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

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3 posters

    Bolt Rest or Groove?

    backgardenbowyer
    backgardenbowyer
    backgardenbowyer
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    • Post n°1

    Bolt Rest or Groove? Empty Bolt Rest or Groove?

    Post by backgardenbowyer Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:38 am

    My first rolling nut crossbow build is progressing steadily. As I've not done this before I'm kind of making the design and solving the problems to fit with my repertoire of skills and tools as I go along. I will shortly have to decide whether I go for a bolt rest or a groove. This isn't a replica, just a bow based on the medieval style and technology so historical accuracy isn't an issue. I'm thinking that if I cut a rest from a scrap of ipe (very hard and oily wood which I will also use for wedges) and put this in a dovetail across my oak tiller it should be less work than cutting a groove and easier to get centred and straight with a bit of adjustment available for tuning.

    Any thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of the two styles?

    Thanks

    Stan
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    Todd the archer
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    • Post n°2

    Bolt Rest or Groove? Empty Re: Bolt Rest or Groove?

    Post by Todd the archer Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:33 pm

    On my own crossbows I feel it is better to go with the groove as it puts the bolt in better line with the center of the string especially with modern strings being much thinner than those on original medieval crossbows where the strings were as fat as the bolts.

    Todd
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    8fingers
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    • Post n°3

    Bolt Rest or Groove? Empty Re: Bolt Rest or Groove?

    Post by 8fingers Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:31 am

    If you make yourself a scratch stock which is a very simple router plane you can make from scrap, you can scrape a groove down the center of your stock fairly simply. By working the groove with the guide arm of the scratch stock on alternating sides of your stock you should have a perfectly centered groove.
    Scratch stock is 2 "L" shaped wood pieces with a steel cutter sandwiched between them. About 4 screws and a broken jig saw blade filed to shape is all the hardware you need. Some people put a chamfer on the guide arm side
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    • Post n°4

    Bolt Rest or Groove? Empty Re: Bolt Rest or Groove?

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