Hello all, just curious others knowledge and experiences on micarta risers vs wood (single piece of exotic hardwood) risers on longbows. Does the added weight of micarta "soak up" handshock? Or vibrate more? No effect? Does the bow have a different sound, in your opinion? Thanks for your thoughts!
I have a 1/2 phenolic riser and think it feels deader and more quiet than a similar one with good weight but metal. Most likely I'll swap the metal riser one day or maybe a Bear TD with wood/phenolic.
My tiller is maybe on the fat side of 1/8", and I played with it a good bit until I settled on where it's at; both bow tillers are identical and close to what any split tillered bow is made at.
Heavier will absorb more limb vibration, which should also make it quieter. Whether the effects are large enough to be noticeable, however, is debatable. Limb design and tiller (or lack of proper tiller) can have a greater effect on hand shock and noise.
The Toelkes use micarta in most of their risers, so I would guess they contribute to the performance and lack of noise. Both of my Whips have micarta risers and are completely dead in the hand and pretty darn close to silent.
Bow material matters far less than bow/limb design.
I have owned a number of Dan Toelke's bows with both Micarta and Wood risers. I've noticed no difference, they've all been dead in the hand and quiet.
Quote from: Jim Wright on December 28, 2025, 07:28:14 AMI have owned a number of Dan Toelke's bows with both Micarta and Wood risers. I've noticed no difference, they've all been dead in the hand and quiet.
Same here. At one point I had two Whips, one with micarta and one with a wood riser. No difference in noise (or lack thereof) or hand shock (none). The only difference was in overall mass weight, and that was negligible - about 4 ounces.
I happen to have three Chinooks with basically the same parameters, one with a wooden split grip and the other two with Micarta. The wooden one vibrates noticeably more than the Micarta one, but both are within an acceptable range.FROM left to right 56" 30#26" 58" 35#28" 60" 45#28"
Funny this subject came up when it did. Just last night I was on the phone with Dan going over my Chinook order. The only decision I had any uncertainties about was riser material. After our discussion I felt comfortable with my decision to go with Cocobola. He has a way of making both material aesthetically pleasing! Now the wait:campfire:
Recently received a new Black Widow with the mycarta or phenolic or whatever they call their composite riser and couldn't be happier. Best BW yet!
Quote from: Rob DiStefano on December 28, 2025, 06:19:03 AMBow material matters far less than bow/limb design.
Rob nailed it.... :thumbsup:
Interestingly I've had a few toelkes with micarta and a few with wood risers. The wood riser ones were across the board slightly quieter. Slightly softer on the shot. The micarta (while still very quiet) had a little louder "thummmm" on the shot. Seems others have had the opposite experience. Maybe it's just being made one at a time by hand, each one has a little different life and feel to it, and the micarta vs wood riser isn't even a factor in sound/vibration.
Quote from: Rob DiStefano on December 28, 2025, 06:19:03 AMBow material matters far less than bow/limb design.
100% agree . imho...adding that the execution of the layout/tiller of said design also being crucial to that noise level or lack-thereof . :campfire:
Proper tiller and the design of the limbs and obviously arrow weight are the biggest factors.
Quote from: EHK on December 28, 2025, 05:31:58 AMThe Toelkes use micarta in most of their risers, so I would guess they contribute to the performance and lack of noise. Both of my Whips have micarta risers and are completely dead in the hand and pretty darn close to silent.
I think you will find all Dan's bows are well balanced and dead in the hand regardless of whether he uses G-10 or Micarta. The real advantage to an epoxy base composite like this is strength, and adding mass weight to the bow. Those 2 piece bows that Dan builds needs that extra strength the Micarta has using the bow bolt connection design he uses.
check it out.
https://montanabows.blogspot.com/p/one-and-two-piece-bow-designs.html
I use a G-10 Garolite FRP in a lot of my bows. Typically i use it for an I-beam construction that provides almost zero flex in the riser even using very heavy draw weight limbs. here is the product. Check the strength ratings on this stuff.. Its stronger than steel.
https://kmac-plastics.net/g10-fr4-sheets.htm
I also use it on my all my ILF risers as well as my Sasquatch Special. yup... its expensive. but it mills excellent and really stiffens up a riser.
here is a link to the bows page on my website that has photos of how i use it in my risers. just scroll down to the riser design options to the "I-beam" option.
https://www.bigfootbows.com/b/bows/bows.html
My experience with Toelke Whip has been all wood until recently. I got a new (to me) Whip with the bow bolt, thus built with micarta. At first I noticed the weight difference. Not much, but noticeable. Also the grip felt a bit fuller in the hand as if the extra volume was needed to "hide" the bolt system. Neither was objectionable. But one of the things I love about my other Whips was the light and slender feel of the grip. I then got a Toelke 64SS with bow bolt. Maybe the added mass is more beneficial in recurve design, but the bow was as smooth shooting as my much heavier Blacktail Elite 3 piece. I prefer wood for the aesthetics, but the micarta does add mass and rigidity. I guess it is needed for the bolt system. Have not tried a bow with the micarta and no bolt.