Couldn't wait.

by pacer Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:01 pm

pacer: Fresh Blood
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I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 30
Join date : 2012-02-14

Post n°1

Couldn't wait.

by pacer Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:01 pm

Couldn't wait for that piece of cherry to start a crossbow. Besides practice makes perfect. Found a piece of mystery wood out in the garage the right size with a lot of figure. It looks like poplar but not as yellow and much harder. It cut out well on the band saw and didn't split are chip. Smells like some kind of fruit wood. Maybe sweetgum? The stuff made me sneeze more than most. Since this is just practice I'll order the nut and lever. I have extra parts of everything but those.

by **Ivo** Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:53 pm

Ivo

Ivo: Admin; Posts : 1041
Join date : 2009-11-25
Age : 36
Location : NJ, USA

Post n°2

Re: Couldn't wait.

by Ivo Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:53 pm

That's actually a good move...that is if you have all the parts ready. ( ~ kinda important since you need to know all the measurements and be able to test fit everything as you build)

We always talk about mocking everything up before beginning the real thing, so mystery wood sounds just right...and who knows - it could become a shooter if all goes well. Leaving cherry for Mk II. Wink

Good luck,

Ivo

by pacer Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

pacer

pacer: Fresh Blood
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I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 30
Join date : 2012-02-14

Post n°3

Re: Couldn't wait.

by pacer Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

I've narrowed the mystery wood down to a couple I think it might be, apple, plum or sweet gum. The friends I get scrape lumber from tend to make boards out of anything they find so I might be way off. I have spare side plates, irons and prod. The only thing I was missing was the nut and lever. I've wandered all through past posts and your Wiki so I know I need the lever and such first. I ordered them today. I can still sand the profile smooth while I wait. I also was eyeballing a piece of my osage staves for a potential prod. There is a nice straight three foot section that I could get one prod out of, maybe two. Will have to wait for warmer weather before I'll sit outside and chase growth rings.

by **Geezer** Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:20 pm

Geezer

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

Post n°4

Re: Couldn't wait.

by Geezer Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:20 pm

Geezer here: I've never worked with sweet-gum. It used to grow all over my parents' property when I was a lad, and it had very contrary grain... very hard to split.
However, plum and apple show up fairly regularly in medieval crossbows. Either of those should do nicely. So get after it. Geezer

by pacer Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:25 am

pacer

pacer: Fresh Blood
Doesn't mean
I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 30
Join date : 2012-02-14

Post n°5

Re: Couldn't wait.

by pacer Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:25 am

This grain meanders a good bit. Should make it look nice when it is finished. Had a lot of knots and managed to avoid the really bad ones. The knots that are left are back where the lever hits when pulled.

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