2025 Junior Bow Trade

[Aaron1726]

Looking good to me, that was a lot of bends to straighten.  Hope tillering goes well this weekend.

I have mine still a couple lbs heavy, but been working on sanding it all smooth, so hoping that will get the last little bit and then I can finish it up this week or next.

[Aaron1726]

I have gotten mine where I'm happy with things.  Here's a few shots, un braced, braced and full draw.  The string wrapped on the limb is the top limb for reference.  The top limb had some natural recurve to it and the whole stave had deflex.  I was able to heat out quite a bit of it, but seems this is how it wants to be.  Been shooting it for the last several weeks and seems to shoot pretty good.

I put some stain on it today, so nearly done.

[Wallski]

Hey Aaron, it’s looking good!

[stuckinthemud]

Oh wow, that is looking really nice.  Mafort has been in touch, making good progress,  we might be on target to ship at the end of the month, or early October.  Well done everyone!!

[paulc]

Again...don't wait for me!  I feel bad being so far behind! 

My tips are not inline enough.  The bow doesn't twist a lot but it definitely wants to rotate a bit.  I will get into tillering and I guess try and move the tips again with more dry heat?  Not feeling good about giving this to someone if i succeed in making a bow from it.  String runs along the tile grout line...Inside the circle is the handle :-(

Paul

[Muskyman]

First thing I’ll say is I’m not as experienced as many on here but I think I would try bending that bow in the handle area to try and line the tips up with the center of the handle. I’ve actually done that before and had luck with it. Hopefully if I’m wrong someone on here will say something.
This is from the bowyers bible steam the handle area and then move it with clamps.

[sleek]

Again...don't wait for me!  I feel bad being so far behind! 

My tips are not inline enough.  The bow doesn't twist a lot but it definitely wants to rotate a bit.  I will get into tillering and I guess try and move the tips again with more dry heat?  Not feeling good about giving this to someone if i succeed in making a bow from it.  String runs along the tile grout line...Inside the circle is the handle :-(

Paul

what type wood is it Paul?  I'd steam that handle for an hour and using clamps, force it into alignment, then about half as much further to account for spring back and let it cool

[JW_Halverson]

Again...don't wait for me!  I feel bad being so far behind! 

My tips are not inline enough.  The bow doesn't twist a lot but it definitely wants to rotate a bit.  I will get into tillering and I guess try and move the tips again with more dry heat?  Not feeling good about giving this to someone if i succeed in making a bow from it.  String runs along the tile grout line...Inside the circle is the handle :-(

Paul

what type wood is it Paul?  I'd steam that handle for an hour and using clamps, force it into alignment, then about half as much further to account for spring back and let it cool

PROBLEM: Tips out of line?
SOLUTION: Make corrections in the handle!

You make the tips move more by correcting in the grip area, so you only have to make minor corrections. It's a lovely solution. Plus, if you dent the wood with the clamps its in the grip area that doesnt bend anyway and you're gonna put a handle wrap over it anyway! TA-DAAAA!

[paulc]

Wood is Chinese elm

thanks All as usual!!   PC

[paulc]

success, or at least improvement...Paul

[stuckinthemud]

Fab!  If it helps , you can sometimes use a side-nock to pull the string across a little

[paulc]

Today was to be tillering day, but in handling the stave, planning it out i realized most all of my successful correction had been lost as the stave sat this week. So I have resteamed for a third time, nearly 2hrs worth. And reclaimed the stave straight. I will let it spend the whole week clamped, and maybe even hit it w the heat gun on Thursday? Hopefully the correction will set in and I can again try to tiller on coming Sunday....Paul

[paulc]

Morning All, things continue to not work out for me to work on this bow.  PLEASE don't wait on me.  When I went to tiller this past weekend I found the correction was not much and instead of left to right bend I had a front to back bend that now I want to try and steam out.  Add to the stave woes I no longer have access to my usual work area as my wife and I have split up.  Currently using an apartment kitchen counter as my "work bench".  Needless to say not a great set up. 

If I ever get a bow made from this thing I will post it....Paul

[stuckinthemud]

Still waiting on another trade member, so don't sweat too much, sorry 😞 you're going through such a tough time

[paulc]

We sleep in the bed we've made, eh?  It'll be okay with time.  Paul