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

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chaz
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    Wheeled Crossbow.

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    Post by Gemhund Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:46 am

    Ok, I put the Dragonbow to rest so now I am going to start a similar project that will be smaller with all the medieval engraving and frills and stuff.
    I want it to stay in the goldsmithing size and not go over 300 hours of work. ( that's my kind of sweet spot of time spent on a project)
    This one will have wheels like a cannon.
    I only want the prod to be about 5 inches across. The last time I used the steel of a wood saw and its quite strong enough to go through 3 empty beer cans.
    It was okay, but it looked a bit to modern, really.
    But I was wondering is anyone can suggest any other source of spring steel.
    Or what kind ( as in number designation) of steel that I might be able to order up here in Europe.
    Cheers, Hans
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    Post by ferdinand Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:03 am

    leaf springs from a car make great material!
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    Post by chaz Wed Jul 18, 2012 1:52 pm

    Hans,

    How about the steel from a machete blade?

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    Post by Gemhund Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:27 am

    A machete it is. Great idea. In the meantime I made a dummy prod so I can continue with the other work
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2613

    Start with some Rhodesian teak as the inner section.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2651

    Also some thick brass. I heard somewhere that one can't file something thicker, so I start thick.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2669

    Then I design the trigger. This sets the design flavor for the rest of the piece.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2682

    I didn't have a piece of 3mm brass so I cast myself a piece and rolled it to the correct thickness in my rolling mill. Much easier than driving into town a finding a supplier.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2687

    Then I pierce it out.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2696

    And fit it in. All this is still rough and ready. Plenty of carving and filing still ahead.
    I cut the rear part of the wood off.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2717

    Starting the carving. I use a big crosscut barrel bur to rough carve the brass.

    Cheers, Hans
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    Post by chaz Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:29 pm

    Hans,

    Looking forward to watching the progress of this new project! Obviously you have a very proffessional talent along with such sophisticated tools as the rolling mill, etc. I believe most of my work is done with a sledge hammer and a chainsaw with the finess of a bull in a china shop.

    Forward Ho !

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    Post by Gemhund Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:04 am

    Hi all,
    Not really Chaz, I just got a normal jewellery workshop that kinda dovetails nicely with this kind of work.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2765

    So then I filed the trigger and made two bronze posts for the wheels.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2783

    I turned two wooden rings and some hubs out. These will be made more ornate at a later time.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2788

    I fitted some temporary spokes to get the feel of it all. The wood of the wheels will be fitted with a brass surface,
    After all we can't have a field siege piece incorrectly shod, now can we?
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2807

    The attitude still has to be corrected and I am going to make a much stronger prod still.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2809

    Still the 'cannon' effect is already becoming apparent.
    And since it's weekend, I got to sit down now with a few cold friends all called Heineken and ponder my next move. Very hard to do that, I do declare Smile

    Cheers, Hans
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    Post by chaz Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:28 pm

    Hans,

    So far so awesome! Very Military lookin'. Bet the the Heineken is probably as fresh as it gets !

    Cheers!

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    Post by Stonedog Fri Jul 27, 2012 6:41 pm

    Is it wrong that I think it's cute?
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    Post by chaz Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:04 pm

    Hans.

    Does the prod need to tilt forward a bit to allow less drag of the bow string on the barrel ? Of course just asking .............. the perfecting license comes from the artison/creator. Thus it is absolutely beautiful.

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    Post by Gemhund Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:42 am

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2941

    Yep Chaz, I did tilt the prod a bit forward.
    And suprisingly, the Heinekins are not easily available in Germany. Guess it's to do with the Dutch and German beer thing Very Happy
    Stonedog ( love that name, since my first trade is a gem cutter) you are welcome to think it's cute. I do too! Very Happy
    Anyway, I made the outer rings and then made the gemstone nuts that hold it all together. There are twelve, with amethyst, citrine and peridot set in them.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2955

    Now I am working on the tail piece. This allows the bow to change it's attitude. Like here it is ready to nail a medieval castle.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2962

    And here it is ready to decimate the advancing barbarian hordes!
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    Post by chaz Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:53 pm

    Hans.

    Thanks for sharing your work with the rest of us ...............ABSOLUTELY AWESOME !

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    Post by Gemhund Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:46 am

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2975

    So I made a second prod and put the two together. The front one will be highly polished and the rear on will be matt black.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2989

    Thing was it was a bit difficult to span so I made a spanning lever that I integrated into the actual body. I didn't like the first tail anyway.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_2995
    Like this. I also made some supports to adjust the attitude. More work on that later.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3003

    Like this.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3008

    It works surprisingly well, what with all the curves and all carved into it.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3015
    Nice thing is you can test this thing on a workshop bench when no one is looking.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3019
    Then I made some arty axle thingi spikes to stop the barbarian hordes swarming over the machine during battle. Polished stainless steel and brass.
    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3021

    Mounted on the axles.

    Wheeled Crossbow. IMG_3030

    Then I cut the axles to the right length and made some stainless steel nuts.
    I set some garnets that I had faceted previously into the steel . The nuts screw on just so they hold the wheels firmly into place.
    Next thing is to prettify the loading mechanism and add all the decorative components.
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    Post by mac Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:11 am

    Sweet! What ballista crew would not be proud to serve a weapon with garnets in the wheels!?!?!?

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    Post by Kale Schlegel Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:56 pm

    This is amazing ! great craftsmanship! cheers
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    Post by Gemhund Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:21 am

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized12

    Finished, with only the display case to be made and a few odds and ends to be tidied up.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized3

    The spanning lever finally works easy. I had lots of work getting it to work and look nice.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized2

    All folded up.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized7

    I pave set 15 round garnets in each quiver. Also a small diamond in each of the little wheel bumps.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized6

    Five quarrels nestled in the quivers. In the front is a large amethyst set in a silver tube.
    The piece is about 300 mm long when it is extended and it weighs about 700 grams.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized10

    And at the back is a 18 ct Smoky quartz set to hold everything stable.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized5

    I like the lines, The body has blue Topaz set in it and the spanning lever is set with green Peridots.

    Wheeled Crossbow. CrossbowCannonsized1

    This was a fun build.
    I hope you all enjoyed it as well......
    Cheers, Hans
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    Post by chaz Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:43 am

    Gem,

    An absolute gem ! No pun intended. This must be the fabrige egg of the crossbow world ! Guess you could put it in a jeweled ostrich egg that would be quartered and open like a flower! On a more serious note .................. FANTASTIC !

    Certainly do appreciate you sharing the build with us ! Can't wait to be amazed by your next build.

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    Post by chaz Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:56 am

    Gem,

    Heineken must be good for the creative mind !

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    Post by Gemhund Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:43 am

    Thanks Chaz.
    Heineken's actually make me think, "WOW" that's a BRILLIANT idea"-----the night before
    Next morning:
    "What a crock of junk--GAH! "
    Weird thing, that......
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    Post by Basilisk120 Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:51 am

    WOW! That is awesome. Thats some real skill and detail in such a small ballista.

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