Liked this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Bow-The ... /?ALLSTEPS
Any thoughts? Worthwhile?
Bike wheel bow - simple build project
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CynicalSurvival
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:39 pm
- Location: Scotland
Bike wheel bow - simple build project
The last taboo is the myth of civilisation. It is built upon the stories we have constructed about our genius, our indestructibility, our manifest destiny as a chosen species. - The Dark Mountain Project Manifesto http://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/
Re: Bike wheel bow - simple build project
It looks fascinating, but the shape you're starting with, part of a circle, is already how a bow looks when its *drawn*, surely? I hope it works! I've got an online mate who goes to regular archery classes, just imported a bow from the States on her tutor's recommendation, so I'll send her the link for her to have a look see.
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CynicalSurvival
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:39 pm
- Location: Scotland
Re: Bike wheel bow - simple build project
Thanks yes - I'm guessing that the spring comes from the rubber, not the bow itself so it's really more of a large catapult. I had a diablo catapult when I was younger and it was scarily powerful!
There are a few great bow&arrow DIY projects on the site - this one is 'Make a bow for under 20 bucks' - useful skills to have even if you don't need them right now. http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a- ... -20-Bucks/ And this one (video) uses a PVC tube, looks effective and cheap http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... lated_test
There are a few great bow&arrow DIY projects on the site - this one is 'Make a bow for under 20 bucks' - useful skills to have even if you don't need them right now. http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a- ... -20-Bucks/ And this one (video) uses a PVC tube, looks effective and cheap http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... lated_test
The last taboo is the myth of civilisation. It is built upon the stories we have constructed about our genius, our indestructibility, our manifest destiny as a chosen species. - The Dark Mountain Project Manifesto http://dark-mountain.net/about/manifesto/
Re: Bike wheel bow - simple build project
CS, you're right about the catapult thing, thats what she said:
" I'm so far from being an expert that it's comical but that isn't a bow, per se, that's a form of catapult firing arrows.
If you read the directions and study the photo, he's using a rigid semi-circle (the wheel rim) as a frame to support a cat's cradle of catapult rubber and using the force from that to power an arrow. He says that the arrow isn't nocked (arrows have a piece on the back called the nock, which clips onto the bowstring) so he's just using a bit of rubber pressing on the rear of the arrow and, when released, the arrow takes the enegy stored on the rubber for its propulsion. The wheel rim is rigid and cannot flex, which is how bows actually work.
This cata-bow is pretty clever, though, but you'll always be at the mercy of the supply of rubber. You can make bows out of all sorts of things which have some bend in them, such as pvc pipe, old skis, random bits of wood. The more random, the better the archer you'll have to be to get a good result shooting them; the distance he quotes is pretty low at 20m, even longbows can shoot several times further than that. "
I couldn't get involved with it myself - my shoulder has such bad arthritis that even carrying something like a few bananas hurts! - but I love the sound of it. Let us know if you decide to make/buy one.
" I'm so far from being an expert that it's comical but that isn't a bow, per se, that's a form of catapult firing arrows.
If you read the directions and study the photo, he's using a rigid semi-circle (the wheel rim) as a frame to support a cat's cradle of catapult rubber and using the force from that to power an arrow. He says that the arrow isn't nocked (arrows have a piece on the back called the nock, which clips onto the bowstring) so he's just using a bit of rubber pressing on the rear of the arrow and, when released, the arrow takes the enegy stored on the rubber for its propulsion. The wheel rim is rigid and cannot flex, which is how bows actually work.
This cata-bow is pretty clever, though, but you'll always be at the mercy of the supply of rubber. You can make bows out of all sorts of things which have some bend in them, such as pvc pipe, old skis, random bits of wood. The more random, the better the archer you'll have to be to get a good result shooting them; the distance he quotes is pretty low at 20m, even longbows can shoot several times further than that. "
I couldn't get involved with it myself - my shoulder has such bad arthritis that even carrying something like a few bananas hurts! - but I love the sound of it. Let us know if you decide to make/buy one.