Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: snedeker on April 29, 2010, 12:11:11 pm

Title: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: snedeker on April 29, 2010, 12:11:11 pm

Sweet birch board.  Made a 64inch straight flatbow 60# a couple years ago, but was displeased at width of tips.  Too thin in outer limbs to go narrow.  Also, did crappy paint job on silk back - used ivy stencil in dark green on light green background, and it looked a little light in the loafers.

Shortened to 60.5 inch (its 1.75 inches wide), steamed in curves, used thin BL underlays to reinforce curves and secure some cracking.  BL overlays.  No heat treating.  Came in 65# at 27" with about an inch of set.Dark brown paint on the silk. Shoots well.  Impressed me for birch.  Birch stained with one cat colonia maple, one coat antique oak, and urethane.

Dave

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Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: Sparrow on April 29, 2010, 12:45:49 pm

Looks like you have you a shooter now. I am pretty sure that that's the best looking Birch bow I have seen.Most folks don't seem to want to use it at all. Do you have alot of birch where you live ? I have a ton of BL here. ' Frank

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: snedeker on April 29, 2010, 12:51:42 pm

Sweet birch has really sprung up around here in central Pennsylvania in the past 30 years colonized areas of oak hit by gypsy moth.  It (betula lenta) is the heaviest of birchs, a bit heavier than yellow birch, approaching the same s.g. as hard maple.  It's not too amenable to steaming - leave it in the form for a week and it springs back to how it was.  It also takes stain in a blotchy manner.

Dave

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: OldBow on April 29, 2010, 01:48:42 pm

Nice Redo, Dave. I didn't realize birch would work out so well. Bookmarked, too.

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: medicinewheel on April 29, 2010, 03:18:15 pm

Nice profile strung, unstrung and full draw!

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: snedeker on April 30, 2010, 09:35:26 am

Thanks, Don and Frank

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: PeteC on April 30, 2010, 03:41:11 pm

Great rebuild Dave.I like it. God Bless

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: LEGIONNAIRE on April 30, 2010, 04:14:13 pm

nice re-finish. Ive always wondered if birch was more brittle, but I guess its a good bow wood.

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: Bullitt on April 30, 2010, 04:45:49 pm

I like it alot! Beautiful looking tiller, too!

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: snedeker on May 01, 2010, 10:16:25 pm

ITs pretty good wood.  Like I say, doesn;t steam bend well and takes stain a little strangely

Dave

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 02, 2010, 10:06:45 am

Looks great! Very impressive work. Jawge

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: Justin Snyder on May 02, 2010, 12:38:02 pm

Good job Dave, It looks like a great shooter. I like a little set with a little recurve, it makes for smooth shooting.  ;)

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: Josh on May 02, 2010, 01:09:02 pm

awesome bow man!  :)

Title: Re: birch rebuild to silk backed recurve
Post by: snedeker on May 04, 2010, 09:35:58 am

At the relatively shorter length, I'm surprised the birch holds up as well as it does

Dave