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

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3 posters

    G'day from Australia

    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°1

    G'day from Australia Empty G'day from Australia

    Post by kwandokun Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:41 pm

    Hi All,

    Kwandokun here from the land down under.

    I've been an archer for a little over a year now and only recently started developing an interest in crossbows. I must admit, the walking dead had a lot to do with it.

    I love all things wood, and find some of the pieces created by the members here to be truly awe inspiring. I'd like to achieve that level of craftsmanship myself some day.

    Being completely new to this, with only limited woodworking experience, I hope it's all right to ask some starting questions.

    I'm going to start my journey by creating a simple all wooden crossbow I think. Any plans/template recommendations for a complete newbie?

    Other than a scrollsaw, what other must have tools are needed to create a crossbow? I'm hoping to create all of the elements of the crossbow myself.

    Cheers guys!
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    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there is a way.


    Posts : 60
    Join date : 2012-10-08
    Age : 35
    Location : Austrailia Brisbane
    • Post n°2

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by B.Cheers Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:20 pm

    Hey how you going Kwandokun
    First off you may want to go get your class M license if your living anywhere esl apart from western Australia since they don't like us having fun but its just a thought so if your project doesn't work out to plan you can just go buy one.
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°3

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by kwandokun Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:06 pm

    Cheers B.Cheers haha.

    Is a class M for hunting with a crossbow or any kind of ownership of one?

    I predominantly want to make them for display, and the occasional target shots in the garden.

    What kind of local woods do you recommend for builds? Is Tassie oak good enough for the stock?
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    kenh
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


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    • Post n°4

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    Post by kenh Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:18 pm

    Tasmanian Oak, Ribbon or White Gum and Aussie Cypress all have hardnesses roughly equivalent to American Oaks, Beech and White Ash - approximately 1300 on the Janka Hardness scale - so those species should make nice crossbow tillers. Are you wanting to make the prod from wood as well? You'll want a wood that has lots of 'spring back' to it. In American Red Elm and Osage Orange are good prod woods for example.
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°5

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by kwandokun Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:50 pm

    Thanks for the info kenh.

    Yes I'm thinking I'll do a wood prod as well, maybe cover the middle section in a few layers of fishing wire or equivalent (sinew)?

    Generally how wide and thick should the plank of wood be for the crossbow body?

    I've seen a few wooden catches and triggers on youtube. They should be right for sub 100lb bows right?
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    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there is a way.


    Posts : 60
    Join date : 2012-10-08
    Age : 35
    Location : Austrailia Brisbane
    • Post n°6

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by B.Cheers Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:52 pm

    This is from N.Q bow hunting site.
    You are required to obtain an 'M Class' weapons licence if you wish to
    own a crossbow. The crossbow must also be stored in much the same way as
    a firearm (gun safe etc).

    They didn't want to make a new class for crossbows so they put it under class M for misc, BB guns and a few other fall under this class, but if your building it for display and the odd shot here and there i wouldn't worry to much but it is handy to have, like i can use my crossbow at home but because it has no safety i cant take it to the club for target shooting or take it hunting.

    But just though ild let you know since here they take things to the next level so if your living in the city and deside to go ahead with out the licence just be careful who you show and tell because if they do nab ya for it you wont be able to go for any firearm licence for a few years if ever.
    Thanks Ben
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°7

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by kwandokun Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:25 pm

    Ah gotcha.

    Cheers for the heads up.

    As I said, I mainly want to make one for the craftsmanship aspect of it. If I decide later down the track I want to take the crossbow out to the club or field I'll get a licence.

    Do you think Bunnings will have the wood I need, or do I need to get to a specialist timber yard?
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    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    B.Cheers
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there is a way.


    Posts : 60
    Join date : 2012-10-08
    Age : 35
    Location : Austrailia Brisbane
    • Post n°8

    G'day from Australia Empty Re: G'day from Australia

    Post by B.Cheers Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:37 pm

    Yeah Bunnings will have every thing you need just some of there wood is really crap but hey its fairly cheap.
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°9

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    Post by kwandokun Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:10 am

    What sort of things should I look for when determining a 'good' piece of wood for our purposes?

    Obviously it should be straight, but what else?

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    kenh
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 883
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    Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL
    • Post n°10

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    Post by kenh Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:27 am

    Tiller wood - no cracks, splits or knots. In the States, a 2x4 or 2x6 (50mm x 100 or 150 mm) would do. How is that 'structural lumber' listed in a metric world, BTW?

    Prod wood - quartersawn, no cracks, splits or knots about 1x2x30 inches. If you've never made a wooden bow before, you need to check out how to build a Board Bow. Sam Harper's site is a good start: http://poorfolkbows.com Realize that all those sites are talking about a 6 ft long bow, not one less than 3 ft long, but you'll see how its done! Geezer here may be able to help with rough dimensions for a wooden prod.
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°11

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    Post by kwandokun Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:54 am

    Cheers Kenh.

    I'll head to the hardware store this weekend and let you know the standard measurements of wood in the metric world.

    Did you mean 1000 or 1500mm for the length measurement?
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    kenh
    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
    • Post n°12

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    Post by kenh Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:38 am

    For the tiller I'd buy a board nominally 2 inches wide x 4 inches high x 30" long. Your dimensions would be roughly 50mm wide x 100mm high x 75 cm long.

    Prod dimensions we would say 1"x2" x 30"; you'd call it 25mm x 50mm x 75 cm
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    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    kwandokun
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 38
    Join date : 2012-11-27
    • Post n°13

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    Post by kwandokun Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:48 am

    gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.
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