The Arbalist Guild

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

Latest topics

» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Nov 24, 2023 3:50 pm

» Crossbow Stock
by kenh Tue Oct 31, 2023 6:19 am

» Colletiere a Charavines continuing experiment
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:36 am

» Cocking - how
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:24 am

» Questions around heavy crossbow lath buildin
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:10 am

» Arab Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:57 am

» prod angle, and lever trigger for sale anyone?
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:54 am

» flexible string
by jasper1978 Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 am

» jens sensfelder
by jasper1978 Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:58 pm

» 400lb Windlass crossbow bolts weight and accuracy shooting high.
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 05, 2023 2:53 pm

» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm

» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm

» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm

» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am

» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm

» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am

» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am

» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am

» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am

» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm

» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm

» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am

» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm


+7
mac
Hermit
Geezer
Rizzar
kenh
Todd the archer
Jim McCoin
11 posters

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Sun Dec 21, 2014 5:58 pm

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow 21bkgx
    very very begining of a medeival crossbow 2q32ej9

    This is the start of the nut. I still need to cut in a string groove and trim down the piece that will hold the trigger.  The trigger will be formed from 3/8 Ø round bar.  I'll probably purchase the prod somewhere.  Maybe a 120# or lower if I can find it since this will not have a safety.  Be gentle guys it's my first project.
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:16 pm

    Are the washers a different thicknesses for a reason? Just curious.

    Jim
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:06 am

    Yeah they're slightly different in thickness. Not for any reason just because it's what I had.
    Todd the archer
    Todd the archer
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 581
    Join date : 2010-02-25
    Age : 61
    Location : sellersville,pa.

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Todd the archer Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:11 pm

    Hey your off to a start! What do you plan to use for an axle? Be aware that the axle is fairly close to the surface of the deck or rail, too big an axle might tear out if not set in some sort of reinforcing plate.

    Todd
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:22 pm

    Thanks Todd! Do you mean the trigger mechanism? I was going to use a round bar of the same diameter as the stopper part of the nut. If that's not what you meant does someone have a pic? I'm very very new to this.
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
    Join date : 2012-08-03
    Age : 75
    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by kenh Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:10 pm

    The axle is the steel dowel upon which the nut will spin.  What's the diameter of the hole in the center of the washers?
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:27 am

    Ohhhhh I getcha.  That will also be a 3/8Ø steel round bar.  The hole in the center of the washers is 9/16".  However, the small tube on the inside has an ID just a little over 3/8".  So there's a tiny bit of play on the axle but just barely.
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:44 am

    I'm new to the forum and am following your work, I'm curious if you have looked at photos or drawings on how medieval crossbow nuts work?

    Jim
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:33 pm

    Yes I have done some research
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
    Join date : 2012-08-03
    Age : 75
    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by kenh Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:16 pm

    So, edstuff, I have to ask.  What are you going to fill the center of your nascent roller nut with??  Virtually all the roller nuts I've seen are a solid cylinder of material (horn, Delrin, steel/bronze, wood etc) on the order of 1.5" in diameter and 1.5" thick, with on the order of a 1/4" hole in the center for the axle.  I've seen roller nuts made from many washers welded or brazed together to make a cylinder, but nothing shaped like you have there...
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:27 pm

    I don't know why I didn't think of doing many together.  As far as what I will fill them with I don't know.  I'm a newbie to crossbows and this is my first project so I'm making it up as I go along.  
    I've got an idea of the design of it.  It's in the attached sketch. 
    very very begining of a medeival crossbow X10
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
    Join date : 2012-08-03
    Age : 75
    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by kenh Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:57 pm

    Right concept, edstuf.  That's what we call a roller nut and tickler (the long pivoted arm).  But you sketch is ignoring what's happening between the two edges of the nut.  It's not holloed down the center, but rather notched to accept the end of the tickler, just as the top of the nut is notched and slotted to hold the string and bolt.  

    If you look about half way down this page
      
    https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t189p15-roller-nut-material?highlight=roller+nut

    you'll see a walnut roller nut. Notice that the nut is not hollowed completely between the edges. There is a notch for the tickler end, reinforced by the brass plate, plus the upper notch for the string and bolt.  

    The roller nut as you've built it does not have any way to catch and hold the end of the tickler.
    avatar
    Rizzar
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 194
    Join date : 2012-08-11
    Location : Germany

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Rizzar Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:02 am

    Ha, finaly I got a clue what you are doing.... Very Happy
     


    The round bar whelded to the washers is intended to be the trigger notch/stop once you cut it down to the radius? Would have been better to use a flat surface at the trigger instead of a round one.

    Personnally I must admit I was not confident at the first time I saw your pics, but there is some interesting concept in it.
    I do have concerns about the thickness of the washers. To accomodate the string they should be soft rounded to prevent damage to it, so ensure it is done really good with those narrow things. Anyway thicker ones would be better for the string, but worse for the weight.

    I think -as long as I am not totally confused right now- , your nut can benefit from a relatively low rotating mass due to its non solid design.

    But to be clear, that kind of nut is nowhere near medieval as pointed out in your headline... 

    I´d suggest to build a nut the standard way many of the threads around show.

    Rizzar
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Wed Dec 24, 2014 6:12 am

    I see what you guys are saying. I'm going to add another piece to catch the tickler.  For now I'm going to use this and possibly add some filler to it later.  Maybe I'll even add steel and weld it in, then grind flush so it looks solid
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:48 am

    The round bar you are using for the sear is not a good Idea, most people use a flat plate in the nut and the flat area on the end of a square tickler. the contact area of the three I've built is about .060 to .080 and polished just like on a firearm.

    You will find most nuts do not have an axle but rotate in a close fitting socket, they can have a length of string or a small metal pin through the center to keep them from falling out when rotated. The flat area behind the hooks which allows the string to sit flat on the deck will allow them to fall out.

    My .02 worth.

    Jim


    Last edited by Jim McCoin on Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:50 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:06 am

    What if I ground the end of the tickler to match the diameter of the round bar? And also ground the top of the contact surface flat and welded another flat plate to catch it at the top?
    Does that make sense or should I draft it?
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:27 am

    A flat square edge is easier to match to a flat square edge when creating a sear than a curved one.

    All this information is on the internet, in fact everything you need is on the internet, from binding the prod to the tiller to using bone on the flight deck Smile

    Jim
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
    Join date : 2012-08-03
    Age : 75
    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by kenh Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:46 am

    Frankly edstuff, I think spend less effort  if you'd  dropp back to ground zero and start a new nut, made they way they've been made for hundreds of years.  Get a feel for how things were done before you re-invent the wheel (or the nut) smack .  Nothing wrong with an all steel nut.  If you can find a piece of 1.5" round stock about 1-2" long that would be perfect.  Or braze together a stack of small hole washers or disks to equal 1.5" long x 1.5" diameter
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:26 pm

    And you might want to look at 1.5" forstner style cutters for the socket.

    Everything Kenh said is right on.

    Jim
    avatar
    phuphuphnik
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 151
    Join date : 2013-12-02
    Location : The wastes West of Chicago

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by phuphuphnik Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:48 pm

    I just bought a forstner for this. I have used it on oak, pine, and maple. It is a wonderful bit. There are a couple different blade shapes, I chose the serrated kind, as I worries some woods I use would splinter rather than chip so I wanted more teeth. Just a thunk.

    I have a bit of 1.5" delrin I would be willing to send you a 1" hunk of the stuff, enough for a nut. You;ll have to face it, but I can drill a hole down the centre.
    chriso


    Last edited by phuphuphnik on Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
    avatar
    edstuff
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 74
    Join date : 2014-12-16

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by edstuff Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:58 pm

    Is that a wood drill bit? I don't know much about carpentry.
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:15 pm

    If you work in a fab shop you must have access to a drill press, all you need is a chuck that will take a 1/2" drill bit.

    Most people I have met don't just build one crossbow, so if you buy the Forstner bit you'll build more than one Wink

    Jim
    avatar
    phuphuphnik
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 151
    Join date : 2013-12-02
    Location : The wastes West of Chicago

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by phuphuphnik Wed Dec 24, 2014 5:27 pm

    Overkill answer to your question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Forstner
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
    Join date : 2012-08-03
    Age : 75
    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by kenh Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:53 pm

    Yes Forstner bits are wood bits used primarily for cutting larger diameter (1/2" to 4") holes with clean entry and exit.
    Jim McCoin
    Jim McCoin
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 11
    Join date : 2014-12-14
    Age : 77
    Location : Philomath Oregon

    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Jim McCoin Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:59 am

    edstuff wrote:Is that a wood drill bit? I don't know much about carpentry.

    Hey Edstuff,

    I'm also a welder/fabricator and would be more than happy to answer  welding and fabrication questions. You must realize there are rules you must follow if you want a crossbow that shoots flat and straight.

    Jim

    Sponsored content


    very very begining of a medeival crossbow Empty Re: very very begining of a medeival crossbow

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:11 am