Eskimo Cable-backed bow needed help - taking shape!

[Mangeur de lard]

Wow that came out great! I do have a thing for inuit bows too, just a cool piece of engineering.
Good work!

[Gus]

Yes Sir!

That is One FINE looking Bow!

Thank You for posting your full process and adjustments!
Great Photos!

-gus

[Bryce]

Very snappy looking bow man! Good work. I love the art work! Kudos

I make alot of cable backed bows. Most I give away. But I'm starting to notice that ppl are getting minimum amount of performance. Some mistakes come from wrapping the sinew/nylon in a way that doesn't utilize the whole strand. It's not 3 pieces of cable but only just 1. The strands that hold the main cable to the bow is actually still part of the main cable. When twisting the cable it pulls tension on the strands holding it to the bow, making things stable and smooth. Evening out the tension all around the bow.  The reason the Inuit have such awesome knots and tying techniques is the evenly disperse tension. Even when first putting the cable on and wrapping it, should be done snug and even. Not super tight, that's what the twisters do lol
someone once told me that there is a sweet spot between the tension of the cable and the compression of the wood. Similar to the ratio of sapwood:heartwood. But I have yet to do any testing or research on that.
 
I'll take some pics and post them soon but here's the specs on the first one I ever made a few years back

Pacific Yew (elv. 1000ft.)
45" long 1.5"W tapers to .75"
52# @ 28"

[swamp monkey]

But I'm starting to notice that ppl are getting minimum amount of performance.

Bryce you have my attention but I need some help with ppl.  What is that? 

[Bryce]

Ppl= people

[soy]

Wicked cool

[Bryce]

Here's a wrap that I like to do on the angle of a recurve Inuit bow . But I lashed this one up to show yah its very simple and effective.

 http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/BOW.jpg

[Gus]

Bryce,

That is Pretty Darn Cool Looking.

Out of Curiosity, what should you look for as a Gain in Draw Weight on a cable backed bow, with the cable under tention and the cable relaxed?
Or does it vary widely between bows and materials?

Thank You.

-gus

[Bryce]

Before we dive into it, iam by no means an expert but I am more than willing to share what I know.

You want to try and use wood thats good in compression. Such as yew which is excellent compression wood. I've made pretty snappy cable bows from the compressed side of Sitka spruce & Doug fir.
As for draw gain, nothing is better than sinew. That stuff is heavenly. Taking the time to braid 80 feet isn't fun at all and takes days. Nylon isn't as good but has similar characteristics. Also it isn't affected my moisture.
I've seen weight increase ranging 10%-30% depending on materials.
I've heard rumours of some Eskimo bows reaching 200fps. I think that is a bit of a stretch, under perfect conditions 190 max! with a light weight arrow.

Sorry swamp I promise I'm not trying to steal your thread lol I just have a serious Passion for cable backed Inuit bows. I was thinking about doing a reflexed cable bow thread with step by step detailed intructions.

[swamp monkey]

Here's a wrap that I like to do on the angle of a recurve Inuit bow . But I lashed this one up to show yah its very simple and effective.

 http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh544/bryceott/BOW.jpg

Bryce.  I would be interested in how the lashes are made; what knot is that?

[Bryce]

After you finish placing your cable from nock to nock finish with a soldiers hitch. Take your end go under the belly around the other side.
Go between the back of the bow and the cable. Then go back the way you came.
And repeat.
When your satisfied with it, soldier it off.
then run your end to the other end (do not go around nock)
Wanna be about 10 or so inches from the tip, or the distance of your last wrap on the other end, soldier hitch again. And start wrapping.

Now that line between the 2 end wrapping will get tight along with the main cable

PRESTO! COMPLETE!

[swamp monkey]

The snow inspired me to shoot this bow.  It's name is "Eskimo Chill".  It just seemed right!

[Onebowonder]

Eskimo Chill appears to be right at home in that Missouri snow...

[Bryce]

THATS KILLER BRO!

[cook1536]

I am a newbie to PA and bowmaking and I actually got a chance to see and hold this bow today. This is an amazing piece of  art as well as craftsmanship and I can say the pictures don't do it justice as it is amazing in person. Swamp is teaching me the art of bowmaking and have my first bow hacked out of the stave and in the drawknife process on the limbs. To see something like this and know that it was all hand made with hatchets and drawknives is a testament to true craftsmanship. I cant wait to get mine firing, after the soarness leaves my arms. Thanks Swamp!!!