Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Bowyer Wannabe on October 26, 2015, 06:06:52 pm

Title: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: Bowyer Wannabe on October 26, 2015, 06:06:52 pm
Hi, I went out to the woods and I collected two staves - one Ash and one Hazel. Both staves are very straight and both are 1 1/2 inches thick. I guess they will go down to 1 1/4 inches of thickness when they are dry.
What style of bow to make out of them? Aren't they too thin to make any type of selfbow? I don't want to decrown them and to back them.
Thanks!
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: DC on October 26, 2015, 06:40:40 pm
Just take off wood until it bends nice and even. Call it the "Wannabe" style and go shoot arrows. :D :D
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: bowandarrow473 on October 26, 2015, 06:41:19 pm
You can make a bendy handle bow, that would be my first choice.
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: OTDEAN on October 26, 2015, 06:42:25 pm
What DC said.  There is no right or wrong answer.  Just experiment, have fun and learn. 
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: Rufous on October 26, 2015, 07:04:06 pm
Oddly enough I found an 8' long 1 1/8 hickory barge pole and not sure where to go now either so will be interesting to see whats possible from a similar sapling
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 26, 2015, 09:30:15 pm
You do not have to decrown. Just leave them a few inches longer to counteract the crown. What is your draw length?
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: scp on October 26, 2015, 09:44:14 pm
As George said, keep it long, at least 72 inches long.

If shorter, decrown it as if you are going to make a backward bow and see what you can get out of it. All depends on what kind of bow you want. What is your desired draw length and weight?
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: Joec123able on October 26, 2015, 09:59:29 pm
Can't think of any particular "style" id just start making a bow. I wouldn't measure anything just hack a bow out and see what happens.
Title: Re: What style of bow to make out of a 1 1/2 sapling?
Post by: willie on October 27, 2015, 12:17:46 am
made a few sapling bows this fall, and ran out of width in places where the taper got too thin.

the longer the bow, the thicker the limb the more wood you can get into the bow.

I would go for a 72 + length, and taper the thickness and leave the limbs as wide as I can for as long as I can

what draw weight are you hoping to build