Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Cameroo on November 23, 2010, 01:09:04 am
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Here's a peak at my third bow, pretty much done tillering. It's very similar to my first two, being a 68" maple self bow (rawhide backed), but it's quite a bit lighter in draw weight. I'm making it for my dad, who's not the superman he used to be anymore, so it draws 40 lbs at 28 inches. Will lose a pound or two after finish sanding, and his draw probably wont be a full 28, so he'll be pulling around 35 I'm guessing.
More pics to come once it's finished. By the way, the red arc on the picture is just superimposed to check the tillering. I've been finding this technique to be very helpful for a greenhorn such as myself. Every 2 or 3 scraping sessions I'll take a picture, run in the house, and photoshop an ellipse on to make sure my limbs are still bending evenly and in a nice arc. I've also found that for some reason, looking at a picture of the bows drawn on the tiller tree is for some reason a lot easier for me to "read" than just looking at it with my eyes, I'm not sure why. ??? I can look at it on the tree and wonder what to do next, and then look at a picture of the same thing and say to myself, "Oh, that's where it's got to come off". Crazy...
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your camera needs to be dead on with the bow...your tiller in the picture could be skewed by the low angle of the picture
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I've also found that for some reason, looking at a picture of the bows drawn on the tiller tree is for some reason a lot easier for me to "read" than just looking at it with my eyes, I'm not sure why. ??? I can look at it on the tree and wonder what to do next, and then look at a picture of the same thing and say to myself, "Oh, that's where it's got to come off".
heh, i know exactly how that is, except i do not get access to the camera (and now not for a good while, it got dropped, lens error, jammed, wont pop back in, etc
i can see errors in a picture that i normally miss up close to it
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Looking good,can't wait to see ge finished up.Your dad should love that. :)
Pappy
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your camera needs to be dead on with the bow...your tiller in the picture could be skewed by the low angle of the picture
I try to be dead on, but I personally don't think it's that critical, because if you're off to the side a bit, or a little low with the camera, both limbs will be skewed equally. All I'm looking for in the photo is symmetry. If the bow was asymmetrical, that would be more of an issue.
Thanks Pappy, I'm anxious to get it done.
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Lookin' real good so far.
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Yeah, we all get that trouble. I work in a single garage (that's a UK single garage which is pretty narrow and I can't get very far from the bow to have a good look at it).
I find the great advantage of taking pics, is it gets me away from the bow for long enough to stop me screwing it up!
(IMO, I'd watch that area on the right limb just out from the fade, maybe let the last half to 3/4 of the limbs work a tad more?).
I'll try anything like looking along the limbs as I flex it on the tiller, pulling it in front of a big window or mirror from a long way back. It can be a real pig as your trying to see the problem areas before they appear, cos' once they are obvious it may be too late. I've even been known to ask Mrs Cat! :o
(Hope you don't mind the gratuitous rambling!)
Del
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Looks pretty good. I'd leave the handle area alone now. Just a bit too much bending at the handle area at least for me. That's my personal preference. Jawge
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Ramble on Del. I certainly don't mind. I don't really want to take any more off the right limb, because I don't want to give up any more weight. I can see what you're saying though.
George, thanks for the advice. It definitely turned out more circular than I originally wanted, but one of the limbs was a bit hingy to begin with, so I thought the best thing to do would be to make the other one similar. I don't think I'll be doing anything more with the tiller, I'll probably just lighten up the tips and that will be it.
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Holy cow, Cam! That's lookin' really good. You're sure getting the hang of this quick. Good job! I'm guessing you're going to want to come over and pick up some more of your wood, and that rawhide. Give me a shout. I'm off Friday. Sorry I didn't get back to you the other day... we didn't get back from hunting until much later than I thought, and I spent a half hour in the tub trying to thaw out! My buddy shot a doe, and taking care of it chewed up most of the day.
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Fantastic!
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Looks good Cam, looking forward to the finished product.
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Thanks guys. I want to git er dun, but haven't had much for free time yet this week. Hopefully by the end of this weekend I can finish her up.
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Well I finally got around to finishing up my dad's Christmas present. Despite not having a chance in hell at winning BOM due to the amazing entries this month, I couldn't wait to post the pictures :) It turned out to be about 37# @28". I did a handle wrap with a tanned beaver tail that I got from Adam, I think it turned out ok. Maple wrapped in beaver tail - it can't get much more Canadian than that! ;D I love the markings on the rawhide backing too. Anyway, here they are:
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Here's a close-up of the backing.
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Wow! Where did you get the rawhide backing and how did you get it to look like that?
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I'll add a second WoW! Very nice bow.
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Thanks guys. The backing is deer rawhide that I also got from Adam Beck (adb). I'm not sure where he got it, and I have no idea what the dark stains on the hide are from. They were on the fleshy side of the hide.
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That looks great. The rawhide looks really cool and your leather work on the handle is awesome. I need to learn how to do that :)
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Thanks Jesse. This was my first attempt at doing that type of lacing. It turned out decent but could be improved a bit where the edge lacing meets the seam lacing. If you want to learn how, check out oneeye's build along (thanks oneeye!). It's really good with pictures every step of the way. I also found this page that has a very boring but helpful video :http://www.kingsmerecrafts.com/page96.html (http://www.kingsmerecrafts.com/page96.html)
It's not hard to do, but it took me a couple hours!
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... The backing is deer rawhide that I also got from Adam Beck (adb). I'm not sure where he got it, and I have no idea what the dark stains on the hide are from. They were on the fleshy side of the hide.
I would guess these are melanin, so it's rather hide from something with spots like a goat or calf!?
PS: Nice bow, nice details!
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Thats a fantastic looking bow!! I love that backing
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Real nice bow there.
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Nice job on finishing that bow, Cam! The work you did with the beavertail looks awesome! Also, the tips look slick. I also see you've made a string with the brown/tan B50 you got from me as well. Really nice work! Your Dad should very pleased with that!
The dark spots on the rawhide are actually patches of dried connective tissue on the flesh side of the rawhide. I think it makes an interesting 'camo' pattern.
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Thanks guys. Adam - I'm lucky the beaver tail worked, because I measured and cut it before I remembered to glue a cork shelf on for dad. Luckily it stretched enough. I don't think I'll do the double-loop stitch again for a while though, I had a headache and was seeing cross-eyed by the time I was done :)
My strings are turning out better with every one I make.
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very nice bow, your dad will be so proud. congrats
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Love it. Came out great. Expect she's bending through the handle and that can be tough for a newcomer to pull of but you did it! :) Jawge
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The dark spots on the rawhide are actually patches of dried connective tissue on the flesh side of the rawhide. I think it makes an interesting 'camo' pattern.
Melanin would show more on the hair side, that's right.
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nice bow Cam , spot on tiller, great finish work
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There's nothing wrong with pic method.But you can try a inch gride white carboard behind it. For me it works better real time. I've never did it like this (PIC'S) BUT USE COULD'NT HURT USE BOTH.
Anyway tiller looks good. Bow looks great.
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Outstanding bow, I really like your grip.
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awesome bow, love the rawhide and even more so the beavertail grip. excellent job!
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Thanks again everyone. I appreciate the kind words and encouragement :)
nice bow Cam , spot on tiller, great finish work
Thanks Ken. I certainly spent a lot of time on the finishing work, probably as much as tillering. But being a gift for my dad, I really wanted it to showcase everything I've learned so far.
My next one is going to be very similar - a lightweight girly bow for either my girlfriend (if she decides she likes archery :)), or else for my sister. It's got some purpleheart in the handle and tips, and will be backed with a purple camo-pattern material.