Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on May 09, 2009, 10:38:08 am

Title: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 09, 2009, 10:38:08 am
I made this bow a few weeks ago for some speed testing that Steve Gardner will be doing.  It's a static recurve made from Elm billets glued into deflex.  I steam bent the recurves and heat treated a few inches on reflex in the bow of which it kept about 1".  This Elm was peculiar.  It did not want to steam bend at all, which is pretty strange for Elm and it also didn't want to dry heat bend very well when I was heat treating the wood.  I would have reflexed the bow more if not for its reluctance to heat bending.  The bow is 61" long with 1 3/4" wide limbs tapering to 3/8" nocks.  It pulls just under 70# @ 28".  Here's a couple pictures

(https://i.imgur.com/ygtqfOE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CIuKIqZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/woj633I.jpg)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Timo on May 09, 2009, 10:54:47 am
Forever impressed Marc! ;)

Your elm bows look lots better than mine son..Really sweet tiller.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: OldBow on May 09, 2009, 10:57:00 am
Excellent! Bookmarked, too.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: sailordad on May 09, 2009, 10:58:08 am
Marc, once again you blew my socks off ;)

i always love the tiller on your bows,they always look dead on the money and make all your bows look so damn fast and pleasant to shoot
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 09, 2009, 10:59:40 am
Thanks guys
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: cracker on May 09, 2009, 11:00:19 am
Great looking bow I especially like the handle section.Ron
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Kegan on May 09, 2009, 11:30:04 am
Beautiful bow (as always) Marc! I really like that handle. Looks really comfortable, and I like the weight ;D.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: DirtyDan on May 09, 2009, 11:38:50 am
Marc, I love the sight window, the straightness of the string on the limbs, the reflex, and the fine curve of the tips.  Your usual excellent craftsmanship, sir.  Well done.

Dan
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Hillbilly on May 09, 2009, 11:39:53 am
Great looking recurve, Marc-but then, I've never seen one of your bows yet that wasn't top-notch. Looks like a screamer. Is that a straight pyramid taper?
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: smokeu on May 09, 2009, 03:54:59 pm
Very cool looking bow... Could you post some more pictures??
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: snedeker on May 09, 2009, 03:57:00 pm
Beautiful.  It says Marc SL without even needing to sign it.

Dave
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: nickf on May 09, 2009, 04:48:46 pm
just as excelent as always marc! lovely ;)

I would think this is your favorite style of bow. Any peticular reasons for it? exept from it's excelent astetics?

Nick
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 09, 2009, 04:54:49 pm
Thanks guys

Not a straight taper Steve but it does have a steady taper to the base of the recurves then a more abrupt taper.

This style of bow Nick is not only good looking, to me in any case but has excellent performance

I will take more pictures
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Easternarcher on May 09, 2009, 06:47:48 pm
MArc, I'm really in awe of your tiller! That's awesome.
Am I right in that these are more static recurve tips than working tips?
Are they laminated for strength as in the old style brush nocks?
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Barrage on May 09, 2009, 07:39:23 pm
Another great bow Marc.  I really love the tight recurves you put on these.  Do you leave the bow a little long when recurving then trim?  What's your method for avoiding pulling up splinters - metal strap?
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: PeteC on May 09, 2009, 08:38:59 pm
Awesome bow Marc,I've got an elm recurve in the works myself.Your recurves have inspired me to try one of elm,as I'm an osage addict,(already got the tips curved),but I've got a little more drying time to go.Again,beautiful bow. God Bless
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 09, 2009, 08:46:33 pm
Thanks again guys

These are static recurves.  I have made working recurves before but much prefer static recurves

As I mentioned above, this Elm was the most ornery wood I have ever worked.  Even after steaming the tips for more than 30 minutes the belly still splintered as I bent the recurve and this with a metal strap.  I therefore had to laminate a piece of wood onto the recurves to stiffen them back up.  The billets were about 8 years old so maybe that had something to do with it

The bow is trimmed to length before I start to tiller
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Dano on May 09, 2009, 09:34:22 pm
Very nice, I bet it does well.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Pat B on May 09, 2009, 11:01:04 pm
Another nice bow, Marc.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Jesse on May 09, 2009, 11:02:13 pm
Another nice bow, Marc.
Yup sure is :)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Keenan on May 09, 2009, 11:23:42 pm
Mark I'm always impressed with those rocket launchers that you make. Very nice. 
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: DanaM on May 10, 2009, 07:51:11 am
Nice one Marc :)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: DCM on May 10, 2009, 07:59:20 am
Love the pinkie show!  Certain individuals used to give me a ration of crap for that, so I thought I'd extend the favor.

Always love to see  your work.  Thanks for posting.  Have an elm stave in the works myself but will probably stick to a flatbow.  You have that recurve design fine tuned to a T.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Ryano on May 10, 2009, 09:22:19 am
Marc, I love how you take what a appears to be a highly stressed design and make it look like its hardly bending at full draw.....What smooth flowing full draw, I love it.  :)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 10, 2009, 11:32:11 am
Thanks guys

I've had a number of people ask me for advice on how to make bows like this so I decided to write a detailed article for PA on how to make one.  There's enough info in it that most people should be able to make one
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 12, 2009, 07:48:25 pm
Here's a few more pictures

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20Bows/Deflex%20Recurve/Overlay.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20Bows/Deflex%20Recurve/StringGroove.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20Bows/Deflex%20Recurve/Recurve.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20Bows/Deflex%20Recurve/ArrowPass.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Selfbows/Elm%20Bows/Deflex%20Recurve/Handle.jpg)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Sidewinder on May 12, 2009, 09:41:08 pm
Rocket launchers are right. I bet that one gets Steves heart pumping. Hope you guys benefit from what ever testing he is intending to put it through. Marc is a master, as if I needed to tell anyone that.   Danny
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: mullet on May 12, 2009, 10:13:43 pm
  I love Statics, good looking bow, Marc. Looks like you are doing some remodeling. :)
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Pappy on May 13, 2009, 05:51:40 am
Beautiful bow Marc,bet it will fling and arrow.Very nice job. What kind of testing is Steve doing ?
   Pappy
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 13, 2009, 11:02:43 am
Thanks again guys. 

That was just the garage Eddie but we will be doing some renovating this summer 

The test are for performance Pappy.  There's a few people that are supposed to send some bows for testing and we will make up a spreadsheet cataloging the type of bow and their performnce and it will be go on my website.  All testing will be done with 10 GPP arrows and drawn to 28" with no restrictions on string material.  All types of bows will be tested but no glass
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Mechslasher on May 13, 2009, 01:41:55 pm
yep, that's a marc st. louis bow all the way!  i'd recognise it in any crowd.  good job.
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: medicinewheel on May 14, 2009, 02:40:21 am
Yes, veray recognizable!
Great bow!
Hey you can send one alike to me, too, I'd do some speed testing as well...  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: jamie on May 16, 2009, 06:36:33 am
beauty
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 16, 2009, 09:46:05 am
Thanks Guys
Title: Re: Elm Recurve
Post by: brownhillboy on May 16, 2009, 10:05:30 am
Nice bow!  Looks fast, as usual for your bows...can't wait to see the results.