Decorated hornbow

[mikekeswick]

Haha! No stencils! To do this type of gilding first you make sure the surface is non absorbent, cover with whats known as a resist layer (egg white) then use a sticky medium to paint the shapes. The traditional binders are gold size, hide glue at about 5% concentration or varnish. I used varnish. So you do a small section with the design you want then wait for it to dry and achieve the correct stickiness then you lay gold leaf onto the it. The gold will stick to your medium then you can remove the rest. This leaves you with your decoration. It took me about 2 weeks doing a bit everynight.
Wait till you see my next one. I've just finished a Turkish hornbow and that one is getting the works. This bow was the first one I've ever finished like this and I learnt a lot. My next one will be much better (or at least more detailed!).

[sieddy]

Totally jawdropping- can't wait to see the next one (you posted pics of that unfinished earlier right?) as it looks to be a screamer!

[mikekeswick]

Cheers, it just takes a bit of patience! Yes that is the bow I posted pics of before. It's just about ready to start gilding on.

[ryder]

That's amazing craftsmanship. Very, very nice! 

[medicinewheel]

How about some messurements??

[mikekeswick]

How about some messurements??

Like what?

[medicinewheel]

Length, draw length, width, thickness, taper and such...
Been looking through but can't find info.
And a full draw would be nice of course!

[BowEd]

Sweet looking horn bow Mike.You like decorating yours more than I do mine.Fantastic job.Almost too pretty to shoot.....lol.I love the way they shoot too.Smooth,flat and hard hitting.I've got one going on over here again too.

[mikekeswick]

Length, draw length, width, thickness, taper and such...
Been looking through but can't find info.
And a full draw would be nice of course!

I'll take the photos when I finish decorating my Turkish bow.
Length is about 52inch? Drawlength is 28 but i'm sure it would go to 30 no problems. Thickness obviously varies in combination with the width taper.

[Jodocus]

Well then, I'm, really looking Forward to your next!

 

[Carson (CMB)]

Wow Mike, incredible finish work, not to mention the bow!!! Cobal Varnish! Way to go all the way! I feel like i have been missing out. Wish they had not separated out hornbows as a new subforum.

[Knapper]

Mike beautiful work. Hoping to make a horn bow for myself later this year. Maybe you can give me some pointers.
Knapper

[mikekeswick]

Mike beautiful work. Hoping to make a horn bow for myself later this year. Maybe you can give me some pointers.
Knapper

Beg, borrow or steal a copy of Ottoman Turkish bows by Adam Karpowzi! Then don't deviate from the methods that he describes one iota! These bows wouldn't have been made without that book.

[joachimM]

Ottoman Turkish Bows: the kindle or Ibook edition is available for 30 USD, and if you happen to know german, you can get a hardcopy for 33 USD (first edition) on amazon.

Still searching for an english hardcopy though...