Board Bow Advice

[gilcd85]

Hi All, I am new to bow making and started out trying to build a Red Oak board bow. I made it 64'' and would like to draw it to 29'' @40# but it seems to fight me a little when going over 26-27'' draw (the picture is ~24-25'' draw).
Is there an equation for board bow length vs. draw length? Am I being too easy on my bow?

Thank you!

[George Tsoukalas]

The tiller looks darn good. Of course, with boards the vital statistic is the grain.
So double your draw and add 10-20 %.
Looks like you've reached the end of the draw. Sounds like the bow is stacking.
More on my site.
Jawge
http://traditionalarchery101.com

[gilcd85]

Thank you very much for the answer George!

When you say double the draw length + 10-20%, is this for the overall length of the bow or from nock to nock? If I draw 29 I should be going with ~70'' overall length (29*2=59*1.2 = 69.6)?

[ajbruggink]

Thank you very much for the answer George!

When you say double the draw length + 10-20%, is this for the overall length of the bow or from nock to nock? If I draw 29 I should be going with ~70'' overall length (29*2=59*1.2 = 69.6)?

I usually take it to mean overall length not nock to nock length but not everyone does everything the same way I measure all my bows by overall length

Aaron

[Woodely]

Ya should of had more trasiisiton coming out of the fade for starters,  that's my 2 bits worth.   Other that it is fine.

[gilcd85]

Thank you all for your advises! These will go a long way when I get to work on my next bow!

Woodely, you mention more transition is required coming out of the fades. Are you referring to the thickness? Should it be bending more around the fades?

[Eric Krewson]

Double your draw length and add 10" will work for you, your fades out of your handle are pretty abrupt, extend them another inch on each end and your handle is more likely to stay on.

[bassman]

I would taper the handle down from the middle both ways so that the bow is working through the handle. Maybe even make it a D shape bow to get you to your draw length , and narrow the width of the bow a bit, and tiller as you go.

[Woodely]

Thank you all for your advises! These will go a long way when I get to work on my next bow!

Woodely, you mention more transition is required coming out of the fades. Are you referring to the thickness? Should it be bending more around the fades?

Yep...…………...basically what bassman Quoted.

[George Tsoukalas]

That would be for nock to nock. BUT all depends on the grain. Jawge

[scp]

I would taper the handle down from the middle both ways so that the bow is working through the handle. Maybe even make it a D shape bow to get you to your draw length , and narrow the width of the bow a bit, and tiller as you go.

This is exactly the way I would go. Make the bow bend in the whole handle at least a little and looks almost like the Sudbury bow.

[gilcd85]

Thanks all! I think I will start another 70'' red oak bow and taper the handle like you proposed. I will post pictures as I make progress with it.

[gilcd85]

Here is my second attempt at a Red Oak board bow. This time I went with a 72'' (70'' NTN) with 2'' wide limbs tapering down to 1/2'' pyramid design.
The picture shows it drawn to ~27'' pulling 40# where it starts resisting going any further. Should I take more wood off near the fades to have them bending more?

Thanks!

[DC]

I would say no. It looks like most of the bend is already close to the fades. Mid to outer limb could bend more. Looks even though

[PatM]

Needs the bend farther out the limbs.  Why is the back of the first one so roughed up?