dimensions for a red cedar flat bow ?

[blades7558]

Hi all. I recently came across a eastern red cedar tree my girl friends dad cut down and I found a nice straight, almost knot free piece. I sawed up the tree and got a stave 82 inches long although only 70 or so can god a bow with out having knots runn off the sides.  I was wondering if any one had some dimensions that I could use. I've only worked with cedar once before and I do plan on backing it but im not sure with what yet. Thanks!

[blackhawk]

IMHO use a 1/8" thick hickory backing. Plane down some sapwood off to have heartwood in the bow. And use all that length if you plan to draw it to 28"  ,and make it 1 3/8"-1 1/2" out of the fades to half inch tips.

[blades7558]

Ok, thanks for the input also what poundage should I shoot for? I'd like a hunting weight bow but lower would suffice. I like the idea of an english longbow, but wouldn't red cedar be better suited for a flatbow?

[blackhawk]

Hunting weight is fine. Flatbow or ELB will both work. The one I did is ELB looking but just short of the 5/8ths rule and technically not a ELB to the blokes across the pond. Mine does have a crowned belly.

[blades7558]

Nice. ELBs are fast to make to thanks!

[bcbull]

blades if u want a elb go for  i t but do not shave the sap off leave every bit of the sap go long id use the whole legth if u can iv made 80# elbs with it marc st louis made one a while back 110#  but like i say bro do not take the sap of use as much of it as ya can it s way stronger than the ceader  brock

[youngbowyer]

i would add a rawhide backing just for security. ERC has been known to blow up out of nowhere

[mullet]

 I just recently helped FlCubanredneck make one from a stave. Leave the sapwood on and start the fades about 2" wide. And then taper to the tips pyramid style. We completed his bow in one day , it was shooting 55# @ 28" unbacked.

[blades7558]

The dimensions are cut out. 1.5 wide at the fades .5 at the tips. I think I will leave the sapwood on because there is alot of it I think ill back it with the deer rawhide I have left from last season. Its 72 inches long due to a knot that I had to center mid limb on one side. The other side does have like 4 ring violations mid limb on the other side...  so hopefully I can pull this off

[bcbull]

rign s wont matter bro just make the bow man i adivse u work it slow easey and in between scrappin give her lik 25-30 pulls  at where ur at dont over draw it  this has to learn to ben d if u do i promise ull have one heck of a explosion haha good luck keep us posted