Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Kenny H on February 14, 2009, 12:52:41 pm

Title: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 14, 2009, 12:52:41 pm
 Hello everyone, this is my first bow that I have completely finished. Its a red oak board bow. I posted some pics awhile back of the board selection that I had and I picked one and got started. I used all hand tools except for the rest area I did cut it out with a jigsaw. The bow is 68" ttt. It pulls 40pounds at 30". Its very smooth and shoots hard I think for a 40 pound weapon.I shot it a couple of days ago at a 3D shoot and done pretty good with it. Considering I'm not the best archer in the world. :) I wrapped the handle with some old hide I had and then laced it with some art sinew. I think the top limb could use some more work but I didn't want to take anymore weight off so Ill just have to live with the end results. I learned alot from this bow, more from this one than the other learning experiences Ive had.( blown bows). Patience is certainly the key to this. I believe I took off to much in the floor tillering stage and didn't leave enough to work with on the tree. I missed my mark by about 5 pounds.I wanted 45 at 30 but I am very happy with the way it turned out. I know that my next one will be better. Ill wait for you all to tell me when you think I'm ready for a real stave. I have some cherry I cut last spring and am always looking for more wood. I'm saving money in hopes of coming to twin oaks in may. Most people around here think I'm crazy but I think pappy is right. " If you have to ask you really just wouldn't understand"  :)                  Hope I done OK for my first completed bow. No mesh tape on this one.  ;D       
                                                                                                    Kenny

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Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 14, 2009, 12:57:08 pm
Sorry not enough room for all the pics on the first post. Two coats of hand rubbed tung oil.

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Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Denham Archer on February 14, 2009, 01:07:53 pm
That is a nive first bow!  Looks nice and wide for 30 inches @ 68 ttt.  How wide is it?  Again, good job.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Gordon on February 14, 2009, 01:42:09 pm
You did really good on that one Kenny. Congratulations!
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Jesse on February 14, 2009, 01:55:24 pm
Very nice :o I like that handle wrap as well
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: cheapshot on February 14, 2009, 02:37:32 pm
Good looking bow, the tiller looks real good to my novice eyes. I like the handle wrap too.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: brownhillboy on February 14, 2009, 03:07:40 pm
Very good job!  I'm sure you'll be making many more.  Thanks for sharing. :)
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Pat B on February 14, 2009, 04:09:44 pm
Your tiller and brace look really good, especially for a beginner. Handle wrap is cool too.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Scowler on February 14, 2009, 04:49:09 pm
Nice looking bow, congratulations.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 14, 2009, 04:59:22 pm
Thank you for the compliments and encouragement. Does that mean that I'm ready for a real stave? ;D I would like some more info on the Tennessee Classic at Pappy's  place. Does anyone know where I could find that at? I left the tips stiff cause I thought it would make the bow shoot harder. Was that right or was that wrong? Anyway thank you all very much. I didn't figure to get to many responses today cause most of the women are draggin the men out of the man caves today. :D
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: John B. on February 14, 2009, 05:07:50 pm
Very nice!
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: El Destructo on February 14, 2009, 05:31:10 pm
Nice Bow kenny....any time you feel ready is the right time to graduate to a Stave Bow....as for the Classic....here is a link to all you will need....

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,10588.0.html
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: DanaM on February 14, 2009, 05:45:45 pm
Ya done well for your first bow :) Any time is a good time for a stave I will warn ya though that black cherry is not the best
choice for a first stave. Hickory, hard maple, elm, hophornbeam would be a good choice . Hope to see ya at the Tennessee Classic
you will learn more in a few days with all experiennnnnnced bowyers there then you will in a year on yer own.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: OldBow on February 14, 2009, 07:15:44 pm
Good job and quite the handle. Got your First completed bow!!!!! bookmarked for Feb Self Bow of the Month. Thanks for the post.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: cowboy on February 14, 2009, 08:32:17 pm
Way to go Kenny! that's one fine lookin bow, and what a rush to finally finnish one huh :)? I remember taking my first bows and launching arra's in the back yard straight up just to see how high they'd go. Congrat's...
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: medicinewheel on February 15, 2009, 04:49:13 am

very good start!
what are you building next??  ;D ;D ;D
f.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: PeteC on February 15, 2009, 08:57:13 am
Good job Kenny!From here each one will be a little better.My take on patience is that,I don't have enough of it,to NOT do it right the first time.Ha! Again, you did good. God Bless
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 15, 2009, 10:54:50 am
 Thanks you guys! I'm not sure what to make next. I will probably make a couple more oak board bows in between now and the classic cause I don't have any other wood. I am going to wait on the cherry till I know how to chase a ring. I may look for some hickory around here though cause I would like to learn to steam and bend the wood. I really like the r/d bows. I'm in the middle of restoring my kitchen( Big project)so I wont have time for a week or so to do much else other than that and shootin my new bow. ;D   Thanks again guys for all the help and encouragement.
                                                                            Kenny
The bow is 1 3/4 at mid limb. and tapers to 5/8. The taper starts right off from the widest part of the limbs.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Justin Snyder on February 15, 2009, 11:13:55 am
Good job.  It looks like you might be gripping the string a little high.  Might be an illusion though.  Justin
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 15, 2009, 12:04:05 pm
I could have been Justin. I wasnt pulling the bow the way I shoot just tryin to get my daughter to get the limbs bending in the whole picture. :)
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Bear67 on February 15, 2009, 03:39:58 pm
Great fist bow ( not that im one to talk ) it looks great and as a newbie it looked like it bent well that should shoot well.  I loved the handle wrap, i just love leather for a handle.  I my self am getting together some tools to do a board bow my self.
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Kenny H on February 15, 2009, 08:52:11 pm
Bear This isn't the first attempt at a bow just the first one that didn't break or blow up. :D I really believe that the ones that did break was what is teaching me slowly of what to do and not to do. Like I said though I certainly learned the most from this one. Thanks again.                    Kenny
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 15, 2009, 10:08:58 pm
The tiller looks good. Congratulations on your first bow. Looks like the back has some violations and run outs. I might be inclined to slap a silk, burlap or linen backing on it though. Jawge
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: Pappy on February 16, 2009, 06:58:13 am
Nice job Kenny, Hard to believe it's your first,mine sure didn't look like that. ;) ;D
   Pappy
Title: Re: First completed bow!!!!!
Post by: GregB on February 16, 2009, 08:59:59 am
Great job Kenny! Turned out really nice.

In the future, you might consider cutting an inch or so off each tip to increase the weight...an option if you want the heavier weight.