2018 Bow Trade-Completed

[JWMALONE]

Well Guys I seemed to have  screwed up the last four bows, Hmmmm. The heart wood from Hickory seems to be a good bit stiffer than Sap wood.  Never fear, I got this. Ordered some bamboo, and Mr. Ballenger will sell me some more lemon wood. That's what I made my first R/D bow from and its one of my favorites. Its also about the correct weight, so dimensions should be the same. I should have all the materials by Friday.
 Don't forget Mothers Day fellows. That would be a very bad thing.

[hoosierf]

 Bummer JW. I had a hickory bow separate between the heartwood and sapwood once as well. You’re probably onto the issue which is different tension strength between the sap and heart tears itself apart.

[Morgan]

Well, I put my stave in the corner to think about for a while. One limb shows stiff with the gizmo from transition to tips. Last time I sat with it, I was just scraping off marks and real thin (.300) for where it is. Still showing stiff there. So I got to ponder what I’m gonna do with that a while. Grabbed another stave and roughed it out. Floor tillered and heating the belly. Has a hump mid limb that causes natural deflex, but I’m gonna fix that. This stave is 1.5”x66” also hackberry. Don’t know which one will be the trade bow, but it’ll be the one I’m happiest with. ( If I don’t have to start another lol)

[Morgan]

Poor pic, just documenting progress. Heat treated belly, took out most all limb twist, and bent the limbs into reflex. I need to make a caul with a bit deeper curve this one don’t hold but about an inch and half out of the form sometimes not that.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I decided to start a second bow as I don’t like how the black locust fretted in the one spot. This one is an ERC English longbow style that is 66” nock to nock. On the long string it is pulling 50# at 23” and looks good. It’s looking like I’ll hit weight without doing more than adjusting the tiller and excercosimg it back.  So I’m gonna give it a silk backing before I brace it up. I wouldn’t bother until it’s shooting except that some heartwood is peaking through in the outer third of one limb. 

Kyle

[Morgan]

I decided to start a second bow as I don’t like how the black locust fretted in the one spot. This one is an ERC English longbow style that is 66” nock to nock. On the long string it is pulling 50# at 23” and looks good. It’s looking like I’ll hit weight without doing more than adjusting the tiller and excercosimg it back.  So I’m gonna give it a silk backing before I brace it up. I wouldn’t bother until it’s shooting except that some heartwood is peaking through in the outer third of one limb. 

Kyle

I’d like to try an erc bow; the stuff is everywhere around here. I’m chicken though.

[JWMALONE]

Got my bamboo, will get the rest of my materials tomorrow then we shall see how plan e works out.

[timmyd]

ok so I've settled on a personal favorite plus something new. I'm going with a hickory recurve. first time doing recurves so I hope you all can help me out. so right out the gate...should I recurve now or wait till after floor tiller? I plan on boiling these because I have never had much luck with dry heat on this stuff.

[Morgan]

Put a little more time on my secondary stave. Off the caul, wound up with 1 1/2” reflex. Tillered on long string to the point that I’m almost ready to brace and haven’t lost any reflex. Hopefully it’ll stay that way. Limbs were a little thicker than I usually have them when I heat treat, so I think I’ll probably heat treat in the caul again after I get it braced and tillered out to 18” or so just to make sure I have a good heat throughout the wood..

[JWMALONE]

Got a piece of bamboo flattened, hopefully tomorrow I can splice my Lemonwood lams. I spliced some black walnut core lams and some Osage belly lams this evening. Going to splice the B walnut and lemon wood tomorrow. These two bows will be identical except for the belly and riser wood. Which ever seems better for the swap is the one I will send, the other will go to the St. Jude auction. I will take some pics also tomorrow.

[burchett.donald]

Timmy,
           Boiling or steaming is a good choice...How radical of a bend do you want? Working curves or static?
                                                                                                                                                              Don

[timmyd]

I like the looks of the working curves. I'll use one of my glass recurves to make the form from and we will see what happens

[tattoo dave]

Looking good everyone. I've been insanely busy lately, but did get one started. It's actually one I started a long time ago. It's maple backed bamboo flooring, spliced at the handle. It's a little short on the draw length though, don't think it'll make it to 29". That bow wasn't plan A anyway. I thought I would finish it out to see if it would make it to my victims specs.

Anyway, keep up the good work fellas. Just wanted to let you all know I haven't disappeared.

Tattoo Dave

[hoosierf]

Back up bow is done.
73”
53# @ 29”
Red oak backed Osage
Rattlesnake skins over silk
Wisconsin whitetail tip overlays on teak
Coyote handle overlay


I took a few more scrapes mid limb on the top after the f/d pic was take but still at 53#.

Now back to birch

[burchett.donald]

  hoosierf,
                That back up bow should be front row...Excellent work...
                                                                                                    Don