Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: John K on March 03, 2009, 11:24:18 am

Title: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 03, 2009, 11:24:18 am
This is a Hickory stave i got from Cracker in a trade. I have a knot just out of the fades and i'm wondering if you think i should leave it as is, or take it down a little.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/frontknot.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/hickknot.jpg)

Side view.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/sideknot.jpg)

Braced.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/braced.jpg)

Pulled to 22"
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/22draw.jpg)

Bow is 66 ttt looking for about 50#'s

Thanks JohnK  :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 03, 2009, 11:32:31 am
looks like a nice solid knot John, I would probably reduce it down some.
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Pappy on March 03, 2009, 11:53:28 am
Looking pretty good so far,I'm with Dana I would probably take it down at least 1/4 to 3/8 more.
   Pappy
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 03, 2009, 12:01:55 pm
Thansk Guys, I kind of figured that but you know what they say, once you take it off you can't put it back on  :D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Pat B on March 03, 2009, 01:41:31 pm
John, how does the knot look from the belly side?
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 03, 2009, 01:50:41 pm
Pat, I don't have a picture at the moment of the belly, but it is all sound wood. I can take a picture tonight if it would help.
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 03, 2009, 01:56:33 pm
I think the knot is ok. The stave is pretty stiff coming out of the fades on upper and lower. I like the bending to start at the end of the fades. You've  got over 12 inches of handle  not bending. On the knotted limb, it should  begin to bend out of the fades, the knotted area should be stiff, and the bending should start out of the fades. Jawge
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 03, 2009, 02:18:35 pm
Thanks Jawge, i plan to do some scraping tonight, i'll hit those areas !
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: nickf on March 03, 2009, 02:22:49 pm
that's a great stave John! you might want to get those fades bending a Little more... Just like jawge said ;)
it seems the knot ain't too big, I think you can narrow the spot. But too much weight at the fades won't hurt the bow, and anyhow, some nice skinny tips will add some performance :)

Edit: you made a good decision!

Nick
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 03, 2009, 02:42:23 pm
Thanks Nick, Here is a pick of the tips.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/tip.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/pinnock.jpg)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: cracker on March 03, 2009, 06:32:54 pm
Nice lookin bow John if it don't work out let me know and I'll send you some more.Ron ;D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on March 03, 2009, 06:53:29 pm
What Dana and Pappy said.....this looks to be a Strong Knot....I would take it down to about here.....and just let the Scraper do the Talking as you do reduce it...the Grain will tell Ya......should be fine John....keep the Pictures coming

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: sailordad on March 03, 2009, 08:56:13 pm
yup all good advise
that exactly where i would narrow it also,and definatly get it bending it the fades some yet
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 10:50:00 am
Thanks guys ! Mike i took it down to that line last night. I have it tillered to 50# @27"
It took about 2 1/2 " of set but i can live with that. Going to try and shoot it some this weekend, so i'll get some more picture up after that.

Thanks John
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: bambule on March 04, 2009, 01:35:08 pm
if you temper the belly you can reduce the set. Hickory loves it to get treated by dry heat  ;D

Greetz
Cord
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 02:12:37 pm
if you temper the belly you can reduce the set. Hickory loves it to get treated by dry heat  ;D

Greetz
Cord

never did this before, can you explain more ? I do have a heat gun.

Thanks John
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on March 04, 2009, 02:19:43 pm
if you temper the belly you can reduce the set. Hickory loves it to get treated by dry heat  ;D

Greetz
Cord

Took the Words right from My Mouth.....Temper the Belly....put it in a Caul and induce a little reflex in it and heat the Belly up good....but remember to let it rest a few days to replenish the Moisture lost during the Heat Treating....
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 04, 2009, 02:22:58 pm
If you don't have a form just grace it backwards 3 to 4" then cook it :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 02:39:11 pm
Dana, You mean brace right ? How long do i cook it for ? And don't say until it's done  :D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on March 04, 2009, 02:52:42 pm
Yeah John ....He means Brace It.....just String it backwards with a 4-5 inch Brace Height....and I have only heated it till it starts to turn colors a bit....when it's hot enough that you can hold on to it....then just let it cool and replace the lost Moisture...that should help with the Set You got...and it will also help from developing any more too..
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 02:56:07 pm
Thanks Mike, got it !
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 04, 2009, 02:59:13 pm
Don't try to cook the whole bow in 5 min, you want it to get hot enough to penetrate a bit, don't burn it black, a nice golden brown
like fresh baked bread :)  Watch you do'n melt yer string :o Let it cool well before unstringing, then like Mike said let it rest for a few days
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 03:13:16 pm
Mmmmmm freshed baked bread  :D   Thanks Dana !
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on March 04, 2009, 05:25:36 pm
It always ends up at either Food .....or Beer for Dana.....don't it....or am I just imaging things....... :D ;)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 05:36:48 pm
That seems to happen alot around here  :D :D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 04, 2009, 06:35:07 pm
 ;D ;D ;D And whats wrong with that Mike ??? ::) ;)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on March 04, 2009, 06:49:48 pm
                                Nuthin....as long as it's not a Plate of Calf Fries and a Corona Beer.................... :P
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 06:52:00 pm
Hey guys, Does this cooking the belly only work for Hickory, or will it work on other woods  ???
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 04, 2009, 06:56:13 pm
John it works with most woods some better than others, in my very limited experience I think it worls better with white woods than it does osage.
Adding reflex with heat works with all woods. Two different things entirely.
You need to buy The Bowyers Bible Vol 4 and read Marc's chapter on belly tempering. :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 07:00:44 pm
I need 3 & 4 yet, My Birthday is next Sunday, hint hint  :D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on March 04, 2009, 07:05:24 pm
Happy Birthday John :) If ya want to borrow my copies just drive on up and get them eh ::) :D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on March 04, 2009, 07:17:18 pm
With the price of gas, i would better off buying them ! but thanks for the offer  ;D
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 10:48:08 am
Finally got this one finished up. It's a sweet shooter. 66" ntn about 2"wide out of the fades except for the knot. ( a little wider there ) Pulls 48 @ 27. All my friends that i've had shoot it really like it.

Here's a few pics of the finished bow.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Pappy on April 17, 2009, 10:49:56 am
Very nice,love the colors. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 10:55:23 am
Thanks Pappy  :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: OldBow on April 17, 2009, 11:08:16 am
Want to crank this back for BOM fun?
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: HFD60 on April 17, 2009, 11:15:00 am
Thats a great looking bow....good job
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 11:16:15 am
Don, I'll get one this weekend. I have a 3-d shoot on Saturday.  ;D

Thanks HFD60!
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on April 17, 2009, 12:16:14 pm
Nice Bow John....Thats one of My Favorite N.A. Designs....and the Cambium makes it look way too cool!!!
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 12:18:17 pm
Thanks Mike, I get a lot people that like the cambium look.
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: El Destructo on April 17, 2009, 12:20:53 pm
To people that don't know....It looks like you worked really hard to achieve that look!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 12:29:05 pm
Never thought of it that way. I will be doing that some more !!
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 17, 2009, 12:50:41 pm
I didn't catch what you said about how much set you got but I wouldn't worry about it, John. As you develop an eye for tiller you'll learn not to pull the stave further than it takes to expose a problem. The bow looks great. You did well. Jawge
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 17, 2009, 01:12:38 pm
Thanks Jawge, It took about 2 1/2 inches maybe a little more. It shoots nice so that's all that matters to me at the moment  :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Aosda on April 18, 2009, 01:43:41 am
Wish I had a Christmas Tree ornament that looked like that.  That way, Santa's reindeer wouldn't escape >:D .

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: DanaM on April 18, 2009, 07:35:37 am
Looks good John, but its so white :o ;) :D Have fun at yer shoot
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: cracker on April 18, 2009, 10:39:43 am
Good lookin bow  John. I knew you could do it. That kickory takes easily to any coloring you might want to use.Ron
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 20, 2009, 12:20:50 pm
Thanks guys ! The color is staying as is....here are a full draw and unbraced picture.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/FULLDRAW.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/UNBRACED-2.jpg)

Thanks for all the help !  John
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Ryano on April 20, 2009, 02:43:49 pm
Nice bow John.  Here's a couple of tips for minimizing set on your next one. First off even though your limbs are tillered evenly they aren't bending enough near the fades. This is the widest part of the limb and it needs to do its fair share off the work. Also I'm guessing your hickory's moisture level was a little high. You can't get hickory dry enough in most climates (unless you live in the desert) with out a heat box, or heat source of some sort, that go's for most any white wood but especially hickory, it sucks up moisture like a sponge and doesn't like to get rid of it.
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 20, 2009, 03:39:12 pm
Thanks Ryano. Getting my bows to bend more at the fades is one thing i need to work on. I left this bow along side the wood stove all winter so i don't think moisture was a problem.  :)
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: cracker on April 20, 2009, 04:26:27 pm
Looks good John. I can see that one went to a good home.Ron
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Pappy on April 21, 2009, 09:35:04 am
Looking good,What Ryan said on the set,but a little set don't hurt the shooting much anyway and sometime make them shoot even sweeter. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 21, 2009, 10:39:17 am
Thanks Ronnie, Will have to make a trade again !

I hear ya Pappy, it is a "sweet" shooter !
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: Pappy on April 21, 2009, 11:22:44 am
That is all that counts. ;) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: cracker on April 21, 2009, 11:54:31 am
Thanks Ronnie, Will have to make a trade again !

I hear ya Pappy, it is a "sweet" shooter !
John I always try to keep hickory in my inventory. Plan on adding white oak too. Ron
Title: Re: Hickory from a Cracker
Post by: John K on April 21, 2009, 12:14:29 pm
White Oak, is some nice stuff....i'm working on one now !