I just picked up a Bear Black Bear compound at a flea market for 40$ with bear aluminum arrows. I want to Warf it! What is the best adapter to get? Or should I send it to someone? I want it to be done right!

~Wojo

You may get the ilf adapter plates from Hawkeye Mfg. on ebay.

I've done two using the plates mentioned above. Pretty easy to do on your own, but Mr. Sam Dunham is the man if you want someone else to do it.

Your in for a treat. I built one recently, not a warf but a frankenbow bolt on, with samick journey limbs. It shoots awesome! I filled the bottom limb pocket with lead and the top one with silicone for vibration dampening. Added aluminum spacers on either side of the limb and couldn't be happier.

I use the plates in mine and couldn't be happier. The plates when into my limb pockets with precision-fit.

I used the plates for my Bear Black Bear WARF. I want to get some heavier limbs for it.

Frank, that is the exact bow I got. I guess I need to take it to a compound shop with a bow press to get it dismantled. I did contact HawkeyeMFG, they making me plates.

~Wojo

I need to get a bolt/washer kit from him as well. What length bolts did you guys get? 1.5”, 1.75”, 2”, 2.25”??

Also, any history on these old compound risers would be cool. Manucature years? The risers appear to be aluminum, not magnisium?

~Wojo

I used all the original washers and bolts. Also, you can dismantle that by turning each limb bolt out one turn. Keep alternating doing that and all the tension will be released. Then just completely disassemble by removing the limb bolts all the way out.

I've had two different limb pockets on the two I did. One had a small area of metal at the top of the pocket that I removed with a dremel tool to allow plates to slide in. The other one didn't have that piece at all and the plates popped right in.

I didnt like using the plates, they stick out from the riser. I had sam mill out the dovetail fittings right into the riser, then filled the small round limb butt holes with j.b.weld. much cleaner, and no added weight. Thise risers are perfectly balanced in my opinion as is. As far as age of the bow, i shot that same compound when i was 10 and it was a hand me down. So im thinking 30-35 years old.

Wojo, I'll PM you.

You don't need to take it to a shop. Just loosen the limb bolts equally and it'll come apart without any pressure.

The plates aren't your best option, to my notion. Having the dovetail slot milled makes for a much better riser. Sam or Loc Do are the guys to go to.

Loc is a better machinist than me and does a great job. I am all in for sending it to Loc. I do a few free jobs but hate going to the PO these days. I have done two free cuts on risers this week. Am getting bored with it these days and since cheaper risers came along you can buy ready to go, I cannot make enough money to keep doing them. I have gotten too slow, have other things to do that are better investments of my time.

I hate the plates unless they are the 1/4 thick type. I have a pro machinist doing some up for me to my specs. I had a cad drawing made and when I get the plates will sell them and have my wife do the running to the PO. I will likely know something in a week or two.

Yes, I have gotten wayyyyyy to slow to do any serious business. I want to hunt, walk my dogs and shoot my bows.

I do however limit myself to cut one or two for members here and on TT a couple a month for shipping only. Mailed two out this week.

Send it to Loc - you can find him on TT site. I got one made by him from here. I think you can talk to him about some fillers for the pocket limbs - the BB riser is wider than the ILF limbs Or you can make your own after.

I have the hawkeye plates installed in my limb pockets. The plates fit so well all I had to do was lightly tap them into place and they have never moved since. I painted them so they weren't shiny aluminum and put some ultra-thin mole skin on the top of them where the limb touches for quietness (hunting bow). What a shooter! Best shooting bow I own and have ever owned (perfect fit for me). My riser is actually a Jennings Black Lightning, which is the same as the Black Bear. Perfect balance and dead in my hand at the shot using TT Black Max wood/glass limbs.

If I later decide to try the ILF connection cut directly into the riser, I'll contact Sam. He's done a ton FREE for people and I'd sure like to support someone like that, plus from what I hear, he does a knock-out fantastic job too. I don't have any knowledge of the other gentleman doing them, so cant speak there but Sam's generosity speaks volumes to me and if I locate another lefty riser, I'll send it to Sam.

Get it, PM me, will hook you up. Have no idea what Loc charges but here is the deal, if you have to invest more than 50 bucks into a warf riser? You have defeated the purpose. Warfs have lost value these days and if you have tried to sell one? You already know this.

A conversion on some difficult to do risers by a warfmaster is a long lot of work. It takes me 3 hours to make 1/8th plates and install and machine and then pour spacers, install and make limb bolt bushings, then the prep work.

The BB is the easiest to do and I used to get 85 or so for one, hundred for a spectra rambo.

If you sell your warf, you will be lucky to get 100 for it. The investment is not very good unless you are going to keep it forever,

The Proline is hard to get into a mill vise, very hard to machine and relocate limb bolts and people do not want to pay for that and I do not blame them.

Grips are limited to what is on them, no interchangeable, so you have to like it.

A warf is my choice but if I wanted a budget riser would be a hoyt 21 or a 17? may be the china made for 100 on ebay.

To be a deal, you have to invest very little in one.

The Black Bear is one of my all time favorite risers.

Sam, I did the same calculation and I got this: Proline Warf - got with $40 including shipping Sent out to get it done by Loc 130 including shipping Total $170. For $170 you don't get ilf risers that can withstand #60 limbs. If I think my investment thinking with how much I will sell after, I would never buy something.

Good point Draven. A lot of guys get tired of it and want to trade or sell.

Getting tired of something comes with a price.

Sam, Thank you. If and when I find another lefty BB riser that's priced right, I'll contact you.

U got it!

Well, I did NOT buy this for an investment. I like the “OLD Bear” bows. I am into ILF now and think this would be really cool. Plus it is factory camo! I only paid 45 for the whole bow and it came with 6 Bear hunter aluminum arrows and a quiver. Sam, I would love for you to convert it for me. If that is the better way than the ebay plates. PM sent!

~Wojo

I am not gonna knock the ebay plates. Personally, I like the cuts in the riser pockets. I also am not advertising here. As I stated, I do a few now and then. I do a few free cuts a month and have fulfilled my free work for the month. thank you for your interest.

“You don't need to take it to a shop. Just loosen the limb bolts equally and it'll come apart without any pressure“

You sure? It would blow up on me?

~Wojo

Positive, I just did one a few months ago. Just back the bolts out.

what are they worth nowadays?

I have a machinist in Arizona beginning to make 1/4 inch drop in plates from my own cad drawing.

They should drop in a BB or WT2, and be fitted to Rambos by shortening them.

Have three sets to examine this week, all are machined on a programmed mill.

I "unstrung" a compound once, I put a heavy blanket on top of it, cut the bowstring with scissors from as far as I could reach and jumped out of the way. It didn't spring nearly as much as I thought it would.

It was a black bear riser, which is still waiting for those plates to be installed after 10 years.

Got them off. It was easy. Now the WARFing begins!!

~Wojo

"what are they worth nowadays? "

If you mean finished BB risers they seem to bring $100 on different sites.

Thanks

Ok I have the opportunity to get an old Black Bear compound. What length bow will samic sage limbs make. Or if I buy the plates how can I make a 62" bow? Better yet I want to make a 62" 45lb bow can someone please tell me what length and poundage limbs I need! Thank you in advance !

Shorts will give you a 62” bow. It they are TradTech limbs you can get close to 45# using 50# limbs , because they are rated on a 17” riser or “regular “ ILF limbs, rated on a 25” riser at 40#.

get one and get it milled for ILF....you will thank me later

I have a Jennings Black Lightning I warfed with Hawkeye plates. The JBL riser is the same as a Bear Black Bear riser. I but 50# TT Black Max 2.0 limbs on mine and it bottoms out (one turn out) at 47#. And it made a 61" bow...not 62" (just one inch shorter but it is 1 inch, if that matters). The plates I got for my riser fit like a glove. They fit so precise I had to tap them into the limb pockets and did not have to use any adhesive or anything to make them stay in place. I'd have ZERO issues recommending the plates if someone wanted to go that route. Mine are fantastic. Milling the dovetail is great also but the plates are super-easy and work as well.

not a black bear but a Whitetail 11 will this work ?

Stacy, my understanding is the Whitetail II riser does not have optimal limb pad angles. Maybe someone else will chime in that's tried one.

Darrin, are you saying its a bust?

I'm saying that's what I've heard. I do not have first-hand experience with the Whitetail II riser. Maybe someone who has personally tried to warf one will chime in.

i have a whitetail 2 with sage limbs...not a fan at all of it...the grip isn't something I like...and it takes some serious building up on the strike plate and the shelf to shoot it without a rest. ill probably take it back down and put the limbs back on the sage riser...

There is a thread on TradTalk tat discusses this. The person that answers- jonhdo - machines risers to make warm bows.

https://tradtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56964

“The Bear Whitetail hunter II riser is a solid riser. It has solid limb pads, and the limb pad angle same as the Black Bear. You can machine the dovetail right into the limb pocket.”

Thanks for the correction, Phil. I was wrong. I thought I had read that the WT II riser didn't have optimum limb pad angles but apparently that's not the case.

The WT2 is OK, not as good as the BB IMHO for several reasons like no handle that pops off and less deflex in the handle section but they work OK.

The BB is cut 1/4 past center and is perfect for a stick on rest.

Good shooting->->->->Sam

I have a BB riser (I think) that I have had for a few years. I think it was Loc that cut the slots. I am going to try to post a picture here. My question in what do I need to do to make it ready for limbs??

Thanks

I would replace the original limb bolt with an ILF limb bolt and you are good to go.

Looks ready to go! Think I see a bushing on the bolt? I use the original bolts, good hardened bolts already in them.

You might fill the half round spherical with Bondo or JB putty and smooth out the floors afterward.

I use fiberglass spacers to make the ILF profile look better in the pockets.

That is just a cosmetic thing, to add spacers.

Attach your limbs, pop them in. Then unstrung, wind in your limb bolts to just snug, no more!

Then back them out a half turn or so on both ends, string, and remember not to wind them out more than 4 1/2 turns.

Adjust your tiller to even for three under and about half turn out more on the top for split. Just a bit of positive tiller for split hold on the string. Good shooting!

This one has the spacers added and the tops rounded for clearance in the floors.

Thanks for the help!!!!

I will order some limbs ASAP.

The BB will gain 4 pounds on limbs weighted for 25-inch risers, Bill. Limbs marked for 17 will lose 4 pounds and for 19's will lose 2 pounds.

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