Author Topic: Longbow Build (Read 6615 times)

Todd_ID · « **on:** July 18, 2011, 09:48:58 AM »

I decided to try getting into the traditional side of the archery world, and I wanted to do it by building my own longbow. I bought a riser block and a set of limb blanks from Hornseeker as a starting point. The riser is jarrah wood (I had to look it up) that Ernie assured me was a good wood for risers with nice grain, and the limbs have clear fiberglass on the front and back to see the wood grain of the Montana Juniper (correct me if I'm wrong Ernie). The limbs started at about 67#, and it now sits just a hair under 60# at 28" after shaping and sanding the fiberglass. I'm hoping to get it down to about 58# @ 28" with my final sanding.

What I started with:

Limb Tip phenolic glue up:

Cutting and gluing for thin fiberglass riser inlays:

Nock ready:

Braced profile:

Riser shaping:

More pictures to come (hopefully ending with an elk and a deer in the picture this fall)!

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:59:42 AM »

Looks very cool, interesting to see the step by step proccess. Thanks for sharing it with us.

quadrafire · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2011, 10:09:30 AM »

Very cool. Are you shaping with power tools or hand tools? Looks like a fun project. I always have wondered if the riser cutouts re-gluing are for looks or do they actually make the riser stronger?? What do you think?
Nice project

Todd_ID · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2011, 10:18:00 AM »

Quote from: quadrafire on July 18, 2011, 10:09:30 AM

Very cool. Are you shaping with power tools or hand tools? Looks like a fun project. I always have wondered if the riser cutouts re-gluing are for looks or do they actually make the riser stronger?? What do you think?
Nice project

I did the shaping that you see this far with my scroll saw, and the rest will be with belt sanders and wood rasps. My take on the riser cutouts is primarily looks, but it would add strength too since both the epoxy and the fiberglass that get put in are stronger than the wood. Hopefully Ernie could shed some light on this.

quadrafire · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2011, 10:21:49 AM »

Did he make the string for you too? That is sweet

staveshaver · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2011, 05:13:34 AM »

That's looking good so far Todd....looking forward to seeing it finished and shooting it in Sept

those fiberglass lams in the riser will add strength but in this case not needed for anything but looks. That bow should not end up bending through the riser.

If ya need any help with tiller, give me a holler....that will be the critical adjustment that determines how well your bow will perform. If your gonna shoot that bow split fingers I would recommend 1/8-3/16 positive tiller on the top limb.

good luck

Todd_ID · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:02:56 AM »

Here's the last of the pictures until hunting season:

bucklucky · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:25:42 AM »

Nice job Todd, how does it shoot?

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:26:45 AM »

That looks great! Nice work!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2011, 01:19:28 PM »

Quote from: bucklucky on July 19, 2011, 10:25:42 AM

Nice job Todd, how does it shoot?

I think it shoots a lot better than I do. I'm hoping to run into a traditional guy someday and have them try it, then maybe I can find out whether or not it's any good.

BnB · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2011, 01:57:22 PM »

Todd, anytime you want to get together and shoot let me know. I shoot longbows and we could run over to Hellsgate to shoot or I have a buddy here in town with a good range. Good looking bow.

Machias · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2011, 07:38:13 PM »

Great looking bow!!!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2011, 07:51:58 PM »

Quote from: Machias on July 19, 2011, 07:38:13 PM

Great looking bow!!!
[/quote Boy that would be a good shoulder shooter ... I am just messin man ......

ribka · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2011, 08:12:55 PM »

Great looking bow

Have built a few bows but were not a nice looking as yours

Have not heard of those woods before.

What did you use on the limb tips?

Hornseeker · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:08:17 AM »

Hey, Nice Job Todd! You whipped that thing right out!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:51:20 AM »

The limb tips are 2 layers of phenolic glued on with Goat Tuff glue, trimmed down with scroll saw, shaped with belt sander, and finally string groove filed in with a chainsaw file. The first time I did the grooves I had the angle wrong, and the string wouldn't stay in the groove on the sides of the limbs. I angled it down some, and now it works fine.

jackmaster · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:59:13 AM »

that looks great, looks like an awesome project for the winter, if you dont mind me asking can anyone by the materials from the guy you used and if so does he also have the stuff to build crossbows, i have always wanted to build a crossbow. thanks for any info

Todd_ID · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2011, 06:59:59 AM »

Here's a pictorial example of how I messed up the string groove angle on the sides of the limb and how I changed it to make it work.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:01:54 AM »

Quote from: jackmaster on July 20, 2011, 06:59:13 AM

that looks great, looks like an awesome project for the winter, if you dont mind me asking can anyone by the materials from the guy you used and if so does he also have the stuff to build crossbows, i have always wanted to build a crossbow. thanks for any info

I think the answer to both would be no. I just bent his ear in a moment of weakness and he agreed to help me out.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:46:51 AM »

Just shot some different arrows over my chronograph to see how it did.

282 grain carbon 218 fps
422 grain carbon 196 fps
545 grain cedar 182 fps
591 grain carbon 176 fps

If I'm not mistaken those numbers are just about better than my first compound.

ribka · « **Reply #20 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:49:54 AM »

Those speeds are very impressive!

staveshaver · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2011, 07:49:06 AM »

Hey Todd, that thing turned out really good, I'm impressed

I sure would like to see some profile pict's at full draw....did any of those cedars that I sent seem to work for you? I would guess that the light colored one with the trad. barrred cock feather should work real well...I think it is about a 70-72lb spine and prolly weighs about 350gr.

Just got the part for my band saw yesterday, so I'll be back in business building bows again. I have lams and risers ready for a pair of 60 lb T/D,-LB's....just need a little time to get em started.

Good luck, hope to see you hunting with that bow in Sept.

Tom

Todd_ID · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2011, 09:33:34 AM »

I couldn't seem to get any of the cedars to fly too well. I'll try again with them today.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #23 on:** July 21, 2011, 10:46:54 AM »

OK, found 2 cedars that I liked. 74# with 160 grain head and probably a 70# with 145 grain head. Here's a picture of the drawn profile.

staveshaver · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:00:17 AM »

Ok Todd, the top limb is a little flat at mid limb. I would first get that bending a bit more to match the bottom limb. That will prolly get your tiller close....if it is still not 3/16 positive tiller after you get that flat spot out, then sand the entire top limb a little bit at a time till you get it spot on....be careful not to go too fast...sand a bit then exercise the limbs a bunch before taking any more. Good luck bro.

staveshaver · « **Reply #25 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:05:43 AM »

Oh ya, I forgot...when you get the bow right and start tuning those cedars....try the cock feather in instead of out...that will give you a feather at 12:00, works real well with most bows. Don't forget to get your wood grain turned properly before gluing on you nocks...

rasbo · « **Reply #26 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:36:36 AM »

very nice work there

Todd_ID · « **Reply #27 on:** July 22, 2011, 10:41:31 AM »

So I wasn't as satisfied with the final output as I wanted. The tiller was a bit off, and the top limb wasn't bending like it should. All my fault, so I came up with a solution. I switched positions of the top and bottom limbs. The writing is upside down now, and I need to reshape the limb to riser interface, but the tiller came out at 3/16" positive. And, most importantly, it shoots WAY better now. Thanks to staveshaver's texts with advice of the problems and agreeing with the solution!

Here's the picture of the drawn profile with the limbs switched:

pianoman9701 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 22, 2011, 11:16:26 AM »

Nice job, what a beautiful thing to have made yourself.

staveshaver · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:14:54 PM »

That looks allot better....I'd be happy with that....

quadrafire · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:44:20 PM »

WOW.......That is cool to see the difference between the 2. did you do some sanding on the limb(s) as well. post a pic of the riser if you would.
Looks AWSOME

OlympicElkJunkie · « **Reply #31 on:** July 22, 2011, 10:21:19 PM »

That bow is beautiful Todd! I have this on my list and wondering how big of a project it is and what I need to be planning for. How many hours do you think you have into it? What did you use as a guide for getting started? Thanks for the post ... other's creations inspire me

Todd_ID · « **Reply #32 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:48:50 AM »

Didn't need any sanding on the limbs. Just the difference in location was all I needed; not sure how or why I got that lucky, but it worked. From what I can tell the bottom limb bends a bit more because of location than the top, and that was the solution I needed anyway.

Quote from: OlympicElkJunkie on July 22, 2011, 10:21:19 PM

That bow is beautiful Todd! I have this on my list and wondering how big of a project it is and what I need to be planning for. How many hours do you think you have into it? What did you use as a guide for getting started? Thanks for the post ... other's creations inspire me

I'm not really sure how many hours I have into the bow: probably 30. I know it consumed me for a week; but most of that was drying time and sitting there looking at it to try and figure out a problem. My guiding hope was to create something 80% as functional and 50% as elegant as the custom bow makers produce. I think I met both goals just fine.

I leaned heavily on two forums for learning what the heck I needed to know: tradgang and pirates of archery.

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Author Topic: Longbow Build (Read 6615 times)

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