My Bow Press Build, A Pictorial...

[Rat]

I've wanted to build a new bow press for some time now. However, I haven't seen one that really met all my criteria for a good all around bow press. I wanted one that would press the longest risers, the shortest risers, everything in-between, and be easily adjustable as well as easy to build.

I'm no machinist and I have only the basic tools, chop saw, welder, bench grinder, stuff like that. I don't even have a drill press yet.

What really got my juices flowing was tyhe X Press by Sur-Loc. Here is a press that will do it all with minimal stress on the bow!

So when I got home from Iraq I set out to build the perfect bow press. I thought...I measured...I sketched...I looked at other home brew presses...

So, when I woke up tuesday I was ready to build.

I have an old Apple Bow Press that has served me well for 6 years. And it will continue to serve, at least partly! It was here that I would harvest some parts for the Monster Press.

Here is the Apple before the chop saw...

[Rat]

The chop saw ia mightier than the press...

[Rat]

I planned on using as many parts of the Apple as I could. So, along these lines I welded the rolers to the sliders. Like you see in this picture. As you can also see in this picture it would not work as it is. The riser stops and the limb stops need to be closer to the same horizontal plane (or the riser stops need to be above the limb stops).

No problem, back to the chop saw for a little R&R (remove and reuse).

[Rat]

I got rid of the roller brackets and welded some angle iron to the top of the sliders. To this I bolted the rollers. They don't roll anymore BTW, to keep them from skewing when pressure is applied I had to tighten them down pretty good, so they don't roll, they're just stops.

For anyone who has seen the Devin/Deerslayer hydraulic press this press is based on the same build, albeit loosly. Instead of drilled riser stops I use sliders along the main horizontal tubing, and the main tubing is longer to accomodate longer riser bows.

[Rat]

Originally I wanted to use an hydraulic press for this build. But, I had this really nice screw jack laying around so I used it instead. All the cabling, limb press arms, chain adjustments and limb stops are directly from the Devin/Deerslayer build. The cool bracket on top is part of the jack and is used for the wheel. But, it works great to run the cable through also!

[Rat]

Now for the test! My trusty Bear Whitetail II bowfishing bow! Long deflexed riser with long straight limbs, and it fits great!

[Rat]

The SQ2 on the press!

IT WORKS!!!

[Rat]

I have a better way to build the sliders and riser stops, and in the next few weeks I will build a whole new press with the new ideas incorporated into it. This is basically a dry run I guess.

There are no "lock down" mechanisms on the sliders. I thought I would need them but found that the tension between the riser stops and limb stops keep everythin from sliding toward the middle of the press.

I am also going to build a stand for it. I have a corner counter where it works very well, but if you have only straight counter to mount it to you will need some standoffs in order for the bow riser and jack/crank to clear. Of course if you use the hydraulic jack and the legs like the Deerslayer build you don't need to go through this trouble.

I now feel confident I can press anybow on the market, from the Moon Full to the smallest of the small. I have a friend bringing over a Oneida later to try out on itas well.

Here are more of the build pictures, the ones left out of the pictorial.

[Rat]

Here is the link to the original Devin/Deerslayer hydraulic press.

http://www.deerslayer.freewebspace.com/hbbowpress.html

[Oldaro]

An impressive work, Rat, congrats on your new bow press! And the pictorials make the best guides to those that would like to create their own.

Now, here's an interesting assignment for all technically minded archers.

The new Mathews bows have these vibe suppressors at the end of the limbs, attached to one side of the forked limb tip, and this arrangement mustn't be taken apart on a spanned bow. However, because of that, a problem of attaching the portable press arises.

The universal portable press for this type of limb should be able to bend the limb without touching the area near the cam and idler, and I'm interested in possible solutions to that. I must add that there are some portables that hook their steel cable ends directly into the fork but I'm reluctant to approach it this way because of the possibility that the forceful wedging of the cable into the cut out fork might damage the limb.

??

[Rat]

Oldaro, I believe you are looking for something like the Rtchet Press.
This is the link to the Cabela's cersion.
http://www.cabelas.com/information/Archery/Ratchet-LocBowPress.html
Someone on AT buids them as well, and they are better than the Cabela's because they have legs. I will need to find out who builds them (I think it is Wlks With A Gimp). But, they look pretty easy to build, especially for a mechanically minded guy like you.

[DUBBYA ARE]

Rat......good looking press. Thanks for sharing your project with all of us.

[TexHunter]

Good job again on the FRANKEN-PRESS Rat. :D You may have to start taking orders.

[Oldaro]

Rat, Thanks...

... and, what Tex said... :)

[Jimmy]

Some pics of my homemade bowpress

http://die.ath.cx/Bagskytte/11.jpg

http://die.ath.cx/Bagskytte/13.jpg

[stonecold]

Post to view images

[mobow#1]

Had one of them at one time....Good press

[jebster02]

Nice job on the press.

[esdorsett]

Post to see images?

[mobow#1]

was wondering why i could not see:D

[glteach]

Didn't see pics - will try to post to see if I get them.

[TexHunter]

This thread was posted before we moved to the v bulletin format a few years ago and not all pics made the transition.