Growing into a Bow

[RidgeRunner]

OK folks I need you to tell me what ya ll think.

As many of you know I have a son.
That boy is now 15 years old and 6' 2" and change.

However he only weighs 150 lbs.
He is skinny as a bean pole and has little strength in his arms and shoulders.

Several weeks back I started a new Osage (D Belly) long bow for him.  My first D belly bow.
At this time the bow is 72" long.  I plan to tiller it out to 35 Lbs at his 29" draw.

As my son ages he should gain a lot of strength in his arms and shoulders.  By the time he is 17 he will most likely be considerbely stronger that he is now.

OK this is where you folks come in.

Insteed of making him a completely new bow I plan cut about an inch off this D belly bow every year or so to increase the draw weight.
A little touch up on the tiller, a little new finish and he should be good to go for a while.

If I cut 1" from each end of the bow three times the bow will still be 66" long.  And should have a draw weight of around 50 Lb's.

Am I nuts?? or can I get away with this??

Thanks
David

[Papa Matt]

Heck no you ain't nuts! That's a great idea. I have done that with my nephews. Only thing about doing it is, recall that shorter bow will mean a shorter draw length each time you pike it, whereas your boy's length will likely need to increase  .  I would still do it anyway, maybe once to add 5-7 lbs, then when it's 70" consider not taking down the length anymore and instead putting a hickory or bamboo backing on to add 15-20lbs when he's 17 or 18. My opinion, brother!

~~Papa Matt

[Kegan]

Sounds good, but I'd say make it a wide-limbed deep handle, as a shorter bow with deeper handle is alot easier to shoot than a short D (and I speak from experience ). Other than that, it's a terrific idea !

[JackCrafty]

Huh? Your son will allow you to make only one bow for him?   Dang....all my kids want each type of bow that I have....and I've got at least 5 bows that are shooters.

[sailordad]

yes you may be nuts,but that doesnt matter for what your talking about.

i agree with papa matt, after the first piking,i would add a backing to gain lbs,jmho

                                                                 tim

[kayakfisher]

Your son sounds like my son I am 5 ,11 and I have to look up to him . Could not ask for a better son. his weight is a Little under your sons and his arms are proportionate to his body. See what he can actually draw and shoot comfortably before you start . Orin started out at 40, then decided he wanted a different bow so we purchased a forbidden bow on this forum [ Bear longbow at 45 pounds ] and hes doing good and building a oak bamboo bow.But I would start with what he can draw and shoot comfortably [ note he shot the forty pound recurve for a year before going to the 45 pound longbow your situation sounds alot like ours I dropped down to 45 pounds so we could order arrow shafts in the 40-45 pound range so we would always have arrows between us and not two different arrow sizes
                       Dennis

[Badbill]

No matter what way you choose, I think it is a cool idea!

[1/2primitive]

That is definantly a possibility.
I would have to disagree about the shorter draw length thing, because if you shorten the overall lengthand draw length, you'll end up with a bow that pulls 35lb@28", cut it down again, 35lb@27".....
     Sean

[ZanderPommo]

not to show off or anything but I am only 14, 5'11" and like 120 lbs and comfortably pull 50-55. I could probably even manage a 60#. Just something to keep in mind.

Zander

[cowboy]

Sounds like a plan David - I've never piked a bow and don't know what kind of poundage you gain by cutting off two inches. If it doesn't work, I seem to recall seeing lots of osage in your back yard .

[Far East Archer]

Gosh all your tall sons make me feel tiny 
......cough* 5'6" cough* haha......

It sounds like a good idea to me as well! 
Better start with low weight I believe. You don't want to spoil his form in beginning.

I was teaching some people today how to shoot and needless to say, the big people who think they "tough" could not pull their "small"
bows and suffered in form the most. While the others who use relatively weak bows had great form and quickly made small groups on target.

I think with osage this will be easy task, should last for quite long time.
Good luck! 

Alex

[Pappy]

Good idea and I am pretty sure it will work,but I would rather build a new one every year,always another bow.
  Pappy

[son of massey]

 its a good bow, your plan should work. if the bow is symmetric you should actually not need much touch up on the tiller and adding a backing would be more work than it needs to be. tim baker has actually advised doing this very thing, and ending with a 66" bow makes for one that should potentially be able to be drawn to a full adult draw-again with likely little touch up tillering.   it is a great way to get a lot of bang out of your buck, and at the end of it your son should be very comfortable with that piece of wood. SOM

[Sidewinder]

Don't forget you may be able to gain fives ounds down the road from heat treating as well, so if you get close to where you want it but need a little boost that may provide it.  Danny

[Kegan]

not to show off or anything but I am only 14, 5'11" and like 120 lbs and comfortably pull 50-55. I could probably even manage a 60#. Just something to keep in mind.

Zander

At 16, I can pull 80#. At 14, my brother can shoot 65#. However, my good budy at 17 had to start with 40#. We're all different, and starting out too heavy can really mess up your shooting.