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

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3 posters

    aluminum prod

    rickraedeke
    rickraedeke
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 26
    Join date : 2017-07-04
    Location : Smith River, Cailf

    aluminum prod Empty aluminum prod

    Post by rickraedeke Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:36 pm

    Found an aluminum bow/prod to use in my build. I seems to be a 28 1/2, what size string and where can I find a good one.
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    aluminum prod Empty Re: aluminum prod

    Post by Geezer Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:24 pm

    I make my strings for aluminum prods from Dacron B50.  Most are simple continuous loops, about 30 strands.  Length, 27 inches measured from inside the nocks. Assuming this is one of the standard 70 lb. aluminum prods, you could probably get away with 24 strands for best performance.  Medieval bowstrings were generally quite thick (they used hemp for much stronger bows) If you want your string to look like a medieval one, you could go as thick as 50 strands with no problems.  Geezer
    rickraedeke
    rickraedeke
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 26
    Join date : 2017-07-04
    Location : Smith River, Cailf

    aluminum prod Empty Re: aluminum prod

    Post by rickraedeke Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:02 am

    Thanks so much for the advice on the alum nut and the prod. The prod came from an old yard sale Jayco. Know anything about these? They seem to have been popular in the 60s.
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    aluminum prod Empty Re: aluminum prod

    Post by Geezer Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:43 am

    Jayco is probably the skuccessor to old Jayhawk Archery from Afton Oklahoma.  I used to buy my aluminum prods from Jayhak and evenually even talked them into leaving the hole out of the center of the prod (a definite weak point) All the 28 1/2  inch aluminum prods you see on the market are derived from the Jayhawk prod. Geezer
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 76
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA

    aluminum prod Empty Re: aluminum prod

    Post by Geezer Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:50 am

    As a side note: there's a good economic reason all those aluminum prods are 28.8 inches in length.  Aluminum sheet comes in 48 X 144 inch sheets.  So a sheet is impossible for most people to handle.  However, if you cut that sheet down into 10 pieces 24 X 28.8 inches, it's easy to handle in a small shop.  One 28 X 24 inch piece will make about a dozen prods (maybe 13 if you're careful) And they can be cut on an ordinary bandsaw, given a metal cutting blade and plenty of lubrication.  So it's possible to make your own aluminum prods in a modest shop.  For a number of years I made my own aluminum prods (7075-t6 alloy, 3/16 inch. thick) Nowadays I just buy them from Darkwood Armory and save myself the trouble  Geezer.
    Phil Abrahams
    Phil Abrahams
    Talisman Crossbows


    Posts : 75
    Join date : 2011-07-16

    aluminum prod Empty Re: aluminum prod

    Post by Phil Abrahams Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:38 am

    I use aluminium prod's on some of my older crossbow's i use toughen'd rolled bar cut to size and shapeand double it up for heavier draw weight's over 200 lb's etc and i have never had any failure's. Some say aluminium can be a bit dangerous but i think that all depend's on the grade and how it's made and not overstressed by too long a  to make a very powerful but thin prod i use one skin on each side made from a large industrial bandsaw blade which is riveted sandwiching the aluminium inner prod.For a less powerful thin prod use just one outer skin or one inner skin and these are very good for a lightweight but powerful prod.If you need a bowstring i can make one for you or make as many as you want all you need to do is measure from shoulder to shoulder and give me the measurement.


    Last edited by Phil Abrahams on Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:46 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : more info)

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