Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dauntless on August 26, 2009, 06:58:42 pm

Title: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Dauntless on August 26, 2009, 06:58:42 pm

Went for a little relaxing down at the family cottage where I got into bowmaking.  Relaxing means spending days in the workshop.

I brought my basic tools, a drawknife and a cabinet scraper.  These bows are essentially made with just those two tools.

The first one is a 42" long "kids" bow about 30# at the 20"+ I'm drawing.  I found some mouldy red oak boards and ripped this piece out.  I did back it with white cotton because there was more grain runoff than I can deal with.  It's has a thinner handle that is obviously working and fades an inch wide.  It took 2" of set and whips my lighter arrows with surprising authority.
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09024.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09025.jpg)





The second one is also from some old mouldy red oak boards.  I backed with a scrap piece of ash I had previously used as a 5# toy bow.  I didn't glue in any reflex and there was some deflex in both laminations.  Anyways, it's 48" long, 7/8" wide at the centre and draws a good 50# at 22" or so inches.  I didn't bring my scale or bother to measure the drawlength so these numbers could be a little off.  I made side nocks because I'm in love with them.  With all the cards stacked up against me (humid wood, glued in deflex, width, too circular tiller), on top of my ineptitude, the bow took a clean 3½" of set.  This bow is pure fun for shooting from the chest.  Not too accurate though.

(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09007.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09006.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09010.jpg)





The last bow is that wonky oak D bow I started when I get jealous of the Hickory one GMC showed a couple weeks back.  It's a red oak sapling, 58" long, 1.5" wide and about 55# at 28".  The string is off the handle by a good inch and a half I think.  I toasted the belly without inducing reflex just to dry the wood a little more.  It took 2" of set.  Surprisingly, the 1.5" wide handle isn't that uncomfortable.
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09014.jpg)
(http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr313/Dauntlessbows/kamou09021.jpg)

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: John K on August 26, 2009, 07:34:38 pm

I like em ! Sounds like a nice weekend making bows.

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Pat B on August 26, 2009, 08:23:30 pm

Beautiful tiller on all three. 

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 26, 2009, 09:01:37 pm

Well done! Jawge

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: PeteC on August 26, 2009, 09:54:47 pm

Good job,I like em all. God Bless

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: recurve shooter on August 26, 2009, 09:57:26 pm

nice sticks you got there man. great work.

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: billy on August 26, 2009, 11:53:37 pm

HELL YEAH!!  Now that's what I'm talking about!

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Josh on August 27, 2009, 01:16:22 pm

nice tiller on all three.  I love that circular arc of the working grip bow,  gotta try one next.  peace!   -josh

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: radius on August 27, 2009, 02:02:20 pm

ur a good bowyer, man, way to go...

oak, eh...my first successful bow was a red oak recurve which i gave away...wonder how it held up?

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Dauntless on August 27, 2009, 07:33:17 pm

I think oak gets a bad reputation for being the beginners bow wood.  That or cheap furniture encased in polyurethane.  I've only really started working it in the last couple of months and I love it.  I've never even had red oak chrysal on this humid stuff.

It's been a couple of months since I've done anything other than D bows.  Maybe I should try recurving something.

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: GregB on August 28, 2009, 07:49:03 am

Sounds like fun making them, and I'm sure they'll be fun to shoot. Good job! :)

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Del the cat on August 28, 2009, 08:11:49 am

Lovely tiller, all the wood working flat out.... love 'em
Del

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: Pappy on August 28, 2009, 08:38:39 am

Nice tiller,good job on all of them. Simple  :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: 3 oak shorties
Post by: OldBow on August 30, 2009, 12:52:52 pm

Good work on all - bookmarked for Aug BOM ,too