2021 Bow Trade - build in progress

[PaSteve]

Santanasaur, you have a lot going on there. Looks like you've been busy. stuckinthemud, excellent advice you gave about finals. Hope to get an update on my progress this weekend. Definitely going to chase a ring on another osage stave for plan B.

[Kidder]

I got mine to low brace. String tracks dead center of the handle so I’m going to narrow the tips now. Got 1/16 inch negative tiller to work out. Pulled it to 20 inches and I’m seeing a small hinge mid limb on the top limb I need to work around. Overall it’s doing “ok”.

[Swampman]

I have my fence built so the cement blocking my tiller tree is gone.  I still need to clean up my shop and then I will be getting to work on my project. I should be able to post some progress pictures soon.

[Fox]

Okay ruffed out plan A bow a few weeks ago it's drying now... I am not sure I did the best job on the back so may back it with something to be sure (it will be something cool if I back it). While that's drying I'm working on another bow for myself or as a plane B bow  The plane B bow is walnut I just straightened the limbs and gave it 2" of reflex (66" long 2 wide).... this walnut tree I've made two bows out of and it is amazing! I've used another walnut and it's broken in tension, but this tree is awesome! and so pretty, all of the wood is really dark, not quite heartwood dark, and has this white streaks threw it, I left the bark on the staves and it made the back a crazy color aswell, also walnut LOVES heat when you heat it on a caul it doesn't move like at all when you take the clamps off. it's really pretty few staves that I got from it anyway, ill stop rambling


(walnut ruffed out)
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

(Hickory hatcheted out)


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[Fox]

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Digital Caveman]

Nice, I thought you don't do stiff handles?

[PaSteve]

Nice to see guys making progress. My plan A is pretty much roughed out. Limbs are just starting to bend. I needed to correct some string alignment issues. As it was, the string was about 1 1/2 inches off center as good as I could judge at the moment. I steamed the handle area and clamped it so the string would line up better. Any more alignment corrections will be done on the limbs when I get to low brace. So far things are going pretty well so I will finish floor tillering and then begin tillering on the long string. Hopefully this week. I'll probably chase a ring on plan B once I get to heating in a little reflex on plan A. That's it for now. Second pic shows alignment correction after steaming and adjusting handle.

[Fox]

Nice, I thought you don't do stiff handles?

 

Not for myself usually... these I will probably make bend a little in the handle 

[Stickhead]

I’m thinking of using one of these pairs of Crape Myrtle billets, and make a take down.  I did this successfully once before as a self bow, but I might back it with something for insurance.

[simk]

very interesting projects running here  thanx for sharing.

me myself have steamed the yewie branch for the second time right now. I slightly misclamped it the first time. Also ist wants to warp  in all dimensions again - will probably need the heat gun to finally stabilize it.

My elm d/r now is recurved and tillered to 20". I will heat treat it some now before finishing. Hope it works out. Its very slim so I think the wood is running on its physical limits...

cheers

[Selfbowman]

Ok boys don’t be late. The on time bow will probably come from the blank or The stave beside it. Going for continuous growth ring on back and belly on the bow blank.

[Selfbowman]

Side view of both.

[Fox]

Worked some more on the bows today! it was in the 80s here so I set up the solar kiln and put the hickory in there. while that bow dries for the next few weeks ill work on the plan B bow..... so I may have gotten a little too excited during floor tillering as it is walnut and takes more wood to make a bow than hickory which is what I've been working lately 

I got the bow to 26" today and it still holds about 1/2" of reflex... it's 6-7 pounds underweight though 
It shoots pretty well and I like the tiller but it's a tad slow cause I'm shooting 650-grain arrows out of a 38# bow... so I need to raise the draw weight. so I'm going to heat treat again and put it back on the caul so that will get me a few pounds, probably not 7 though right? so to get the last few pounds should I flip the tips? Pike? add reflex in the handle?

 (this is pretty much an R/D)


Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr
Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

FD (The last pic was at 20")

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

Sanding handle and back...

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

Untitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

Untitled by Livvydog, on FlickrUntitled by Livvydog, on Flickr


SOO many pics... but I was having fun This may be plan A depending on which bow comes out better

Im going to do stuff with the tips aswell and add an arrow rest of somekind probably...

[Fox]

Oh boy Arvin... I won't be for that... so excited your doing that!!

[Fox]

C’mon people! What’s everyone doin?