need help with elm design

[stuckinthemud]

If you were making a wytch elm short bow, 40" long, 1.5" wide at centre, straight or even slightly reflexed, with 2" static tips,would you sinew it if the draw length to working length ratio was 1:3 ? I only need a 12" draw from a working length of 36"

[RyanY]

I’d say it depends on the draw weight but if width is limited then sinew wouldn’t necessarily save the belly from being crushed. That draw length seems totally fine for that length.

[Pat B]

What limb shape are you working with. If it were me, I'd sinew back it. I've built 3 or 4 elm bows and I've been impressed with each one and with elm as a competitive bow wood.

[stuckinthemud]

Slightly stiff working centre, constant taper for width and thickness, sort of ELB elipse but static recurved tips, initially thinking 1mm per inch thickness taper, draw weight might be around 150lb.  Might reduce taper to 3mm per every 4”, not sure yet

[Pat B]

So, it's for a crossbow?

[superdav95]

By those dimensions it sure seems like it

[stuckinthemud]

Well, yes, but a short bend through the handle bow and a crossbow lath/prod are the same thing, except crossbows operate under significantly higher stress but I sometimes find people get nervous about offering advice if I mention the word “crossbow “