Author Topic: Apple branch bow  (Read 7261 times)

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Offline GB

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Apple branch bow
« on: June 12, 2016, 01:35:02 am »
A few months ago, one of my neighbors did some trimming on his apple tree and I wound up with four billets.  This bow is from the two narrower branches.  It's 68" tip to tip and came in at 40# @ 27", about 5 pounds lighter than I was aiming for.  Did a little too much rasping under one of the knot humps and the rest of my tillering was all playing catch up to that weak spot.  I have some light arrows that shoot nice through it, though.  I was hoping to keep the limbs a little wider, but the most I could get was 1 1/2".  I added a piece of maple to the handle to get enough thickness and wrapped it with cherry bark.  The underlays at the tips are cherry bark, too.
This is the first bow I've made from apple and I really like the wood.  It reminds me of maple.  Hope to make another one this fall with the other set.
Thanks again to the guys who gave me sealing and drying advice.







Yeah, I remember when we had a President who didn't wear a tinfoil hat.

Offline GB

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2016, 01:41:24 am »
Last of the pictures:





Yeah, I remember when we had a President who didn't wear a tinfoil hat.

Offline tattoo dave

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2016, 07:00:01 am »
Great looking bow GB! I have yet to try apple wood, but will be soon I hope. You did a fine job with it!

Tattoo Dave
Rockford, MI

Offline Stixnstones

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2016, 07:04:37 am »
thats a beaut for sure, nice work.
DevilsBeachSelfbows

Offline DC

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2016, 11:00:03 am »
Nice bow, nice bend  :) :)

Offline mullet

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2016, 11:12:10 am »
I like it, good looking bow
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Hans H

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2016, 02:01:05 pm »
+1,   Hans
Hans,      Bavaria, Germany

Offline Redhand

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2016, 02:06:01 pm »
That turned out pretty nice   Congrats
Northern Ute

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2016, 02:08:32 pm »
that turned out great,, congrats,  :)

Offline Knotty

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  • Don't regret your past, learn from it.
Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2016, 02:23:35 pm »
Wow I loved it! Beautiful work , well done, reminds me of a primitive bow I made once.
~Isaia

Offline GB

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2016, 03:52:56 pm »
Thanks for the encouraging words, guys.  Most of the bows I make are from boards, hickory or bamboo backed.  So I was pretty excited to try one like this and I learned a few things; drying green wood and making a W splice.  And tillering around knots and humps. :o
Oddly enough, I have two different neighbors who cut down small buckthorn trees recently.  So I have 3 buckthorn staves and a set of billets drying, along with the apple  billets.
Thanks again!
Yeah, I remember when we had a President who didn't wear a tinfoil hat.

Offline k-hat

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2016, 04:29:19 pm »
Very nice GB.  Beautiful work!  I tend to leave the knots a little heavy till later in tillering process for that reason.  Still a respectable weight and I bet she's a pleasure to shoot!

Offline Aaron H

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2016, 06:35:26 pm »
 Now that's cool, great job

Offline Mounter

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2016, 09:23:52 pm »
NICE!!! My neighbor just lost a large apple tree a couple weeks ago in a storm. I should probably hurry over there and see if there's anything worth saving.

Offline loefflerchuck

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Re: Apple branch bow
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2016, 10:40:47 pm »
Beauty!