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Author Topic: 12# bow  (Read 1463 times)

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Offline Badger

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12# bow
« on: February 12, 2018, 12:34:51 pm »
  I have been commissioned to make a bow 12# @ 26". I am kind of looking forward to it. I plan to make it the same way I would make a 50# bow that was 6" wide. My plan is short working area maybe 8" on each limb and ultra slim tips and outer limbs with about 6" or 7" reflex. I will post pics when done if I can figure out how. My goal is a 200 grain arrow at about 160 fps. I had no idea how light 12# really is until I started playing with the little bow. It feels pretty tight on a mini bow. Hard to imagine getting any kind of power out of it. If I can get the arrows down below 200 grains it would help a bit also.
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Offline k-hat

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2018, 12:38:52 pm »
Sounds fun Steve, looking forward to seeing it, sounds like a sweet design! 
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2018, 01:01:34 pm »
160 FPS from 12#? That would be borderline miraculous, Steve. Just making a bow draw 12# @ 26# seems awfully "mushy" to me?
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Badger

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2018, 01:04:54 pm »

  I did a quickie test piece just to see what it would feel like and it had nothing! Pure mush. At first I thought it was a waste of time and I would just nock one out and send it but then I started seeing it as a challenge. The one I am doing is 58" long.
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2018, 01:08:50 pm »
It seems a softer wood that requires more wood to make a bow might be the best bet. Like elm, hackberry or maple. I think any of the "better " bow woods would be a toothpick by the time you got done.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline DC

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2018, 01:29:56 pm »
I made a Boo backed Yew for my grandson. It's 44" NTN and 10#@22". The limbs are 9/16" wide and 3/8" thick. You could pull it farther but it would take some set I think. he shoots 18" 280 grain(heavy tips) bamboo arrows. It is surprisingly snappy. With a longer draw length and lighter arrows I think it would work.
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Offline Jim Davis

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2018, 02:27:01 pm »
Must be an unusual case where a bow drawn  26 inches is wanted at only 12#.

The kids bows I have made have had draw lengths of18 to 22 and have launched their light arrows with authority. The are small, but are not toys. The bows have been 48-56 inches long.

The 1/4" shafts I make for them weigh about 100 g at 20" long (This is without points, which add very little, as they are pressed steel.)

Is that 200 g arrow going 160 fps out of a 12# bow a typo or are you not the real Badger?
« Last Edit: February 12, 2018, 02:32:16 pm by Jim Davis »
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Jim Davis

Kentucky--formerly Maine

Offline willie

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2018, 02:35:41 pm »
made one for my grandson about like that weight. 1/4" dowels are way too stiff, and if I put much weight on the tips, are too heavy to be useful.


I do see 3' bamboo skewers on amazon I might order.   5mm dia
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Offline Badger

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2018, 02:40:21 pm »
Quote from: Jim Davis on February 12, 2018, 02:27:01 pm
Must be an unusual case where a bow drawn  26 inches is wanted at only 12#.

The kids bows I have made have had draw lengths of18 to 22 and have launched their light arrows with authority. The are small, but are not toys. The bows have been 48-56 inches long.

The 1/4" shafts I make for them weigh about 100 g at 20" long (This is without points, which add very little, as they are pressed steel.)

Is that 200 g arrow going 160 fps out of a 12# bow a typo or are you not the real Badger?

  Jim, I have no idea if it will do it or not, I am just shooting for it. Going to go with a very radical design.
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Offline Badger

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2018, 02:42:19 pm »
   I am actually going to do it in two stages, I have the bow laid up now with about 4" recurves. Going to finish it here and if still doggy going to add the reflex and take the weight back down.
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Offline Jim Davis

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2018, 05:40:16 pm »
Quote from: willie on February 12, 2018, 02:35:41 pm
made one for my grandson about like that weight. 1/4" dowels are way too stiff, and if I put much weight on the tips, are too heavy to be useful.


I do see 3' bamboo skewers on amazon I might order.   5mm dia

I make 1/4" shafts from spruce. Pretty light and spine close to what is wanted. Only drawback is they break much easier than hardwood.
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Jim Davis

Kentucky--formerly Maine

Offline Badger

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Re: 12# bow
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2018, 08:55:53 pm »
  I might make some purple heart 3/16 tapered shafts. I think skinny and dense with small fletches might carry better. I don't think I need much spine.
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