How much 'set' do hornbows take?
Do hornbows take set like wooden bows? That being, they loose reflex?
Longbows usually start out flat and then take set to look curved (closer to looking like the bow is strung)
Do highly reflexed composites lose a lot of their reflex?
Longbows usually start out flat and then take set to look curved (closer to looking like the bow is strung)
Do highly reflexed composites lose a lot of their reflex?
With Korean hornbows, when they are first unstrung, they look just about like an unstrung laminated bow. However, they will be pulled back into their original shape as they cool. They will continually do that.
T
T
Interesting, 2 questions:
If it starts out with the tips touching, does it go back to that shape,
and how long does it take for it to regain the reflex?
Thanks for answering,
SW
If it starts out with the tips touching, does it go back to that shape,
and how long does it take for it to regain the reflex?
Thanks for answering,
SW
You can leave a hornbow strung for a whole season. It will soften a bit (around 10% reduction in draw-weight, but also affected by temperature and humidity). But after unstringing, it will revert to its deflexed shape in a couple of days.
In the case of the very heavy Manchu bows, it is normal to keep them strung. However, they must not be left strung in very cold or dry conditions, as the sinew will split.
In the case of the very heavy Manchu bows, it is normal to keep them strung. However, they must not be left strung in very cold or dry conditions, as the sinew will split.
stephen, will they gain that loss of weight back with increased reflex or being left to rest?
How about on a a sinew backed bow, after the sinew gives it reflex will it lose it after tillering or will it come back like on hornbows?
I think that horn/sinew bows or wood/sinew bows will come back to their original reflex (or at least most of it) provided that the sinew remains intact.
The problem with leaving them strung for twoo long in very dry conditions is that the sinew may degrade over time, or dry out too much. Then the fibres will gradually snap or detach from the core and the bow will become weakened. To avoid drying out, Mongolians leave their unstrung bows frozen together with butchered meat over the winter.
S.
The problem with leaving them strung for twoo long in very dry conditions is that the sinew may degrade over time, or dry out too much. Then the fibres will gradually snap or detach from the core and the bow will become weakened. To avoid drying out, Mongolians leave their unstrung bows frozen together with butchered meat over the winter.
S.