installing a tickler

First topic message reminder :

Hi just starting my 1 st crossbow--finding information and parts
    Can t find information on installing a tickler with a spring
     help would be appreciated
        Thanks   Sydney

Brass I think is beautiful and very durable, but also very heavy. I think you would be better off using delrin for a nut, it's a cheap synthetic plastic very durable, it imitates antler or horn. You can get it in either black or white. Also gluing a piece of leather to the back wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea, but in my opinion it wouldn't be very aesthetically pleasing I'd rather put a safety cord or you could also stitch the prod in leather. But I think you want to show what the prod is made out of so stick with safety cord backing. Then again it's up to you at the end of the day.

Hi i think you might  be right on both accounts
   there is a pc of 1 3/4 delrin in my junk box
 the cord strap is much more pleasing to look at
   I made my stock drawing based on the plans from Alchem 
     but do see pictures of  slimmer better profile stocks
     think i will order the 140 lb prod and string 
     if you have any ideas on stock s  please let me know
       sydney

If I come up with an idea of the stock I will let you know. But I do have an idea on the roller nut make it smaller in diameter if you can, because the less mass you have the faster rotation the nut will have transferring that energy into the bolt. I would say make the nut 1 3/8" wide in diameter or even 1 1/2" if you want to go wider.

Yes i can turn down the delrin to 1 3/8 or 1 1/2 dia

Do you like any of the crossbow stocks I shared in the photo above? You said you were looking for something more slim so I assume the Spanish might be good.

Yes  # 6c  might be closer to what i have in mind
      on the subject of the nut
      i don t think i  would need a reinforced socket
      if the nut fit close and had a 1/4 or 5/15 harden  pin with brass sideplates
         i can t see much of a problem
        any more info on that crossbow ??

No sorry, I couldn't find more information. Are you going to do a build along with this crossbow? If you're, could you focus on the nut specifically the fingers or the lugs whatever you want to call them. When I tried to find information online about how to make the roller nut of a crossbow. The information was somewhat vague and too general in my opinion.

Hi yes  i found a few good drawings on the nut--i also make a drawing of a 1 1/2 did nut
         but think 1 3/8 dia  is fine  there are several mentions of a steel nut in the past
         often the nuts seem to be 1 1/4 wide--i think  this must have been for strength
         when using antler ect
        still playing with the idea of a 1 " thk brass nut with 3 holes below the surface to
         get rid of some weight
         would it make that much difference ?? compared to antler ??
         If you want i can sent some info to you
           i can print the autcad  drawing and send- can t sent the autocad drawings as you need a 
                copy of autocad to open them
                   Sydney

If you go on to the alchem website, and look at the plans they say that a roller nut made out of delrin 1" to 1 1/8" wide in thickness would be fine.

Jeez: those crossbow stock drawings are a blast from the past.  I drew them for my first printed catalog in the 1980s, so they've been around a loooong time. 
As for roller-nuts, I've spent a lot of time looking at medieval/rennaissance bows to determine nut size (among other things) Payne-Gallwey suggests 1.5 in. diameter and @ 1.25 wide. From my observations, that's a bit on the large side.  I've seen a lot of rollers that were one and a quarter to one and three eighths diameter, and about an inch and an eighth wide.  The Padre Island bows were quite small... rollers 15/16ths wide and @ 1 and 1/8 diameter. 
You should be able to make perfectly workable nuts from Delrin for bows up to @ 200 lb. (maybe more, I don't generally make stuff that's stronger) most extant medieval/rennaissance bows I have seen had bone/antler rollers.  Very strong ones fitted a couple of steel pins thru the ears or lugs on top, and down into the nut-body to prevent their shearing off. 
For bone nuts, I prefer moose-horn (the stems can be got with essentially no pith) Some European makers use Axis stag antlers... those are good if you can get the material big enough.  A few years ago, a friend in Arizona sent me a beautiful set of elk atlers... unfortunately, they were pithy from end to end.  I made a couple of mauls and gouges out of them, but didn't get a singler roller out of them.
My preference for a good, inexpensive roller-nut? 1 and 3/8 inch Delrin 1 and 1/8 inch wide, with a trigger-sear made from 5/16 in. allthread, screwed in from the bottom.  Geezer.

Geezer wrote:Jeez: those crossbow stock drawings are a blast from the past.  I drew them for my first printed catalog in the 1980s, so they've been around a loooong time. 
As for roller-nuts, I've spent a lot of time looking at medieval/rennaissance bows to determine nut size (among other things) Payne-Gallwey suggests 1.5 in. diameter and @ 1.25 wide. From my observations, that's a bit on the large side.  I've seen a lot of rollers that were one and a quarter to one and three eighths diameter, and about an inch and an eighth wide.  The Padre Island bows were quite small... rollers 15/16ths wide and @ 1 and 1/8 diameter. 
You should be able to make perfectly workable nuts from Delrin for bows up to @ 200 lb. (maybe more, I don't generally make stuff that's stronger) most extant medieval/rennaissance bows I have seen had bone/antler rollers.  Very strong ones fitted a couple of steel pins thru the ears or lugs on top, and down into the nut-body to prevent their shearing off. 
For bone nuts, I prefer moose-horn (the stems can be got with essentially no pith) Some European makers use Axis stag antlers... those are good if you can get the material big enough.  A few years ago, a friend in Arizona sent me a beautiful set of elk atlers... unfortunately, they were pithy from end to end.  I made a couple of mauls and gouges out of them, but didn't get a singler roller out of them.
My preference for a good, inexpensive roller-nut? 1 and 3/8 inch Delrin 1 and 1/8 inch wide, with a trigger-sear made from 5/16 in. allthread, screwed in from the bottom.  Geezer.

I still have your old catalog, Master Iolo....  It appears that it is still serving many others...

-Your apprentice,

DARIVS ARCHITECTVS

I too have at least 2 hard copies of Iolo's musings, 
Also your apprentice,
Andrew