load testing a nut

by cnunley Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:49 am

cnunley: Fresh Blood
Doesn't mean
I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 10
Join date : 2012-10-25

Post n°1

load testing a nut

by cnunley Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:49 am

All,

I'm building my first cross bow and I've chosen a Honduran Rosewood burl to make the nut from. The wood is strong as iron (but a little on the brittle side), and has almost no grain. I have reinforced it with a steel pin for the tickler release and intend to use a 140lb prod.

Now that I am about to cock it for the first time, I have a safety question, what is the best practice for testing the release/nut on a new, and hand-made crossbow safely?

Second, are wooden nuts a bad idea in general? This one looks beautiful.

Thanks for the input,

CEN

by **Basilisk120** Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:32 pm

Basilisk120

Basilisk120: Moderator; Posts : 548
Join date : 2010-03-01
Age : 45
Location : Arizona

Post n°2

Re: load testing a nut

by Basilisk120 Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:32 pm

Wood nuts work fine. I have a Walnut roller nut in crossbow with a 120lb prod. If its a decent piece of wood then it should be fine.

As for testing safety. I would recommend a good pair of boots or shoes. This is assumming you're using a foot stirrup to span the bow. and of course have the bow pointed in a safe direction.

I've had strings break on me and nuts not lock when spanning and other such events happen to me in the past and while startling nothing bad has happened. Worst case the nut breaks and some of the wood goes flying. If the bow is pointed down it will just bounce of the ground but they will likely be light and not have much momentum to do damage. But why I recommened the sturdy footwear.

If your worried about it. Before the first test you could push on the roller nut with your hand or thumbs to simulate the string load. That should at least mimize concern that the nut will instantly break apart on loading.