"Overkill" Hickory Shortbow

[Kitsu]

Been working on the tiller on my hickory shortbow, i have it bending evenly, and im still thinning more out, i started with a bit too much weight before i started tillering, and ended up with 128# at 26 inches

I am going to post a few pics later on, but as of now, I cant even pull it back normally, i can only have it pulled back full draw on the tillering stick. what would be a good draw weight to aim for in a bow i want to last a fairly long time.

[Kitsu]

Tools used

[Woodland Roamer]

Am I wrong or do I see bark on the belly of the bow?   

Alan

[Parnell]

128#?!   Is that right?  How long is that bow?

[El Destructo]

Thats NUTZ........

[Kviljo]

Hehe

How long is it?

[Kitsu]

128#?!   Is that right?  How long is that bow?

yep, you read it right when fully drawn that is the weight, its a shame however, im not strong enough for it. Oh, also its about 4 foot when strung i am thinning it down a lot more now, hopefully this turns out good,

Am I wrong or do I see bark on the belly of the bow?   

Alan

You are not wrong, its being very stubborn, the stave dried with it on, so....  not fun to take it off, if it was a fresh cut stave, would have been much easier to remove I'm sure,

[Cacatch]

Hawk,

Do you mean to be using the bark of the bow for the belly? The belly is usualy the inner rings of the tree, with the back being the bark, or rings closest to the bark. What you could be inadvertintly doing is putting a whole lot of reflex into your bow. I'd take it off that tree, and work it down some more to a draw weight that's better suited for you, and let it dry for a while. Then, bend it backwards (opposite the way you are bending it now). You could end up with a very fine bow. But I would NOT continue bending it the way you are bending it now. Bending wood with the bark side as the belly usually leads to failure.

CP

[Kitsu]

Hawk,

Do you mean to be using the bark of the bow for the belly? The belly is usualy the inner rings of the tree, with the back being the bark, or rings closest to the bark. What you could be inadvertintly doing is putting a whole lot of reflex into your bow. I'd take it off that tree, and work it down some more to a draw weight that's better suited for you, and let it dry for a while. Then, bend it backwards (opposite the way you are bending it now). You could end up with a very fine bow. But I would NOT continue bending it the way you are bending it now. Bending wood with the bark side as the belly usually leads to failure.

CP

hm,  alright,  illl keep you posted on the results of that, (hm, my maple longbow has lasted a few thousand shots and it had the the belly as the bark side as well, thanks for that info)

[SA]

i love to see people bending the rules he he .    hope it works for ya.

[okiecountryboy]

Hey Pard

I think I would flip the bow as well. Man that #age! Definately remove some wood. Unless you are built like Conan the barbarian, that is some serious weight to be pulling. Don't let that weapon snap on the tiller tree or you could put a piece of it through your work shop and into the next county.

I'm sure though, that will be one beautiful meat finder when you are done!

God bless
Ron

[sailordad]

personally i dont think there is a problem with using the bark side for the belly
as long as your still tillering (scraping,wood removal) from the belly side and not the back of the bow

when you say there is bark on the belly,do you mean the cambium layer?
or is it the actual bark?
if its the actual bark,that may lead to some issues

[M-P]

I've got a better idea!  Leave the bow just as it is and use it as the prod on a crossbow.    Ron

[jonathan creason]

Wow!    I want to shoot it!

[Kegan]

That's a neat one. But it's too heavy, even for me !