[Regia-NA] Bows with linen backing

[Wulfhere se Treowryhta]

Perhaps it's just my bad luck but I couldn't get an unbacked bow when I 
went shopping. I think this is just a culmination of factors, not the 
least of which being that a reasonable cost bow wouldn't be made from a 
pristine piece of yew. So, you can rough a bow out of just about any 
sawn crud lumber yard stave and get uniform tiller and strength by 
putting on a laminate. Litigation may be a factor, it's not for me at 
any rate.

Yes, laminates are a good way to control the weaknesses of various 
woods. Though, most north American white woods gain follow by 
compressing the belly.


On Monday, October 27, 2003, at 07:18 AM, J K Siddorn wrote:

> I ask from a position of ignorance only - is it really the case that 
> all (or
> the great majority) of US bowmakers will only supply wooden bows with a
> glued on layer of linen as a stress grabber?
>
> I wasn't aware of this and just find it interesting that it should 
> have come
> up in conversation.
>
> As an aside as someone who has made the odd bow or two in his time, 
> adding a
> layer of linen and fixing it *under load* with epoxy resin will add
> significantly to the cast of the bow and reduce its tendency to follow 
> the
> string.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Kim Siddorn
>
> I'd rather have a free bottle in front of me
> than a free frontal lobotomy!
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wulfhere" <wulfhere@masspostroad.net>
> To: <list-regia-na@lig.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 6:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [Regia-NA] viking bows
>
>
> Well bud, based on the Britons' response you will have to make your own
> bow or buy one and grind off the backing. I don't know of any bowyers
> in the states who will sell a wood bow without a stress cover on the
> back. If you really want to make one, get a book called "The
> Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1". It gives you all the basics. It'll
> also teach you how to match the arrows. That's very important. A
> longbow with arrows that are too stiff or to flexible will drive you
> nuts. I had to make a bunch of arrows of different spine (that's
> stiffness) and shoot them with no feathers. When they're wrong, they
> won't even stick in a target. When they are just right, you don't need
> the feathers. You can force a bend by using a heavier head or longer
> shaft. Wood longbows are inefficient. A #50 draw bow probably needs a
> #30 spine with a 100grain head about 3 inches longer than your draw
> length, which will be about 31" if your 6'2". I'm 5'7" and draw just
> 28" but weigh 185lbs.  I'm looking for a #100 plus bow just to see if I
> can shoot the bloody thing.
>
>
> On Sunday, October 26, 2003, at 11:27 PM, BASENJIS2FOR2@aol.com wrote:
>
>> thank you all for the information but i really wanted to know how to
>> make one but this will work and i want to be as real as possible so
>> ya no now day stuff even if it is more safe my Mom wont like that lol
>> i will not tell her lol OK well just need to get some money to by a
>> bow and arrows and have a compound bow and my dad lets me use his 45
>> fiberglass bow to so i now a little about bow and what not so thanks
>> for the information
>> micah the happy one
>>
>
>
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