Weekend with Mullet and Parnell, Cypress bow built

[spyder1958]

Hey gang, Had a great time hanging with Eddie and family along with steve building my first real bow and out of cypress no less a first for everyone. I learned so much and I'm in debt to both Eddie and steve for all their help. Lots of great food and good times, it don't get any better than that. Love it when a plan comes together ( a quote from, Ol'Man Rick, rest in peace brother)
Anyway back to the bows, I'm not sure of all that was accomplished by Eddie and Steve, I let them pipe in with their photos and story. I was so engrossed with working this Cypress and taking my sweet time, they finished several I'm sure. I did get a few shots of what was going on, but not many. The bow shots great, I have not finished smoothing out the bow or anything at this time. So don't be to hard on me. Plans are to finish with a mix of tong oil and bees wax and hand rub till she shines. Still unable to name her yet, and since it was a PA members build everyone can give some IDEALS on a name for this florida cracker/Seminole/Tenn. hillbilly Bow. LOL
Ok enough from the mouth. heres some pic. I think Steve got the money shot. Maybe Eddie too.

3 1/2" cypress tree at the base over 7'. cured bark on for about 5 yrs.
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/Bow062.jpg
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/Bow058.jpg

Steve and hatchet work
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/bowII002.jpg
Eddie having a go at it
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/bowII003.jpg

geting there
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/bowII008.jpg
on tree
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/bowII018.jpg

[Pat B]

Interesting! I'm curious to see how cypress works out as a bow. I've heard that the Seminole used it for bows.
  Its always fun around Eddie and Steve and both know how to build bows.

[spyder1958]

Thats not funny, the photos didn't post only link, my bad. I thought, oh well, maybe better this time.


Standing next to her sister, I'm going to try to make a lite bow for my granddaughter with the sister.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n584/spyder1958/Bows/bowII0132.jpg


steve and I think Ironwood he finished

[spyder1958]

Pat, it shoots great seem fast to me and really sinks the arrow deep in Eddies target.

Heres some pics of a osage Steve and Eddie worked on





One more of the Cypress

[spyder1958]

Forgive the newbee, I forgot the spec's
68" ttt 2" limbs not sure what to call the taper, but about 12" from nock slight taper to 3/4" at nock, 1 3/8 handle.

[mullet]

There you go. I think the bow was shooting close to 53# at 28" and the nocks were 1/2" or smaller. I will sling an arrow and the wood had me puckering everytime I pulled it on the tree, acted a lot like Eastern Red Cedar, but better.

[mullet]

Here's a few more; and it was hot. That bow Steve was shooting is my 35# Osage I'm making for Tim Beach's daughter

[Sidewinder]

Looks like time well spent to me. That could have been a picture of any number of us getting together and making shavings. Good for you guys. I really need to get outside my comfort zone and make one with something other than osage.  Danny

[vinemaplebows]

Looks like a great time...cypress?? hmmm.

[rossfactor]

Made a rawhide backed bow out of Cypress once. Shot pretty well.  Failed when a buddy over drew it. Interesting wood, seems prone to tension failure, but strong in compression, sure didn't take much set.  Very light. I'm impressed that you got 53# at 28" out of it.  Good Work.

Gabe

[spyder1958]

Gabe, I think it got even stronger since sunday, I was working the bow over my knee to wake her up and boy I had to bare down But when I strung her up I almost failed, I was doing some grunting for sure. Any set it had from sundays was all but gone. The wood doesn't make a sound when stretch
I sanded a lot on her today, the grain looking from the edge is stacked with a lot of rings. I rub some oil on and get a close up for you.
I'm liking this cypress

[JW_Halverson]

It's only called "set" if it sticks around long after being unstrung.  Otherwise it's  more correct to call it "string follow".  Well, at least that's the terminology that some of us use. 

Oh them ersters looked goooooood on that ice!

Can't say the same for those potbellied, sweaty, shirtless, old farts!  Oh, wait, someone replaced my monitor with a mirror!     That's wasn't nice!

Looks like good times had by all.  I get a kick out of how people from such wildly different walks of life get together over scraps of firewood and handtools just to produce anachronistic weapons.  Who'da thunk it?

[Pappy]

Looks like a mighty fine bow to me,and I know around Eddie and Steve it had to be a hoot.
   Pappy

[Parnell]

What amazing pictures of my belly and bald head!  Hahahaha!  Alright, let me get these pictures and videos downloaded and up from the iPad...

[spyder1958]

Did some sanding and rubbed a coat of tung oil

The grain is sooo small and thin, I guess this growing up chocked out by all the thick older trees let her grow nice and slow.