As soon as I got the DNA, I started to seriously think about targets. Until now, I have been using an old sack stuffed with pillows, old clothes and cardboard. It was working ok but after every session it looked very tired and the cardboard needed repacking.
So I decided to make a nice "proper" target. I gathered all my cardboard, cut and taped sheets together and made a nice square. I then used a sort of soft cell foam sandwiched between layers of cardboard sheets and taped the whole thing together (while compressed). The layers were supposed to stop the arrows...
This, I thought, will do the trick.... |  |
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The first shot from the DNA went right to the fletching, ditto the RIOT so this target was relegated to the reflex kids bow.... So much for that idea...
After much more thought and some scribbled drawings a new idea was born. This time it would stop the DNA arrow at 10ft and with not more than 6 inches penetration.
I decided (after a bit of research on commercial targets) that I would build a layered target out of foam, but this time align the layers horizontally and facing the target instead of at a cross section.
The prices of commercial targets were way out of my range (paying 750 AUD for something I am going to shoot full of holes?? - No way!) and also the shipping into this remote place would be just as expensive as the target.
So, break out the tools, its workshop time! |
I looked around for some really nice closed cell foam and finally found 610mm square tiles at a reasonable price. This was not going to be cheap but if it worked it would be exceeding any commercial target in every aspect except price.
The tiles come in packets of four, so I bought 15. It was enough. The idea was to have a 600mmm square block of target. They cost around 10 dollars a pack.
I cut, drilled (for the clamping rods) and welded together some 25mm box steel I had lying around into 2 "pressure frames" that would squeeze the foam together. I had to buy some threaded rod (the stuff I had was too thin), but at 1.70 a piece, I was not complaining.
I cut the threaded rod to size and bolted the frames together squeezing the foam in between. Yes, it appeared to work, so I took it outside and fired some arrows into it!
At 10ft the arrows (both the RIOT and DNA bows) would only penetrate around 6 inches. Beauty! |
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After the trials I decided to weld in some more bracing to the frames, and then gave them a coat of paint.
I made a box out of wood to sit the frames on, to lift the target up and get the angle right. I also used sand bags around the target to catch the stray arrows, and of course made some target faces the stick on to the face of the block target.
So for the total cost of around 200 dollars, I have made a 600mm x 600mm x 600 mm closed cell layered foam target block. I can turn the foam sheets around when the face finally gets totally trashed and use the other sides, effectively quadrupling my target lifespan.
Of course in years to come I can always replace the foam sheets... |
