Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: makenzie71 on November 14, 2009, 01:06:14 am

Title: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 14, 2009, 01:06:14 am
...or first successful one, anyway.  Oak belly, bamboo backing, the handle is Brazilian cedar.  I'm disappointed with the handle...I expected a smoother transition and a cleaner seam, but it didn't work in my favor...I'll likely be wrapping it in leather.  Best shooting bow I've made...or, best shooting for me, anyway.  I can actually hold a 10" pattern at about 60ft.  66" nock to nock....pulls 58lbs at 28".  I've flown about 75 arrows in the last two days with it...also the first arrows I've shot in three or four years...my fingers are killing me.

(http://kaleesphotography.com/bow/bamboooak1.JPG)

(http://kaleesphotography.com/bow/bamboooak2.JPG)

(http://kaleesphotography.com/bow/bamboooak3.JPG)

It was fun.  I can't wait to start the...it'll be real similar but I'll be make a bigger effort to keep set lower.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: woodstick on November 14, 2009, 08:54:43 am
looks pretty good to me. welldone.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: NTProf on November 14, 2009, 09:37:58 am
Another bamboo-backed oak!! What kind of oak is it?
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: Dano on November 14, 2009, 10:28:39 am
Nice job, I would narrow the tips down in the last 12", it would help them bend better and shoot a whole lot smoother. But that's just me, enjoy your shooter.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 14, 2009, 10:33:05 am
Nice job, I would narrow the tips down in the last 12", it would help them bend better and shoot a whole lot smoother. But that's just me, enjoy your shooter.

Me to
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 14, 2009, 11:13:50 am
That was an experiment.  My main shooter has a nice "D" shape when drawn....the bend goes through the whole stave.  I wanted to try to put more mid limb and it shoots a whole lot cleaner.  The next one will have a slightly different profile.

It's red oak.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: Hoot on November 14, 2009, 08:09:03 pm
great job, especially after such a long time off.....
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: Hoot on November 14, 2009, 08:09:50 pm
great job, especially after such a long time off.....
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 14, 2009, 09:01:01 pm
Thanks hoot.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: OldBow on November 17, 2009, 08:43:48 pm
And I have your fine laminate bookmarked for that category for Nov BOM. Thanks!
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: LEGIONNAIRE on November 17, 2009, 09:42:36 pm
nice looking bow! I like te bamboo on oak. Goodluck with the next one.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 17, 2009, 09:44:38 pm
Thanks guys.  I just picked up my lumber for the next bow.  Stoked.  I'd really like to make a slightly recurve bamboo backed bow but I don't quite know how to pull that off yet.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: juniper junkie on November 17, 2009, 10:52:15 pm
nice job, tiller looks good. you could maybe narrow the limb tips a bit and get even better performance. overall and nice bow.  8)
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 17, 2009, 11:30:10 pm
Well I have this one pulling right where I want...and I've got it balanced and tuned to where I can actually hold a 4~6" pattern at 30ft (I seldom shoot further).  I got her stained, oiled, and tomorrow I'll be wrapping the handle with sinew.  I'm reluctant to carve anything off and starting over.

I'm about to start the next one.  The limbs will be quite a bit narrower and I'll be trying to get about 1/2" of reflex and a slight recurve.  Goal will be 45lbs at 28"...hoping for something a bit easier to target shoot with. My fingers are killing me after 200 arrows on a 6-pounder.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: Pappy on November 18, 2009, 06:05:04 am
Nice looking bow.well done. :)
     Pappy
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: medicinewheel on November 18, 2009, 02:44:52 pm
Very nice bow!
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: bob the boywer on November 19, 2009, 04:51:16 pm
Great looking bow, bro. Once again you inspire me to keep going. For you next bow, try the perry reflex technique. It should make things easier to get started. I bet it will work with the recurve too.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: makenzie71 on November 19, 2009, 05:21:03 pm
That's the goal...I'll actually be gluing the recurve in (I'm looking for a VERY slight curve at the tips).  I tried it a couple years ago and liked what I got but had a slew of flaws in the backing...screwed the whole thing up.  This one will have a slight recurve and I'm thinking just a bit of deflex off the center line.  I'll actually have it in the form over the weekend, and maybe have another working bow by the end of the week.  I want to have at least four completed by December...Kalee and I have a booth at a little art show and I'd like to have them there.

Have you finished lately?  I searched about the forum for posts and didn't see any...I think the forum has been changed or updated since I was first a member but I can't say for sure.
Title: Re: First bow in three or four years...
Post by: bob the boywer on November 21, 2009, 08:04:26 pm
I have not posted anything in a long while. I read the forum frequently, but rarely post. I was working on a Read Oak board bow, but it has developed some type of mold on the dark rings. I am working on a Crepe myrtle take down now.