The Arbalist Guild

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

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

Home Gallery Latest images Search
Search Query
Display results as : Posts Topics
Advanced Search
Register Log in

You are not connected. Please login or register

Latest topics

» What you building?
by hullutiedemies Tue Jul 09, 2024 12:39 am

» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Nov 24, 2023 3:50 pm

» Crossbow Stock
by kenh Tue Oct 31, 2023 6:19 am

» Colletiere a Charavines continuing experiment
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:36 am

» Cocking - how
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:24 am

» Questions around heavy crossbow lath buildin
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:10 am

» Arab Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:57 am

» prod angle, and lever trigger for sale anyone?
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:54 am

» flexible string
by jasper1978 Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 am

» jens sensfelder
by jasper1978 Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:58 pm

» 400lb Windlass crossbow bolts weight and accuracy shooting high.
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 05, 2023 2:53 pm

» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm

» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm

» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm

» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am

» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm

» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am

» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am

» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am

» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am

» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm

» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm

» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am

+14

kenh

stoneagebowyer

Rizzar

david-d

Hotspur

Geezer

hullutiedemies

ferdinand

BrianlaZouche

Zardoz

mac

Gnome

B.Cheers

ZigiMan

18 posters

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

My crossbow project

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°1

My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:46 pm

First topic message reminder :

Hi,

I can say that this is the second crossbow I am building. (the first one was 20 years ago when I was a young boy.)
This is beginning of my project. I want to share it with you all and also to get your opinions and advices.
I'm building my crossbow from scratch using leaf spring as prod.
There are some contemplations about how to start and what to do.
In the next post I will send some pictures and details.

ZigiMan

Last edited by ZigiMan on Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:01 am; edited 4 times in total

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°76

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:44 pm

Has to do with the amount of potential energy from the cocked prod which is transformed into kinetic energy in the bolt as the crossbow is fired. If the bolt is too light, too much energy goes into the prod, not the bolt, and the prod can be damaged by the 'overflow'. If the bolt is too heavy it simply goes slower than optimum.

Last edited by kenh on Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:46 am; edited 1 time in total

stoneagebowyer: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 490
Join date : 2011-01-12

Post n°77

Re: My crossbow project

by stoneagebowyer Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:18 am

Cheers Dane Very Happy

Very Happy

Tell you the truth, I never knew Knish before... It seems that there are Jewish dishes that are not so common and well known in Israel and the Knish is one of them. It looks delicious! Well, I learn new things almost everyday Smile

Smile

[/quote]

The knish seems to have traveled and evolved from Western to Eastern Europe and then across to the US in the early part of the 20th century with various Jewish populations moving around, and is very much (I think), a New York thing. I grew up with many Jewish friends in Los Angeles, but had never heard of the Knish until fairly recently on a trip to Manhattan. My wife grew up enjoying them, and she is Puerto Rican. So go figure Smile

Smile

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°78

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:58 am

The knish is a dish of Eastern European origin - Poland, Hungary, the Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, etc. which was adopted by the Jewish diaspora up into the 1940s. It was brought to America in the late 1890s early 1900s by Eastern European immigrants (not necessarily Jewish). 'Knish' is a Yiddish word derived from the Russo/Ukrainian word Книш (knyush).

...things you learn as a gourmet Personal Chef!

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°79

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:31 pm

It's seems that you both are the woman's dream of how a man should be - one that know how to build and use weapons and also can cook!
Never thought I will be discussing food in this forum... Smile

Smile

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°80

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:15 pm

Wait till you see my recipe for Lamb Kebab al Quarrel My crossbow project - Page 4 2860157027

My crossbow project - Page 4 2860157027

stoneagebowyer: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 490
Join date : 2011-01-12

Post n°81

Re: My crossbow project

by stoneagebowyer Tue Apr 09, 2013 2:52 pm

Zigi, being able to cook is a great skill for any guy. Women love men who can find their way around the kitchen. What made me start to learn was that a girlfriend was moving into my apartment and I realized that I couldn't afford to eat out every night, and my own diet or junk food and so on would not impress her. Smile

Smile

ferdinand: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 301
Join date : 2012-04-24

Post n°82

Re: My crossbow project

by ferdinand Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:28 pm

Moms cooking got me hooked! I love to cook! I think if u are a creative person like anyone of us here it is just another challenge! Creating beautifull things like crossbows is probably just one of many things we do!?
If i speak for myself:
I have a old 73' ford taunus i love to ride and tinker on.
I ride a bike, kawasaki drifter(cant afford a vintageindian!!)
I do some painting sometimes.
Just build a forge and am discovering this art!
And it goes on and on haha
Dont think i am that different from all of u, right?!

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°83

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:30 am

Ken, that seems like a true crossbow hunter dish! Wink

Wink

Well Dane, it's part of the holy trinity for woman: chef at home, warrior outside and lover in the bedroom!

I couldn't agree with you more Ferdinand, it all about creating... the urge to understand and make things with your hands, whether it's crossbow or food... Zen and the art of building a crossbow Smile

Smile

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°84

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:00 am

Built new bases for the string jig since the old ones (on the left) weren't firm enough, causing the poles to bend when there is too much tension.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-061

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-061

Had a hard time making the new thick string. Took me time to realize that few factors were influencing the length of my string: Stretching the threads too much shorten the length by 1cm, and the loop of each nock short the string by 1/2cm and finally, the bend of the loop while resting above the nock made it short by another 1/2cm. Making long story short, the string was too short.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-062

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-062

Only in the third string I took all of the above into consideration and make a proper size string. This one is three times thicker then the one that was broke.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-063

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-063

Filled the edges of the nocks a little bit more. In order to secure the week points of the nocks, preventing them from breaking, I followed Mac's advice and added leather strips.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-064

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-064

Tested the shoot with what I had as a heavy projectile (in order not to dry-fire) - a long aluminum round bar, and it worked pretty good.
Now it's time to build a bolt.

ZigiMan

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°85

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:11 pm

Forged my first bodkin:

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-069

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-069

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-070

Tested the bolt (without fletching yet). Worked very nice. The shot was taken from a distance of 10 meter (11 yard).

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-071

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-071

Took a thin plastic sheet I found at a stationery shop.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-072

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-072

Cut the fletchings:

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-073

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-073

After making a slot I glued them with 5 minutes glue.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-074

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-074

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°86

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:44 pm

I'll take a dozen bodkins, please... and a side of fries.

Nice idea that plastic film. Not traditional, but certainly functional. I guess plastic film could be considered a descendant of parchment....

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°87

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:57 pm

kenh wrote:I'll take a dozen bodkins, please... and a side of fries.

Nice
idea that plastic film. Not traditional, but certainly functional. I
guess plastic film could be considered a descendant of parchment....

How would you like them, please? Medium or well done? Very Happy

Very Happy

Not traditional indeed... I needed something to serve as fletching until I'll find some feathers...

Yes, it could be considered a descendant of parchment... The black "sheet" of the family Laughing

Laughing

jds6: Workshop Savvy
Did you see my tool collection?; Posts : 197
Join date : 2011-10-18
Age : 61
Location : Dallas,TX

Post n°88

Re: My crossbow project

by jds6 Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:47 pm

Greetings
Nice bodkin! I don't know about you, but I found that when I made my first bodkin, it looked a heck of a lot easier for the guys on You Tube!!!!

jds6

ferdinand: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 301
Join date : 2012-04-24

Post n°89

Re: My crossbow project

by ferdinand Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:03 pm

Making them consistent in length and weight is my challenge! Once u have made a few u will get rappidly better at it! I love making bodkins!! looking good, keep going!! Ur shaft could be a bit thicker i think. If u heat the bodkin and insert the shaft shortly but firm it wil burn to a tight fit.

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°90

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Fri Apr 19, 2013 6:15 am

Zigiman, I'll take those medium-well. Rolling Eyes

Rolling Eyes

Why not get a thin board or two from Ebay and make wooden fletching? You can find lots of interesting and not expensive 1/16" thin boards for under $10 US -- three 5" x 18" x 1/16" Beech boards for $4 Buy-It-Now, for example. That would make a huge number of fletches!! Can't find someone who'll ship to Israel? Drop ship to me and I'll send it on to you. We can trade for bodkins Laughing

Laughing

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°91

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:28 am

jds6 wrote:Nice bodkin! I don't know about you, but I found that when I made my
first bodkin, it looked a heck of a lot easier for the guys on You
Tube!!!!

Thanks jds6! Yeh, it sure looked easy on Youtube, but I wonder how did their first bodkin looked like...

ferdinand wrote:Making them consistent in length and weight is my challenge! Once u have
made a few u will get rappidly better at it! I love making bodkins!!
looking good, keep going!! Ur shaft could be a bit thicker i think. If u
heat the bodkin and insert the shaft shortly but firm it wil burn to a
tight fit.

Thank you too ferdinand! From my impression of your work, you will get them perfectly well. Even the one you posted before look really nice! I think I made the bodkin bigger then the shaft... I'll remember that advice if it will be hard to insert the shaft.

kenh wrote:Zigiman, I'll take those medium-well.

Why
not get a thin board or two from Ebay and make wooden fletching? You
can find lots of interesting and not expensive 1/16" thin boards for
under $10 US -- three 5" x 18" x 1/16" Beech boards for $4 Buy-It-Now,
for example. That would make a huge number of fletches!! Can't find
someone who'll ship to Israel? Drop ship to me and I'll send it on to
you. We can trade for bodkins

I really appreciate your offer for help! Very Happy

Very Happy

I don't think I'll have problems finding here traditional alternatives for the fletching... What I used now it's just what first came to my mind.

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°92

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:36 am

Made the stirrup: Took 2.5 cm (31/32 inch) steel bended and welded it to pyramid pieces.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-010

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-010

.

Then welded the center piece that holds the prod.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-011

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-011

And assembled it with the prod.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-012

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-012

ZigiMan

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°93

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Thu May 09, 2013 3:01 am

Made some modification: Replaced the metal side plates with wood.

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-015

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-015

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-016

Build the clip for the bolt. Took a blade of a hacksaw:

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-013

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-013

Filled and bend it to the right shape;

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-014

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-014

ZigiMan

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°94

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Thu May 09, 2013 1:02 pm

Looking good Zigiman. I like the wooden lock plates rather than metal; you can change them out for some fancy grained or exotic wood later, if you choose.

ferdinand: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 301
Join date : 2012-04-24

Post n°95

Re: My crossbow project

by ferdinand Fri May 10, 2013 11:05 am

Looking good!! Almost there!

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°96

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Sat May 18, 2013 2:33 pm

Thanks guys!
I also like the wood plates, Ken. Much better. I am planning to change the whole tiller with more beautiful wood (and to make more accurate and cleaner work).
Yes, almost there Ferdinand, but it seems that always I'll find something to change or to improve...

zhangyimou: Fresh Blood
Doesn't mean
I'm new to crossbows; Posts : 13
Join date : 2010-08-03
Location : The Netherlands (Holland)

Post n°97

Re: My crossbow project

by zhangyimou Mon May 20, 2013 5:04 am

nice, cannot wait to see the finished piece!!! Very Happy

Very Happy

kenh: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 884
Join date : 2012-08-03
Age : 76
Location : Living Aboard a Sailboat in Fort Myers, FL

Post n°98

Re: My crossbow project

by kenh Mon May 20, 2013 5:50 am

Zigiman said "it seems that always I'll find something to change or to improve...it seems that always I'll find something to change or to improve...

Ah yes. That is the curse of being a builder. We always see our own mistakes as well as ways we could have done it better. Others just look at what we do with open-mouthed admiration!

Rather than completely re-make the tiller down the road, think about covering it with thin plates of prettier wood. Sort of like inlay, but without actually inletting anything. You can get lots of pretty exotic woods off Ebay. For example there currently are two 1/16" x 3" x 22" African Wenge boards being offered for $7, as well as several other species, if you search on "1/16 lumber". That would be enough to nearly cover your existing prod if thoughtfully cut.

ZigiMan: Tinkerer
If there is a will, there is a way.; Posts : 79
Join date : 2012-12-07
Location : Tel-Aviv, Israel

Post n°99

Re: My crossbow project

by ZigiMan Thu May 23, 2013 1:08 am

zhangyimou wrote:nice, cannot wait to see the finished piece!!!

Thanks zhangyimou ! Well, the pictures below are almost the finished piece, but I still have some improvements to make.

kenh wrote:Ah yes. That is the curse of being a builder. We always see our own
mistakes as well as ways we could have done it better. Others just look
at what we do with open-mouthed admiration

You're right ken... Too bad the side effect is a short satisfaction from our work Rolling Eyes

Rolling Eyes

(that's by me at least).

Rather than completely re-make the tiller down the road, think about covering it with thin plates of prettier wood.

That's my thoughts also. Or maybe metal thin plates. But I still have the urge to build a stock from a better wood like Walnut or Oak. Even though the filed and painted tiller from Pine looks pretty nice.

Even tough my plane for a better stock, I filed and painted the current one:

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-017

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-017

The assembled crossbow:

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-020

My crossbow project - Page 4 2013-020

chaz: Crossbow Junkie
I live here!; Posts : 313
Join date : 2012-04-13
Age : 75
Location : Texas

Post n°100

Re: My crossbow project

by chaz Thu May 23, 2013 5:11 am

Zigi,

Very Nice indeed, in all aspects.

Chaz

Sponsored content

Sponsored content

Post n°101

Re: My crossbow project

by Sponsored content

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Similar topics

» My 2nd crossbow project - german crossbow with cranequin
» 1st Crossbow Project
» 2nd Crossbow Project
» My RDT crossbow project
» RDT crossbow project

Log in

Control panel

Your profile

Social

Private messages

Other

Topics being watched

New Member & Useful Links

Crossbow Building

Crossbowyers
(Custom Crossbows to Order)

The New World Arbalest

Supplies & Accessories

*Arbalist Store* (Coming Soon)
Alchem Inc.
Darkwood Armory
Digitarc

Current date/time is Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:10 pm