VT Surf-N-Turf
Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 62
Location: VT NEK
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| Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: Hickory Kids Bow - My first shootable bow |
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I've been interested in building bows for a while now and I got the chance to pick through some local hickory boards, so I kept some. A while ago I put a couple to the band saw at work and cut 8 knot free blanks. 4 at 68" and 4 at 50". I backed them with 3 layers of washed cotton muslin and Tight Bond 2 wood glue. Then I picked up a sure form and a spoke shave and started scraping. So far I've trashed 1 short stick and 2 long sticks, but I was able to get 1 short stick to work.
Its 48" noc to noc, 1-1/8" at the widest point in the limb, braced at 5-1/2", and has a 5" handle.
No cracks or creaks when I pull it.
I was able to give it a decent tiller.
With no major twists.
I took it to my local shop and it pulled 22lbs @24".
It took me a total of 2-1/2 hours actual work time. My boys who are 4 and 6 are shooting it but can't quite get the hang of shooting off the knuckle (yet). They want an arrow rest and handle so I need to get to a thrift shop for a $5 leather jacket to build it up. I've also seen handles of wraped braided fishing line that looked pretty cool. I still need to adjust the string nocs slightly and give it a final sanding, then I'll give it a coat of krylon on the backing and watco oil on the wood. As you can see in the last photo, I've got 4 more tries in this run. I want to duplicate this bow with the two short sticks and tiller the 2 long sticks at 45lbs+. |
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