Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on March 07, 2009, 11:32:27 am
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Here’s my latest ERC attempt. My last ERC selfbow exploded after about 30 arrows - an impressive double-limb blowout (I never even found the string). Since this stave was from the same tree, I decided I’d best back it. Anyway, I’ve been dying to try triggerfish skin as a backing material for a while now. I never heard of anybody using this, but somebody's probably done it before.
For you landlubbers, grey triggerfish is a diamond-shaped deep sea fish that’s a pretty common on the east coast. Instead of removable scales, it has an incredibly tough hide with a scaley pattern on it. So on a trip to NC, I snagged a few whole fish from a seafood store, and saved the skins. (The fish was delicious, by the way – tastes like red snapper.)
The thing is, these fish are only about 12” long from tip to tail, so I could only make strips 5-6” long, and overlap them along the back. This is probably breaking a cardinal rule of backing, but what the heck, it worked. And besides, I kinda like the reptilian look it gives it. This bow took the skins of 3 triggerfish. When this skin dries, it’s tough as steel, but it apparently has enough flexibility to bend without cracking or separating between layers.
The bow is pyramid-style, tapering from 1-7/8” to just under ½”. It’s 68” nock-to-nock. I made it a bit longer than most of my bows, on account of ERC’s tendency to take set (or break) at semi-heavy weights. It pulls around 65 lbs at 26”, which was my target. Sometimes I can flip the tips a bit on ERC, but this one wouldn’t cooperate, so I left it straight. It’s got about 1-¼” of set, which I’m good with.
ERC is pretty soft, so I added some deer hoof tip overlays, triggerfish skin strike plate, and a dyed jute wrap. It shoots off my hand just fine. I’m sure I could tweak the tiller a bit, but I like the way it shoots now, and I don’t want to lose any weight.
I’m new to backings, so I can’t compare it to much. All I know is, it ain’t broke yet after 100 arrows or so, and it shoots way zippy. I’d love to hear some advice from the backing experts out there.
...Tom
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that wood is really nice. Shame the last one broke, but you did a good job on this one. :)
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Hey stickhead that is an absolutely gorgeous bow. Red cedar is some beautful wood.Ron
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Nice bow, Stick! ERC does make a beautiful bow but also a spectacular explosion! I know from experience. The trigger fish skin is cool also. The only cardinal rule for backings that I know is that they work properly and looks like yours has.
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very nice, coodos' for doing something diff. and experimenting.
chuck
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Man thats some cool 8) looking backing. Nice job and thanks fer sharing eh :)
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that wod and skin combo is sweet dude
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Wow, that is a good looking bow. Really like the red cedar.
I've been thinking about fish skin backings lately but never thought about looking at the fish market.
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That is really neat!!Great job..Did you have to chase a ring to end up with heartwood in the limbs? The cedar bows I've built were all whitewood in the limbs and a little red showing on the handle.Just curious. God Bless
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Very nice bow!! I've got some ERC that's been sitting around for 6 or 7 yrs. This inspires me to get to work on it. Like you I think I 'll put on a backing, just haven't decided on which one yet.
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Nice job dude. The skins really set the ERC off!
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Well it does look pretty cool. I'm not a big erc fan for the reasons you mentioned. Just be careful you don't let the wood dry out to much because it gets extremely brittle. I've had two diferant well shot in erc bows blow to pieces on me after they set in the house ifor a few the months in the winter.
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Excellent looking bow. I love the look of cedar, and those fish skins set it off well.
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Never built a cedar bow, got lots of it round here,but I've never found a piece that wasn't full of knots. Ya did good on that one.
As for the skins: I like any kind of skins.Love to see something different.Perty cool.
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Nice work! That bow has some great color. Hope it sticks around a little longer than the last one for you.
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Thanks for the positive comments, y'all.
PeteC - I followed a ring just as I would for an unbacked bow. The ERC has drifting heartwood that varied a bit from tip to tip.
Timo - The ERC grows everywhere here in VA. This stave came from my backyard. It was a double branch tree that had really clean wood in between the two trunks. This stave had zero knots on the back, and only a few little knots on the belly side.
...Tom
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Awesome bow. Very attractive and with a nice tiller. That bow should trigger some positive comments. :) Jawge
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looks really good!
f.
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Awesome bow. Very cool experimenting with something new. I really like the way the way those skins look on that beautiful bow.
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Thats a real nice bow good job on that.
Marlin
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Very nice bow! Gotta love that ERC, and your backing is very unique. Nice work.
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Very interesting and nice bow what is a trigger fish? ???
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Very nice bow.
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The skins look great as does the bow itself. Congratulations.
Tracy
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Beautiful bow,very nice work.
Pappy
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That's beautiful. Nothin prettier than cedar.
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You rule on this one. Humuhumukununukuapua'a to you. Great candidate for March Self Bow of the Month.
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Thats a great looking bow, and I hope it holds up for you. Yep that Hawaiian name for them is about the longest in the book ;D
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What creative juices to flow on that bow! The skins look fantastic and give it natural camoflauge.
My wife just commented yesterday that she thought it strange for me to save my deer hooves. I had the same thought you did.
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Beautiful bow! I love the looks of cedar. I just cut down a small cedar tree today...hope I can make something of it sometime.
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That is one sweet looking bow. I've never had trouble with ERC if I got a finished bow before it blew. You have given me some great Ideas the next time I go spearfishing. Parrot fish is a cousin, and has pretty green skin,,, and i almost forgot about Moray eels/ ::)
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Thanks much, folks. I just can't resist ERC, for the lightweight zippy action and the unique coloring, but mainly because it grows in my back yard.
...Tom
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Beautiful bow,very nice work. Congratulations