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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: TroyH on December 07, 2007, 01:26:00 PM

Title: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: TroyH on December 07, 2007, 01:26:00 PM
Does anyone have instructions on making a spine tester?
Is there one in the "how to" section that I am overlooking?
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: Lefty on December 07, 2007, 01:40:00 PM
I made one using Jim Hill's plans.  Very easy to make and very accuate.

http://www.jamesmhill.com/Spine_Tester.html
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: fyrfyter43 on December 07, 2007, 04:16:00 PM
Yep, I made one similar to Jim Hill's also. The only difference is that I was able to get an old dial indicator at work that allows me to put the weight on the spindle, so my dial indicator is above the shaft.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/fyrfyter43/S5000493.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/fyrfyter43/S5000494.jpg)
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: ks_stickbow on December 07, 2007, 11:32:00 PM
Me three I made one using his Jim hills plans also

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/ks_stickbow/P8152354.jpg)
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: Bowmania on December 08, 2007, 11:58:00 AM
PH,

I haven't done this, but it occured to me that if you know the spine for your bow and don't have to relate to anyone else you can make one with 2 nails and a magic marker and a bottle of whisky.

Pound two nails in the wall at 26 (28 Easton???) inches apart.  Place your arrow (the one that is spined for your bow) on the nails.  Draw a line horizontally underneath the arrow.  Your average bottle of whisky weights 3 pounds, the weight hung on the arrow is usually 2, so you can drink freely until you measure your first arrow.  Hang the bottle on the arrow and mark the deflection horizontally, but measure virtically.  Now, you know the deflection for your bow and any arrow that has the same deflection should shoot out of your bow.

The great thing about this idea is if you don't like whisky, you could use a bottle of scotch, vodka, brandy...  LOL This should actually work.

In fact if you didn't drink any whisky and used 3 lbs, it would probably be mor accurate than a 2 lb weight.  The more bend in the arrow the easier it is to read the deflection.

Bowmania
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: ks_stickbow on December 08, 2007, 12:10:00 PM
that is actualy the way I used to do it before I made the tester....cept I kept the tequila for other things, and found a weight from a cookoo clock.

works pretty good cept you don't know the range of the arrow...like a 45-55 you just know if it's close or not....it works but is crude.
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: 42WLA on December 08, 2007, 12:59:00 PM
I made mine too from Jim's plans. Harbor Freight has cheap dial indicators.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/faabala/Archery/IMAG0008.jpg
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: Deerstalker on December 08, 2007, 03:34:00 PM
I made one of these, and it is very accurate as well. Instructions may take a couple of readings before you fully understand them ( it did for me, anyways), but a nice spine tester is the result.
Bryan
http://www.bambooarrow.com/tester.html
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: TroyH on December 11, 2007, 12:19:00 PM
Does anyone have the conversion chart for Jim Hills spine tester?  Presently his site seems to be down, hopefully not permanently.
You could even email it to me if you like.
Thanks
Title: Re: want to make my own spine tester
Post by: fyrfyter43 on December 11, 2007, 08:21:00 PM
I don't have the chart handy, but the conversion is spine = 26/deflection.