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

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» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
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» Wood Prods
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» stirrup dimensions?
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» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
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5 posters

    Hi from Germany and my first 2

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    Rizzar
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by Rizzar Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:33 am

    Hello.

    Since reading a lot and posting a little here and there I want to introduce myself.

    My name is Martin, I am 31 years old and live near Paderborn (NRW) in Germany.

    I got attracted to crossbow building via traditional bow building I began last year.

    Before building my first one I read a lot and didn´t hurry too much since relyable information is hard to find.

    This year I took the chance and started some beginner projects and was very fascinated, i think I m in a kind of fever Surprised

    Normally I would prefer things from around 1100 since I personally like this age but when it comes to crossbows I like to use lighter steel bows.
    This doesn´t mean a yew wood and a composite prod are not on my to do list Very Happy

    At this point my current big project is a small series of self constructed steel prods with forged ends.

    Here are some impressions of my first two builds.
    I hope you like them.

    Both tillers are made of sapele (tropical hardwood, was cheap available for me at that point) future builds are going to be more common european maple and cherry.
    Bolt clamps are both made of horn (black one was replaced when i gave it to a friend).

    This was my first one, the prod was made from a leaf spring (not by myself) and is quite heavy with low draw weight (~130lbs).
    Looks heavy, is quite large but easy to span and shoot.
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Totale10
    The string was replaced by a traditional linen string with gothic-knotted ends which is my favorite kind of string (looks really great).
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Rast010
    Because of the low draw weight the roller nut is not put into a block, the horn is just covering the top.

    My second one, smaller, lower weight with more power, top is from ash. Prod was from alcheminc ~175lbs.
    Steel roller nut with a brass socket.
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Aobers10

    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Nuss_b10

    Greetings Rizzar
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    chaz
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by chaz Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:55 am

    Rizzar,

    Your work is very neat , clean , with beautifully simple lines and wonderfully put together. I like the way you inlet the string for the roller nut into the stock. The lashing work and the string are nicely done. Did you have a picture of the stirrup? And as far as that "fever"............. hope you don't get over it !

    Thanks for sharing

    Chaz
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by Guest Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:08 am

    deletion


    Last edited by Gui on Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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    Rizzar
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by Rizzar Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:30 am

    Thx

    For the stirrups:
    I don´t have pictures unassembled, when I begin building I often forget to take pictures to go along with production.

    The first one is very simple steel bent to a trapezoid (whelded together in the center) bound with the bridle socket to the prod/tiller.
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Img_5110

    The second one had to be lighter and with better roundings, the brass pins go through the bridle and stabilise everything a lot more than just the lashing.
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Stirru10

    By the way here is a pic of the string I prefer (it looks so greasy because of natural bee wax and some artificial lighting but the colour at sunlight is like the binding of the second crossbow).
    The problem is you need those big forged prod ends, small tips like with the alchem prod are nearly impossible to use (only reason why I use a simple looped dacron string there).
    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Sehne610

    Yeah Gui, thank you, you´re right, the nut finger edges look a bit sharp, the have a smaller radius but it could be better.
    For now since I am building much more than shooting it will be sufficient but future builds are going to be rounded a bit more.


    Last edited by Rizzar on Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:52 am; edited 1 time in total
    jds6
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by jds6 Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:47 am

    Rizzar,

    Nice work!!! I really like the first crossbow pictured. Simple yet very fine indeed! Would like to see a picture from the top view. Again, great craftsmanship on both.

    jds6
    stoneagebowyer
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    Post by stoneagebowyer Sat Sep 01, 2012 2:27 pm

    Rizzar, very nice. Clean, well balanced, excellent craftsmanship, simple designs and what more can one ask for?
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    Rizzar
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by Rizzar Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:47 am

    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Totale11

    Here is your top view, the sides of the tiller are parrallel until trigger area and taper slightly to the end.
    The main reason why its relatively straight because starting material was a 45mm plank and I didn´t want it to become too fragile with the first ones.

    I like simple designs too, unfortunately I am in contact with someone who can laser me some parts, eventually this is screaming for more complexity!!
    ferdinand
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by ferdinand Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:16 am

    Great work my nachbarn! The leafspring prod looks nice!
    Who did the smithing on the ends of the prod?
    I am planning to make my own that way and am looking for advice on how to roll the ends around to make the end like they did in medieval times.
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    Rizzar
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    Post by Rizzar Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:10 am

    Hey Ferdinand, Thank You.

    The shown prod was made (slightly tapered and finished by myself) by someone
    i got into contact with via a german bowbuilding community.

    He sold me 2 prods made of leaf springs. I recently googled he even offers crossbow building courses. I am just not sure if he wants to be named open. (If there is interest i could name him via private message)

    The forging itself is not very complicated. It is in this case more a wrapping together of the ends but it looks good. the problem is more the correct heat threating afterwards.
    I do not know if he offers historical type made prods (no leaf spring with rolled ends) but i think he has at least some experience.

    If you are interested in the rolling of the ends you could have a look at Jens Sensfelders work, too. He is very(very) close to the original prods.

    In the next weeks I am going to get confrontated with this process, too.
    I have 3 prods to be bent in the near future and once the deflex is made i will try the forging myself.
    Unfortunately i do not know if i designed the prod ends too small, perhaps there is not enough material to forge and roll :-(

    I recommend modelling clay for testing the forging and rolling procedure in full size.

    Greetings Rizzar
    ferdinand
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    Post by ferdinand Sat Sep 15, 2012 12:28 pm

    Thanks for that last advice! Clay might be the perfect way to see how the material 'moves' if u get what i mean?
    I know there is a blacksmith in the steam-machine museum nearby, he can probably help me, if he wants to is another thing offcourse!
    I have an anvil(bought it for 25euro :-) and hammers and stuff, just not enough heat to forge larger objects.
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    Rizzar
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    Hi from Germany and my first 2 Empty Re: Hi from Germany and my first 2

    Post by Rizzar Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:26 pm

    I tried some prodend forging today with three test pieces i cut for that, only thing i can say, i need a lot more practice.
    It is really difficult to get it right.

    The clay is good to see the process itself, but real steel is another dimension.

    As mentioned before my prodends are a bit too small, so I got more time for practise.

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