Medieval style Project

Hi, pretty much new to this site, really glad I found it while researching x-bow building. Here are a few views of my first project in the style of medieval.
This is not true Medieval but my interpretation of what I`d want.
the tiller is a composite of 3 woods, center burl black walnut sided with curly maple then sided with maple/cherry checker and stripes. The butt is relief carved(first attempt at that!), some brass inlay, the nut is of alum alloy re-enforced at the sear and a black smith made tickler.
The bow and irons are from Alchem, it`s not strung as the Alchem supplied string was a mile toooo big!! The bow is backed with hickory and wrapped with 3-ply hemp cord, I`m hoping to get this thing shooting soon. I`ll post with those results when that gets done.


Cheers Rick

Beautiful work, intricate pattern. How did you achieve the checkerboard effect?

Rudamchu wrote:Beautiful work, intricate pattern. How did you achieve the checkerboard effect?

Hi, Thanx, checker brds are done by gluing up strips of alternating colors, then cutting that panel at 90deg, same size strip, now glue those together so dark is against light and vise versa. The stripe part of the front of the tiller is basically the first step.

Shiloh,

Very creative..... quite a lot of craftsmanship goin' on there along with an artistic flare !

Chaz

Nice metalwork! Im lovin it!

Great job!

Todd

Thanks guys, was a fun project hope to do more in the future.

Q. So I made a new bow string at a length I though was correct to achieve a brace height recommended for the bow, 3.5", now it`s sitting at 4.5" with no sign of relaxing, is this OK or should I try again.
I`m rather surprised the hemp and linen I used, well waxed, seems to have no stretch at all. I know it`s not the best mat`l to use but it`s all I have at my disposal right now.

This has and will continue to be a huge learning curve for me, and I greatly appreciate any and all input .

(continuous loop 12 strands per side, tested to a breaking point of 21-lbs/1ft of single strand, so roughly 500lb+ for the completed string))

Cheers, Rick

Alright ,so I took a test shot with the hemp string, not so good, so I`ll have to look for some proper string to carry on, no biggy it`s all fun, or see if Alchem will replace the one they sent me, when first strung it sat at @3.75" brace then settle back to 1.25" I`m assuming due to stretch, so obviously too long?
Do you think he`ll replace it,or not bother.

2.5" is a way lot of stretch for the Alchem string. What in the world did he make it from, and how many strands is it?

You've probaly noticed by now his customer service is pretty much the worst ever. Make him replace it, but don't expect it to come anytime soon.

If you really get into crossbows, learn to make your own string. You can make a Flemish twist string, or make a jig to make endless strings served at the loops and mid-string. I made mine from scrap red oak and some simple hardware. I generally use B-50 by Browning (archery supply companies sell it in many colors, and you need serving thread and a serving tool as well), but there is some stretch to consider. I make them about 1" to 1.5" shorter than nock to nock of the prod you are using. Keep in mind if you are making loops, then half the breaking strength of the string, as you are dividing the string in half at the two loops. The last string I made for the Spanish crossbow is 50 strands of B-50, which gives me 2,500 lbs. for the string oveall, and 1,125 lbs at the loops. More than enough insurance The serving is a Fast Flight serving.

Great job on this crossbow.

Dane

Dane;

Thanks for the reply, I was into bows/crossbows before I even started this project, they`re just too much fun. Spent 7yrs in the forces and have played with firearms since I was in diapers, primitive,weapons are just way too cool not to be involved.

Anyway I concur about Alchem, I will not say anything bad about him, as I did get my stuff after lots of prodding, I just will not do business there again.

As far as the original bow string goes I will contact James about the string, all his sites states is that they are made from B-50. Continuous looped, the count is only 28strands! Even I`d consider that inadequate. The limb measures 27-1/2" nock to nock, the string as it arrived measured @26-1/2" loop to loop, and is now at 27-1/4".

I did make a simple string jig similar to yours, that is what I used to make the hemp string(it failed at the loop). A friend of mine has informed me there is a small Mom and Pop shop near town that has or should have every thing I need, and if not, will do what`s needed to get me sorted. I`ll drop by there tomorrow and see what they have.

Hope to have this bow up and running soon, even with the few shots I`ve managed to get off, the rig works as it should, though the sear/trigger needs a bit of smoothing out other than that awesome.

again thanks,
Rick

No problem, Rick.

I did 9 years in the US Army, most time served as an Infantryman, and they let me play with all kinds of nice stuff.

The hemp yarn you get at a craft store or discount store is not very good quality. I get my hemp rope from http://www.hemptraders.com/freehemp.php. Really high quality, long strand rope, just superior quality and nice to work with.

High quality linen thread can be made into good strings. There is a local store to me called Webs, and they are a weaving and knitting supplier. I made a traditional linen string for a 200 lb. prod, and it came out well. I tested the individual threads to about 30# of breaking strenght, and went from there. It gave me a super fat string, much heavier than a B50 string, so you do have to consider performance. I overbuilt the string, though, and it works very well.

Regarding Alchem, we all have horror stories. I recommend this guy. He makes them for Alchem, and he is very fast and honest. The 165 lb. prod I am using in the Spanish bow has functioned perfectly. http://shop.slobowscrossbows.com/Steel-Crossbow-Prods_c2.htm I know I am never dealing with James again.

Take care,

Dane

Thanks for the link, I`ll check them out.

Regarding Alchem, we all have horror stories. I recommend this guy. He makes them for Alchem, and he is very fast and honest. The 165 lb. prod I am using in the Spanish bow has functioned perfectly. http://shop.slobowscrossbows.com/Steel-Crossbow-Prods_c2.htm I know I am never dealing with James again.

Take care,

Dane[/quote]

My problem with Alchem was not only the business, it was the terrible quality of the prods. I have 2 identical model numbers that don't even resemble each other in their curve when unstrung. They don't even tiller the prods, they just bend one arm more so that they sort of match when they are strung. Slobows prods are the same prods. I have 2 in my garage that I think are 130lb that I still have because getting a refund from Alchem is next to impossible. I will give them for free to anyone who wants to pay shipping. I will post pics and details soon. Poor Alchem/Slobow quality is why I am trying to figure out different prod ideas.

Odd. I've gotten four or five prods from slobows at different times and at different weights and the quality is always excellent.

Maybe he just doesn't like you

They were from Alchem. You will find a lot of people unhappy with Alchem prods. Most won't put it here on the forum, but I have pm'ed with some about them.

I know I`m new here but, lets not turn this into a slam fest about a company who will inevitably bury himself anyway due to bad service, lack of communication and as mentioned above poor quality products regardless to who makes them.

I run a small one man operation, I built staved and solid wood snare drums, I know the importance of customer relations, people spend a lot of coin for my product, and the last thing I want is to piss anyone off. A bad rep and word of mouth go a long way and usually at the speed of light.

Enough about that.

Cheers, and have a happy new year

Just think how awful cars would be if only one company made cars. I will leave it at that.

Zardoz -- check your PMs

Here is a pic of my 2 IDENTICAL Alchem #3732 prods taped flat against each other.

Scrap metal, anyone?

Ur picture failed i guess? Or its my computer, always a possibility!
Do u ship overseas? I am quite the scavenger!
In the netherlands we call someone who can use anything and everythhng an 'ouwe jood' translation is 'old jew'.
Dont mistake it for racism though! We dont take kindly to people making jew jokes.
(A bit of WW2 legacy i gues.. if u ever visited one of the many german destruction camps in europe u wont be laughin!)
Damn i talk to much haha.
And i am not even jewish!
But anyway, if shipping isnt to expencive i might want to pay fof it?!
Or u could always save them for a rainy day.

No day is rainy enough to use those things. I promised them to kenh. If he decides he doesnt want them, I will send them to the next one who responded.

Ok, so I got it strung and made my first 2 real shots(before the wifey pulled me away to do something?), from 35 paces, same point of aim, the bolts landed 3" apart at the same level, buried the bobkins deep into the plywood target to boot!, straight in impact, no breaks.

I`m impressed, this weapon has some definite hunting potential, though more shooting with some kind of fixed sight at varying distances will tell.

Cheers,
Rick

Very nice work, the choice of woods contrast very well especially in the chequering. The carving looks good too for a first attempt.
It' s also a relief when you've spent a lot of time on the appearance that it shoots well too!

You might get a better grouping after a few more shots, I find it can take a while to get used to a different trigger release.

Taxus,

Thanks for the kind words, I was starting to wonder if would ever get to the shooting stage.
We`ve got about a foot of snow and it`s still coming, so I won`t be doing too much shooting any time soon, I hate winter.

cheers