Starting my first crossbow

by **riverwindflutes** Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:00 pm

riverwindflutes: Fresh Blood
Doesn't mean
I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 29
Join date : 2012-09-06
Age : 60
Location : New Jersey Pinelands

Post n°1

Starting my first crossbow

by riverwindflutes Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:00 pm

Well, Thanks to the good people on this forum I started my first crossbow, The tiller is made from a solid block of 2" thick poplar, I know it's not the best choice of wood but its what I have on hand, I cut the the basic shape out then bored a 1-1/2" inch hole with a forstner bit, Then i made a roller nut out of a nice chunk of corian, it spins really nice without a lot of wiggle,

My question is: How the heck am I gonna carve out that cavity for the trigger?, everything seemed easy up till now !!!! I used the free plans from the Alchem Inc website, It looks like I have to drill on such an angle that im gonna need a 3/8" inch by 5" bit just to penetrate into the nut socket area, or maybe i should drill from the nut socket side to the bottom of the tiller, It's looking so good and i'd hate to ruin this poplar, looks like it would be even more difficult to just carve it out with chisels, "I wonder how they did it in the medieval days"?

If anyone has better suggestions please let me know

Thanks

Don A.

by Todd the archer Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:45 pm

Todd the archer

Todd the archer: Crossbow Junkie
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Location : sellersville,pa.

Post n°2

Re: Starting my first crossbow

by Todd the archer Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:45 pm

The way I did my first two medievals was to drill on an angle. Actually varying angles then finish with small carving tools. It is a very tedious job. If you get carried away and hog out too much wood on the bottom where the tickler goes through you can add a decorative cover plate made from metal.

Another way is to turn upside and drill a series of holes inline then finish with chisel to clean out the slot. Then glue in a filler piece of wood leaving enough room for the tickler. If this does not make sense let me know and I will take some picture to explain what I mean.

Todd

by **riverwindflutes** Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:08 pm

riverwindflutes

riverwindflutes: Fresh Blood
Doesn't mean
I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 29
Join date : 2012-09-06
Age : 60
Location : New Jersey Pinelands

Post n°3

Re: Starting my first crossbow

by riverwindflutes Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:08 pm

Thanks Todd if you could post some pictures i could get a better grasp on what you mean, by the way how do you post picture on this forum ???

by Todd the archer Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:47 pm

Todd the archer

Todd the archer: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 581
Join date : 2010-02-25
Age : 62
Location : sellersville,pa.

Post n°4

Re: Starting my first crossbow

by Todd the archer Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:47 pm

Pictures are not too hard. Go to photobucket.com it is free and it automatically resizes for posting on the web.

Here is a picture showing the the depth and location of the area to be drill.

Starting my first crossbow 2012-09-1120_48_09