Lowering the draw weight

Tawfiq · Post by **Tawfiq** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:55 pm

If one wants to lower the draw weight of a horn bow ( Turkish) without scraping off a layer of tendon is it OK to leave it strung for a long period, or better still, half drawn on a tiller? Will that damage it?
The object is to reduce it from 75# to a more comfortable 60#
Tawfiq

Uli · Post by **Uli** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:02 pm

pls dont do it

Tawfiq · Post by **Tawfiq** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:34 pm

Reasons please

Adam Karpowicz · Post by **Adam Karpowicz** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:58 pm

The bow will be less efficient, unless the siyahs are reduced in mass at the same time.

Anyway, the bow can be made lighter by scraping the horn belly. The weight reduction is not great, so it is best to scrape the belly at the sides rather than in thickness. If the belly is rectangular, it can be "trapped", or if round, then the the horn can still be reduced a little at the sides while leaving the center line untouched.

Keeping the bow strung will reduce the weigh as well, but the reflex will drop and the bow will not store as much energy. About a month or two will drop it to 60lb, depending on humidity.

Adam

Tawfiq · Post by **Tawfiq** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:43 pm

Many thanks Adam,
Since the bow has an elegant leather finish over the sinew I really would loathe the undoing of somebody else?s good work and effort.
So I think I will have to take your last advice and keep it strung, all the while making sure that the two sides stay balanced during that period. Already after a few days of being strung the bow seems to be la little easier to use, or perhaps just my wishful thinking??

Tawfiq