Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kegan on February 11, 2009, 02:10:49 pm
-
Okay, I've become seemingly obsessed with this design :D. Lately I've been thinking and the thought so far is that the relfex in the limbs work like stiff tips, only reflexed at the very tips- stable, reduce vibration, blah blah blah. I really have no idea how it works, but I've heard lots of people say that it makes a superior bow.
So how much should I put it?
I'm working on a short (63") Osage longbow from a really nice stave from Mullet, and at first I heated in a radical R/D shape- looked alot like a recurve. When I took the heat gun to temper the belly, it sorta straightenned out, but the shape is definately there. It looks alot like the amount in most FG bows I see, and people seem to be obsessed with it like that.
So I'm curious- with R/D, does a little go a long way towards improving performance/stability?
-
I think a little goes a long way and a lot can be too much. You are adding stress to the bow and there is a happy medium as to what will be positive and what is negative.
-
I would agree with what Pat said. There is a balance of pros and cons in everything. I like to do a mild reflex. Somewhere between a recurve and a straight long bow design. But more like a slight deflexed long bow with a mild reflex starting mid limb to the tips. For me it is because most the bows that I make are shorter and it helps string angle,ease of bracing ,early draw weight and overall profile.
I like the reflex to be able to "unfold" slightly and work at the same degree that the rest of the limbs are moving.
-
Thanks guys :). I'll take some photos tonight. Right now, it just looks 'right' compared to the semi-recurve it was before.
-
The only thing I can tell you is add more reflex than what you want the bow to finsh up with because you will lose a lot of it during tillering and shoot in. Other than that its kind of a trial and error thing until you find something that works for you.
-
Thanks for the tip Ryan. Here's the bow at the moment. As you can see, the shape isn't very extreme, but I feel alot more comfortable with it. The belly is heavily tempered, and I intend to back it with sinew, so I don't see it taking too much set, not that I mind a ittle string follow anyway.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
I have put up to 3" of reflex into bows (backed type) and I'm not convinced they are faster, ( i need a chronograph) than my best straight bow, but the reduced string angle definately makes a sweeter draw , it makes an increase also in early draw weight, which also makes , I believe, a bow more comfortable to draw and aim.
-
I have put up to 3" of reflex into bows (backed type) and I'm not convinced they are faster, ( i need a chronograph) than my best straight bow, but the reduced string angle definately makes a sweeter draw , it makes an increase also in early draw weight, which also makes , I believe, a bow more comfortable to draw and aim.
Those qualities alone would be enough for me :). I can always boost speed by simply shooting heavier weights, and now I'm using FF for strings also (not alot of speed, but should help efficiency a bit).