Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: tom sawyer on December 15, 2008, 08:49:58 pm
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I see some of the old "faces" and several new ones. Been busy here with a new job, and spending more time brewing beer and wine than making bows. I did some hedge cutting this summer, and a few weeks ago my buddy called and his friend (a fencepost cutter) had a nice log for me. Turns out it was 9' long and 18" diameter. We split it in 1/8ths and those were quite a pain to load on the trailer. I cut them down to 6' and sealed the ends, then wrapped them in a tarp for the winter. I figure each one ought to make three bows without too much trouble. My arms hurt just thinking about geting the bark and sapwood off though.
Anyway just wanted to say "hey" and keep up the good work.
One more thing, y'all get working on a hatchet bow for this year's MOJAM, I'm in charge and will come up with a nice prize.
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Hi, tom sawyer, welcome back. I have my new face on now. Jawge
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Hey Tom, I was wondering where you got off too. Wine and beer, huh? :P
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Good to know your still kickin ;)....Brian
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Great to have you back,wondered where you were. Beer/wine hum sound like a worthy venture. ;)
Pappy
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Glad to see you back on line Lennie :)
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Hey Lennie, everyone needs a vacation now and then. That beer and wine part of yours sounds like a worthwhile venture ::) ;D.
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Wondered where you'd been lately. If you're gonna disappear, beer is a good reason. ;D
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My thoughts exactly. I hope to bring some samples to Pappy's shindig this year. I now have a kegging system, so I can deal in bulk.
Jimmy is still making bows left and right too. So there is some bit of activity in the workshop. He made a very nice 60lb sinewed bow, but he whittled another of my bamboo-backed blanks down to a toothpick. He's he77 on those backed bows.
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The last samples you brought was pretty good stuff,now that you have it perfected it should be great. ;) ;D
Pappy
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Glad to see youre still amongst us lennie, hope youve got a recipe for an irish red brew, Ive become fond of that type of beer these days. Wish you an the family a Merry Christmas and the best for the new year!
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no life :P
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sorry that was my stupid a$$ brother... :-\
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Update on my bow wood stash. Last weekend I finally made myself work up the pile of splits that has graced my back patio for several months. I found most of the belly splits weren't usable, had a few billets is all. And of course the log, being so big, had some wind checks that rendered a few of the staves unusable. Still, so far I've got 11 good staves skinned and sealed for seasoning. Most are in the 76" range, and mostly straight with just a little character here and there. There are a few more that might work out depending on what I find when I skin them, probably a few more billets at the very least. I had one piece with a very nice knothole that would have made a good character bow, but when I split the thing it went pretty close to the hole and I don't think its going to work out. Should've just went for the one bow I guess. Haven't skinned that one down yet so I'm not positive I ruiined it. In any case, I hope to have everything worked up and in the garage for a few years of slow drying. I'm going to pull my existing stash and put these on the bottom. That is always fun, I invariably find wood I forgot about.
Also, I have an announcement. There will be no hatchet bow contest at this year's MOJAM. I talked to Keith about it, and since we only had a few bows in each of the last few years I think its clear this contest has run its course. It certainly proved that an excellent bow can be made with nothing more than a tool as simple and basic as a hatchet. I hope none of you are too dissappointed. There is an awful lot going on at MOJAM on Saturday afternoon so I don't think it will be missed too much. As last year's winner, I am going to still bring a prize and donate it to the stash for the clout shoot or auction.
See y'all around.
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Tom Thumbs.... ;D Sorry Dean made me doit. ;) The hatchet bow contest was alot of fun, but only when ya had plenty of bows to judge. You guys are right about it running it's course. I kinda wonder also as to how many really played by the rules?
I still hack one out on occasion just for old times sake. I't amazing how good of a bow one can make with a hatchet. The one I won with a few years ago, almost broke in half on a rabbit hunt,I sinewed it and it still shoots a good arra!
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I wonder if Dean made it to Cloverdale. I should email him, I haven't taken much abuse at work and he'd catch me up I'm sure. Especially if he knew I hadn't been working on bows like I should. On the other hand, Greeks like wine...
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I wondered where you have been,missed you around here.Glad to see you back at it. :)
Pappy
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Where you been hiding, Lennie?
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Good to see you poke yer head out Lennie. Ize wanderin' about you just the other day, for the life of me I can't remember why. Hope all is well over yonder.
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I got a promotion at the cement plant and its been taking a lot more of my time and energy than my last job. Then they made my colleague retire and now I'm even busier. Not complaining, its about time they got some work out of me. I call it work but its not like cutting/splitting/processing hedge.
I haven't made any bows lately, but I did promise a couple of people that I'd knock something out for them. I figure I'll fix up a couple of blanks to work on at MOJAM.
YOu coming to MOJAM Mims? Pappy?
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Welcome back, tom sawyer. Glad you are making more shavings. :) Jawge
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Hey Lennie,
What happened to the port-a-potty cleaning business you were in :D.
Good to see your still kicking. Hope you aren;t gonna consume all that grog by yourself ::).
I dont get out much myself these days...
R.
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Ain't gonna make MoJam Lennie. Done missed too much work as it is... and my constitution ain't quite back to what it takes for the worst potential weather, plus the long days and driving. Went to Pappy's though. Hate we missed ya'll. Maybe catch up wich you there next Spring.
Hey Sparkles!
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Sparkyy! Tsup! This is like a high school reunion. Chelmsford (MA) High School. Class of '66. Ya I know I'm old. :) Jawge
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Whatz up there poddle cooker? Good to see ya alive Sparky!
Lennie, Is colleague and concrete plant ok to use in the same sentence? ;D
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I love how one guy says hi, and it causes 2 pages of responses. ;D
Good to see you back, Lennie. See you at Mojam.
Sean :)
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Well there ya are... Hey Lennie. Been wondering where ya'll had got off to. :)
I agree that the hatchet bow contest has run it's course but I hope some folks still try it now and then. It's a very good execise in "living history" and really gets you in touch with the past.
Looking forward to seeing you and everyone else at MOJAM.
Paul