Cherry board bow build along

[twilightandmist]

so, i finally replenished my stock of cherry boards, and have decided to publish the build along that was requested. in this build along, i will be detailing the making of a 64 inch cherry recurve. it has a built up riser consisting of the base layer, then a layer of mahogany, then another layer of cherry. my target weight is 55 to 60 pounds at 28 inches. i will post more pictures as i go along. heres a little something to get you started:

one of the boards, still in its original 6 foot length.

the same board next to the bow with the riser already glued up.


some details of the riser.
enjoy! as always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

[Jim Davis]

I'm wondering if the taper from the bottom of the handle might be too abrupt for safety....

Also, I really wonder why lots  of bow makers want a recurve style grip on a long bow. Tis a curiosity to me.

Also it looks (though it's not clear) like there is a lot of  runoff of the grain in the cherry strip. If so, do you plan to back the bow?

Jim Davis

[twilightandmist]

the board shown does have a lot of runoff, you're right. when i make a bow from that one, it will be backed for sure. the piece im using for the bow is a near perfect bias ring board. it is also too thick to even bend yet, so i dont have to worry about a steep riser problem. this bow is to be a recurve, not a longbow, so i figured a recurve style grip would be customary. plus, i have hever done a pistol grip before, and i was anxious to try one.

[Jim Davis]

OK. I get it. On with the show!

Jim

[twilightandmist]

well, it looks like im going to have to start over with a new piece, and back it this time. i got a little gung ho while tillering it and blew up a limb. not sure why, as it didnt follow the rings or fractire in at all the way i expected. perhaps it is overdried, because the limb exploded into 4 pieces! big boom like a gunshot, scared me half to death. never had one go like that before. any ideas?

[bubby]

that's been my experiance with cherry, going good, going good, BOOM , Bub

[blackhawk]

 That was a poor choice for a cherry board..even if you were to back it IMHO. Welcome to the real world of bowmaking. What made you think you could bend that unbacked?    I know why..its that over inflated ego thingy..lol...it can blind us all

[NTProf]

I made a hickory-backed cherry bow. The board had very straight rings. I made it long (67") and wide (1 3/4") and it is still shooting to this day, 5 years later (thousands of shots). After hearing all the stories of them breaking, I kind of hate to ruin my perfect record and try another one.

[twilightandmist]

like i said, that isnt the board i was using. the board i was using had a near perfect bias ring orientation, no runout on the back or the sides. i have broken a few bows in my short time, and i think its more a matter of chance than ego. that also being said, i have more fun working on a bow like this and having it fail than working with osage and being guaranteed results

[adb]

Cherry can make a very good bow, if you can keep it from failing completely or chrysalling. If making a cherry bow from a board, I'd always back it. Maple and rawhide are my favourites. Maple is very unforgiving of amateurs or mistakes, and must be tillered perfectly.

[soy]

There's nothing like a cherry bomb to get the heart going .... Dry wood explosions suck

[twilightandmist]

i just borrowed my buddy's moisture meter, turns out the boards were all at about 4 to 5%. we live and we learn, i guess. does anyone know how to reliably bring the moisture content of the board up?

[soy]

Stick it in the bathroom The hot showers will take to steam and to the air and drawing it imto the board

[ionicmuffin]

well, you have said it yourself, you live and you learn! from now on always check moisture content! or if you cant you can stick it in the broom for a while then take it out and when it stops loosing weight you should be alright.

[Bryce]

Yep just leave it in the bathroom for a couple days should bring it up nicely