Horn bow x 2 build along.

[Mad Max]

Nice job    , I'm going to make mine too. I have a set of needle files I have used a lot but need to get a new set.

Why the 6" Radius, what is the benefit for a flatter radius?
My book is saying 50 to 70mm (1.9" to 2.75")

[superdav95]

I can’t recall why the 6” radius but it looked closer to the radius I’ve seen on some original horn bows.  I’m also keeping some width on my builds too a minimum of 30-35mm wide.  The 3” radius I’ve seen others suggest are likley more for narrow horn bows.  Just my observations anyway. 

[superdav95]

Ok so a little more progress on these horn bows.  got my grooving done for the horn and the cores and also did a dry fit and wrap to check good  tight fitment.   all good.  I did my first few coats of sizing done last night too.  I use 5% sturgeon glue for this.  I heat up the core and horn for the first few coats to really deep soak into the pours of the surfaces.  As it gets a sheen to it after several coats i use 10% for a few more then done.  These grooves will not be completely filled in with glue and are matching grooves.  I will use 25-30% glue when i do the actual glue up and wrap to ensure goo squeeze out and filling of the all the voids in any imperfections there may be in the grooving of both horn and core wood.  fingers crossed. the test dry run went well and I feel confident it will work well and be sufficiently tight.  Ill be using the rope and wedges method for these bows that ive seen used on the Japanese yumi bows.  lots of shavings!

[Bob Barnes]

It looks AMAZING Dave!  thanks for the pictures...   

[superdav95]

I got my grooving all sized coated and ready last night. I then glued up the horn slats to the cores of both bows. I used the yumi rope and wedges method for both. I was considering doing one with tencik but the first o e went so well that I decided to do the other the same. It will be a good test either way of this method. I’ve seen one other instance where this method was used for horn bows that were not yumi bows. I was intrigued by the process so figured I’d try it. I got the grooves to line up good I think and got good squeeze out. I put lots of glue on there to ensure if any gaps were at least filled with glue. A dry run before went good and figment was nice and solid so here’s hoping I didn’t screw it up! lol. I’ll post a video link here but please feel free to fast forward thru boring parts. I could figure out how to fast forward thru bits of it to shorten it up. Oh well. You guys will get the idea. Let me know what you think!



https://youtu.be/wHNBKq1OQBU?si=jFqEEhFHXI0RInlO

[WhistlingBadger]

Astoundingly cool work, Dave!  I bet all those horn shavings smell delightful!   

[superdav95]

Astoundingly cool work, Dave!  I bet all those horn shavings smell delightful!   

Thanks man!   Ya my dog is all o er me when I work with the stuff!  He likes it anyway.   

[GlisGlis]

Great Great work !   

[superdav95]

Ok so a quick update on my horn glue ups.  things went well.  I did some cleaning up of the edges and thinned the horn down some.  I wanted to see evidence of good adhesion which i think i do!  horay!!.  what a relief.  seems to have good alignment with the grooving at both ends which is a good thing. 

[medicinewheel]

Nicely done!

[Pat B]

More beautiful work, Dave. What will you use as a spacer where the Horn meets at the handle?

[superdav95]

Thanks Pat!   Ya I’ll likely use a small section of white bone or antler piece in there.  Should work fine and look good.