Author Topic: Starting a new ALB  (Read 6497 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Starting a new ALB
« on: September 07, 2022, 04:19:52 pm »
A few years back a friend gave me a 72"x2" locust board and hickory backing. It been sitting in the utility room until today. I decided to build an American Longbow. I cut the locust and backing strip to 68" long. The locust is 11/16" thick, the hickory backing strip is just over 1/8" thick. I cut both to 1 9/16" wide and the bow limbs will have a straight tapered width to the tips. The handle riser is Eastern red cedar with a 4" handle and 4" fades.
I will have to get some glue for this glue-up. I do have Urac but as you can guess it is out of date by now and even though it's been in the refrigerator I dare not use it.
Here are a few pics of the beginning...




Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Will B

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,022
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2022, 06:27:53 pm »
Looking forward to following this build.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2022, 12:25:33 pm »
 I found a little lateral warp in the stave so I thought I'd try to straighten it with heat. I clamped it to a old, real, pine 2x4 with a thin spacer at the center line holding it to the form and clamped the end to the 2x4 then heated both sides along the limb. I'll give it a few hours at least and see if it straightened. Any slight lateral bend that may remain I'll deal with once I get the back profile cut out and pre-tillered to an even bending state. At that point there will be less wood to move for the correction.
 a few more pics...


Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2022, 02:06:26 pm »
After the last session I didn't get any movement to straighten the lateral bend so I added a thicker spacer and tried again. This time it got her in pretty good alignment. Then it was time to glue the handle riser to the belly. I used TBIII for this...


...then started the tillering of the belly to get a good, even bend before glue up. At floor tiller it looked like she was bending pretty good so I placed her of the form to see just how good. The blocks on the form are 3 1/4" high where the tips rest. Then I draw the handle area down to see how the side view looks in reflex. I still need a little evening up on each limb...
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • Member
  • Posts: 9,425
    • Traditional and Primitive Archers
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2022, 03:10:14 pm »
Pat, I am looking forward to this build along. Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2022, 04:19:02 pm »
 Thanks George. It's been fun getting back into it.  :OK
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • Member
  • Posts: 9,425
    • Traditional and Primitive Archers
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2022, 06:52:00 pm »
Pat, I need to get something going too but... Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline superdav95

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,116
  • 3432614095
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2022, 08:46:59 pm »
Thanks for posting this build pat.  It looks like cool build.  I’ll be watching too
Sticks and stones and other poky stabby things.

superdav95@gmail.com

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2022, 10:59:57 pm »
I know what you mean, Jawge.
Thanks, Dave. So far it going good.  ;D
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2022, 12:19:05 pm »
Did a little more this morning. Started reducing the limbs more concentrating on the flat areas. Then I put her on the form, bending towards the belly and used Eric Krewson's Gizmo to mark the flat spots so I know where to remove wood. At this point I'm only using a scraper so it goes a lot slower but makes it less likely I screw up. Doing just a little each day also helps to keep me from screwing up.
 You can barely see the pencil marks in these pics. Too much glare to see it on here well.

Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pappy

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 32,204
  • if you have to ask you wouldn't understand ,Tenn.
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2022, 08:00:47 am »
Looking good Pat.
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2022, 10:28:42 am »
Thanks, Pappy.   Have you recuperated yet from your trip to Colorado? 
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pappy

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 32,204
  • if you have to ask you wouldn't understand ,Tenn.
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2022, 12:35:49 pm »
Pretty much, now playing catch up around home and farm. 😉 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
TwinOaks Bowhunters
Life is Good

Offline bradsmith2010

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,187
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2022, 10:28:21 pm »
looks great,, the fastest way to get there is slowly,, :)

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Starting a new ALB
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2022, 10:58:54 pm »
Brad, I'm becoming a student of that theory.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC