My new "warf" longbow project

[Scooter]

I bought this riser on ebay a little while back. It started life as a Martin Black Panther compound. I bought it really cheap and figured I would try to qwarf it, or maybe try my hand at making some limbs for it.

I have decided to go the later route and make some longbow limbs for it, my first attempt at limb making. The riser is 21” and has a mild amount of deflex and limb angles set at about 21 deg. That’s a little laid back for a longbow but I’ll give it a shot. It has some openings in the limb pad that I will add some lead to the lower pocket for weighting and a little pocket in the shelf window I can install a pieces of wood in (a longbow has to have some wood in it right).

I want to end up in the mid-50’s poundage wise and 66” long. I’m going to try using the Bingham plans and “pronounced” limb kit for a start. Since my angles and limbs lengths will be different than their plans, my first limbs will be a SWAG. I’ll post as I go.

I ordered the stuff I need from Binghams today and will try to build the press and limbs as time allows.

Hopefully I’ll get a decent bow out of this and not an over priced dust collector.

Having trouble posting a pic so pics of the riser to come.

[mjhall]

Scooter, Sounds like an interesting project! I will look forward to your updates. What does Bingham's include in their kit, and what do you have to produce yourself, in order to make a set of limbs? Good Luck with the project!

Mike

[Scooter]

Mostly you need to supply plywood to build the limb form and heat box plus some wiring and lamps for the heat box. Most other stuff including the plans and video are available. You need to have or have access to a bandsaw and a sander and or drill press with a sander. Doesn't look like rocket science but it is fairly involved.

[Scooter]

Pics of the riser. I glued up the limb form today and will go over to the shop to cut it out Friday.

[W.Tim]

how did it turn out????????????? :sbrug:

[Scooter]

Still working on it. Had some other things come up. I have the heat box completed and the form about 50% done. Should be able to finsh those this weekend. Then I can make the limbs.

[W.Tim]

sounds good, please post pic's when you get it finished.............Thanks :highfive:

[Atlantis]

Scooter,

I've got one of the same risers lying around-- off a Tiger M1. I stuck some 'curve limbs on it, but that angle was just too big for decent performance. So, I'm interested in how things turn out too. Nice slim riser and if you could make a 66" longbow at a decent poundage it would be fun to shoot.

[Scooter]

OK I finished up my mold and heat box and cast my lead weights for the lower pockets in the riser. Also painted the riser a nice flat black. Hope to glue up the limbs by next weekend. Still need to make a drilling jig.

[mjhall]

Scott, glad to hear you got some free time to work on the bow.

[Scooter]

Drilling jig is almost done and the first limb is cooking in the box. Both limbs should be glued up by Sunday night.

[Scooter]

Limbs all glued up and ready for shaping and drilling.

[DRT]

Do you know the limb thickness and tapers used on the bingham t/d longbow ? I'm trying to build one of my own design and was wondering what they used before I make a WAG. thanks Darren

[Scooter]

I think if you call them they can tell you. They sell the single lamination also so I don't think it is a big measurements. I took some measurements with a micrometer at the thick ends but they are at home. I believe they use all .002" per inchtapers tapers. Reverse taper on the back and a standard taper on the belly sandwiching a parallel. Mine stacked like this standard taper, parallel lamination wedge and reverse taper. Not 100% sure on those tapers / inch. Still learning about all thsi reverse, standard parrallel .001 per inch and .002 per inch stuff.

BTW my wife bought me a bandsaw for valentines day (man i love that women!) so hopefully I can work on shaping my limbs this weekend without having to go to my father in laws shop. Goal is to find out what kind of poundage I ended up with and if this thing looks like it is going to work. Of well it has been a fun learning trip and the next set of limbs I make should be all the better for the experience.

[DRT]

thanks Scooter. I'll just WAG it. Make sure you don't use a good blade on that new bandsaw when you cut that fiberglass. Bandsaw for valentines day ? geesh I'm lucky if I get a kiss .

[BowDonkey]

Same here DRT, I don't even get a passing nod. Speaking of bandsaws, what kind did you get? I always wanted a Hitachi CB75. It would be ideal for cutting tapers and ripping arrow stock.

[Scooter]

Yeah she's a keeper.

Bowdonk. it is a Rigid. Small one but should do the trick for my projects.

[Scooter]

Sort of. I got the limbs rough shaped and nock grooves cut etc. Not bad, even got lucky and she tillered good. Came out at around 55# @ 28" so far. Feels like it stacks a bit toward the end and doesn't have a lot of preload. Not suprising as it has short limbs with a lot of limb angle. I'll glue some tip overlays on tomorrow, shape them and see how it shoots.

[DRT]

what did you do for limb alignment. A pin or the ball bearings like the riser originally had ? What's your ntn length ?

[Scooter]

I made a jig and drilled a 3/16" clearance hole in the riser and put a 3/16" pin in the limbs. I filled up the half rounds and the two cavities in the lower pocket with lead. I'll post some pics of the weight and pin mounting Monday.

[tuffshot]

Keep it going scooter. It looks like the limbs are really coming together well..

Might have to break out the Craftsman card and get a small band saw myself.. or should I say for my wife for Valentines Day.. :jk:

[robk]

scooter i sentyou a pm hope you don't mind
rob k

[Scooter]

Got the limbs rough finshed up today with tip overlays. It actually shoots pretty good. String is a TS-1 set a 8 1/4" brace. The limbs smoothed out quite a bit as I rough finshed it down. There's still some stack but not too bad. Speed seems decent as well. I need to finish sanding the limbs and clear coat them, but at least it didn't go BOOM.

The bow is very quiet and just sits in your hand at the shot.

[tuffshot]

Very nice looking bow scooter :highfive:
Looks like a super shooter to me!!

[DRT]

that looks real nice . looks like the same riser I had on a lynx recurve.

[Bob Gordon]

Scooter...Bow looks pretty good and should be a good shooter with that grip. Don't expect to make any new friends in the longbow class at a all trad 3-D shoot!!...lol...Did you get close to the weight you wanted?...warf

[Scooter]

Bob,

Yes it did. It hit 57# on my scale as is now. I need to do some final sanding and bevel the edges of the limbs so I should lose a few pounds. Your proline longbow was kind of the insperation for this one.

[Hornseeker]

Anymore news Scooter? I am really interested in doing this....think I have one in the works actually, but want to get more in the works...
Been shooting it much? Is it great or just so so??
Ernie

[Scooter]

Haven't shot it too much. So many bows so little time. It seems to stack a bit at my draw which is now around 29.5". Maybe shoot it more after my winter league ends.

[Hornseeker]

Do you think the lead added a significant amount there Scooter? I am going to set Atlantis up with one like that and am just curious. I am also going to integrate some sort of wedge on the bottom of the limb to reduce that angle, lower the brace height a bit and make her a bit smoother, plus take more advantage of the reflex in the limbs.
Finally, what length did it come out to n to n? If I use my normal limbs I'm looking at about 69 inches....kinda long, but probably real good shooting.
Ernie

[Scooter]

I didn't weigh it before and after but the lead does allow it to sit nice and verticle in hand. Ths one came out at 66". I think a little more limb angle would be good. Only thing is to do it with a wedge could put the limb bolt at a funny angle.

[the other DWS]

Some compound risers have their limb bolt anchored into an approx 1/2" round hardened steel rod that goes transversly through the riser below the limb pocket. The rod section can rotate which allowed the bolt angle to shift as the limb butts were raised or lowered.
I have warfed an older hoyt--maybe 90's vintage--- with non-ilf limbs that had this system. It makes a real nice, if heavy and long for my taste, bow. nice machined riser with sort of greenish gold toned anodizing.

[Hornseeker]

Hmmm, yeah, I'll have to think about that limb bolts angle thing...
Thanks,
Ernie