. When I visited website some time ago all records were done at 32" draw so I asked myself why not change.

Btw, if your holly bow is big in cross section and shorter in length why did you got 135# out of it? You said before that it is even stronger than ash and I remembered that you tend to use much thinner bows out of ash to get same equivalent of poundage. That is why on previous page I thought it is a bit weaker than ash.

[WillS]

It's not heat treated yet.  I expect it to get up to at least 145lb once it is.

[WillS]

After one session of heat treating, the bow hit 155lb at 29", and then went pop through one of the moldy looking blue-stain sections.

Very promising as a heavy bow wood!!

[FilipT]

So its broken? Too bad if so. What do you think these stains are? I noticed exactly same on english oak board bow that blew up last year somewhere around 26" on tiller.

[stuckinthemud]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, had really high hopes for that one

[WillS]

It's a good thing.  I'd rather find out that holly can deal with those weights and blow up a dodgy one.  It means when I get a REALLY clean stave I can push it even harder.

There's no fun in making countless bows that don't push the limits, and if they don't break, you don't know where the limit is

[FilipT]

Where did you get such big piece you can use for bows? And is that common holly I have in my garden, one with pointy leaves and berries?

[WillS]

Yep, common holly! Ilex aquifolium.