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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Scott F on September 18, 2015, 06:26:00 PM

Title: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 18, 2015, 06:26:00 PM
Here are a couple pictures of a 60" D/R longbow that I recently finished.  It is 60#@29.5" but I was hoping for a 45-53# 'ish' bow.  I was also trying to make a 58" bow but I didn't want to make it any heavier by cutting it to 58".

I sent a couple PMs and emails out to solicit some assistance with the design (THANKS again; it mattered!)  I tried to look at as many forward handled longbows as I could to replicate the limb profile as best that I could.  I've never held or shot a shrew, thunderchild, etc -- but that was the profile and characteristic(s) that I was shooting for.  I'm pleased but will do some things differently when I get the opportunity to try and make another one like a slightly shorter riser and something less than a .350 stack!  It is smooth on my el cheapo bow scale out to my draw length (29.5") but I want a slightly lighter bow to hunt with.

One of my biggest hurdles for this build was to gain access to a bandsaw to shape the riser.  I ended up using a $7 coping saw to rough cut the riser and ended up buying a spindle sander -- which was indispensable to grind the fadeouts.  I don't know how I ever made a bow without one.  I barely used my belt sander for this bow.

My next one I am going to try to muster the courage to cut it in half and try to make it a two-piece bow as Big Jim shows on his videos.  He makes it look EASY, but I am on to him!  No way it is easy, he is a very gifted craftsman and a pro.

Thanks for looking (if I posted the pictures correctly).

  (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-18%2017.05.36.jpg.html)
   (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-18%2017.04.58.jpg.html)  
   (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-17%2012.07.09.jpg.html)  
   (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-17%2012.06.58.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 18, 2015, 06:28:00 PM
Okay, so what did I do wrong posting pictures?
Time to search for the how-to...
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 18, 2015, 07:31:00 PM
Did you publish them to photo bucket? If so you need to copy the IMG code there and paste it here.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 18, 2015, 08:10:00 PM
Let's see if this works.

  (http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab287/Pictures4scott/2015-09-182017.04.58.jpg) (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-182017.04.58.jpg.html)

  (http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab287/Pictures4scott/2015-09-182017.05.36.jpg) (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-182017.05.36.jpg.html)

  (http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab287/Pictures4scott/2015-09-172012.07.09.jpg) (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-172012.07.09.jpg.html)

  (http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab287/Pictures4scott/2015-09-172012.06.58.jpg) (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/Pictures4scott/media/2015-09-172012.06.58.jpg.html)

Thanks Roy!
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 18, 2015, 08:11:00 PM
Very nice...
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: fujimo on September 18, 2015, 08:59:00 PM
good looking bow   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: bjansen on September 18, 2015, 09:03:00 PM
I really like it. Great job. Would love to see a full draw sometime too!
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: JJB on September 18, 2015, 10:01:00 PM
That has a nice profile, well done! It looks like it would really throw an arrow.
-Jay
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Crittergetter on September 18, 2015, 11:30:00 PM
Love the profile! Very nicely done!
Ps. You could always trap the limbs and shed some weight. If you was so inclined. I've droped as much as 9 lbs before.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: chackworth3 on September 19, 2015, 12:10:00 AM
Good looking bow
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: beachbowhunter on September 19, 2015, 01:11:00 AM
Pretty dang good looking bow!
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: takefive on September 19, 2015, 01:53:00 AM
Really like the profile.  Nice work   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 19, 2015, 07:48:00 AM
Thanks guys.  I'll try to get a full draw picture up today.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Mad Max on September 19, 2015, 09:48:00 AM
good job
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: cunruhshoot on September 19, 2015, 11:42:00 AM
Very nice bow! Whose design did you follow or did you develop your own profile? I ask because I am wanting to do a similar profile.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 19, 2015, 01:59:00 PM
I printed a bunch of short D/R forward handled bows and tried to determine the amount of deflex and reflex from the photos.  I used some butcher block paper to make a couple profiles and emailed my favorite to a forum member with tons of experience.  He was kind enough to lend some advice and I refined the paper template.  From there I traced it to a 1/4" plywood template and transformed that to my plywood bow form and shaped it with a router.

I guess it is my design, very heavily influenced by some pictures of mostly Shrews, Thunderchilds (Thunderchildren? lol) and Javaman's Elkheart.

I started with a .350 stack, a 14" riser (~20 degree deflex angle), and a .003" total taper.   My form has 3" deflex and about 1.5" reflex from the back of the riser in the form.  It came out a little too heavy so I kept the bow at 60" instead of cutting it to 58" as I 'designed' it to be.  The limbs are a proud 1 1/4" at the fades.  My next one I plan on:
1.  Shortening the riser to 12"
2.  Starting with a .340 stack.
3.  Using some different lams -- my wife makes fun of me for using actionwood because "It looks like fake wood!"
4.  Making it a 58" bow
5.  Finding the courage somewhere to cut it in half in order to follow Big Jim's two-piece method.

I'm happy the way that it turned out, the limbs have no twist and it pulls well to my 29.5" draw with no perceivable stacking.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: fujimo on September 19, 2015, 02:08:00 PM
beautiful bow- well done,
but it concerns me somewhat that you wife laughs at you because you use" fake wood"   :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 19, 2015, 02:16:00 PM
...I should have thought that one out a little better, dadgum it!
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: fujimo on September 19, 2015, 02:20:00 PM
:D
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 19, 2015, 02:34:00 PM
LMFAO
I think ole Roy is gonna keep his mouth shut on that one..    :)
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Crittergetter on September 19, 2015, 02:51:00 PM
Roy's gonna keep his mouth "on" fake wood?!?!   :laughing:
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 19, 2015, 02:57:00 PM
BTW, Scott..

Thank you for your service ^5...
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: wcdurand on September 20, 2015, 12:19:00 PM
Scott F I think that is a stunning first try and you nailed it. I have read somewhere on the forum that someone said you can only do so much things on a forward riser, but I disagree.Options is legio...
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: wcdurand on September 20, 2015, 12:20:00 PM
What is your braceheight on this bow?
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: BenM on September 20, 2015, 03:24:00 PM
Nice job.  Really like your bow.  Want to make something similar myself.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 20, 2015, 04:01:00 PM
Thanks guys.  
Right now I have it braced at 8 1/4", but I am still determining the optimal BH.

I can tell you this, it is wicked quiet which is something that I was after.  That and the fact that there is absolutely NO way that my .400 deflection arrows will work because they show very weak.  I have some .320s coming in the mail tomorrow.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: Scott F on September 20, 2015, 04:08:00 PM
Thanks guys.  
Right now I have it braced at 8 1/4", but I am still determining the optimal BH.

I can tell you this, it is wicked quiet which is something that I was after.  That and the fact that there is absolutely NO way that my .400 deflection arrows will work because they show very weak.  I have some .320s coming in the mail tomorrow.
Title: Re: My first 60" D/R longbow
Post by: kennym on September 20, 2015, 06:19:00 PM
Nice lookin bow Scott!!  :thumbsup: