Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 08:12:10 pm

Title: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 08:12:10 pm
So last fall I got 2 elm staves from Marc St. Louis.  The first attempt I tossed in a corner in disgust.  The second one well, I like it! 

This bow is 64" long.  1 3/4" wide for most of the limb and then tapers to 1/2" at the nock.  It is heat treated.  Recurves were steam bent.  Osage tip overlays.  I did a slight pistola grip but tried to keep it subtle as I think they can look tacky on stave bows if overdone.  Tennis racquet handle wrap, My absolute favorite handle wrap, Thanks again Tim Ott for that build a long.  I'm still working on getting that knife edge of the leather though.  Built up leather shelf and gopher snake skin strike plate(multiple layers). 

I tipped over my can of tung oil a few weeks ago so I didn't have many options for a finish.  I'm penniless right now so I just threw a couple coats of spray spar varnish on it for the time being.  Once I get some spending money in my pocket I'll finish it with tung oil.

I wanted to go narrower on the tips but I always get nervous there.  So I just kept removing wood until the handshock went away.  It's a pretty smooth and fast bow at 50#@28".  Hope ya like.

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2395.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2396.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2398.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2400.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2404.jpg)


Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 08:13:34 pm
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2403.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2407.jpg)
(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/NDanforth83/101_2410.jpg)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: John K on March 06, 2011, 08:26:52 pm
Looks like you nailed it ! Very nice looking !!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: osage outlaw on March 06, 2011, 08:27:18 pm
Very nice.  I really like those curves.  
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Bevan R. on March 06, 2011, 08:27:51 pm
Great looking bow. I like it. Well done.

Bevan R
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 06, 2011, 08:32:18 pm
Dang, super cool!  For bow Those tips are really filpped hard too...nicely done.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Keenan on March 06, 2011, 08:32:23 pm
Nate, I am very impressed. For a first static and first stave bow that is a very nice bow. The profile looks great and the full draw has some really nice lines. Congratulations
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Timo on March 06, 2011, 08:38:40 pm
Very nice job Nate! The handle wrap does take a bit of practice, as I said the knife edge is paramount, but it looks like you are well on your way.

As for being your first stave bow? Excellent work. Really happy for you to get it looking so well. And you look really COOL in the hero shot! 8)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: kerryb on March 06, 2011, 08:41:05 pm
Really nice, A bow to be very proud of.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 08:44:44 pm
Thanks for all the nice comments guys.

I have had 2 stave attemps before but both of them had multiple problems and I have made a bunch of self board bows.  But working with staves is MUCH different than boards.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Pat B on March 06, 2011, 08:46:53 pm
Very nice Nate. Tiller looks perfect!  8)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Bevan R. on March 06, 2011, 08:48:30 pm
But working with staves is MUCH different than boards.

Amen to that guy. I can relate.

Bevan R
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Ifrit617 on March 06, 2011, 08:58:09 pm
Awesome ... Those are some serious recurves!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Cameroo on March 06, 2011, 09:10:54 pm
You da man Nate!  Very nice!  I like your slight pistol grip. The wrap is nice too  ;)

Stave bow, static recurve tips, beauty handle wrap - that must make you at least a level 4 bowyer!  >:D
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: jwillis on March 06, 2011, 09:12:13 pm
Love it...looks like you are a good bowyer! Jim
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Gordon on March 06, 2011, 09:26:37 pm
That bow turned out beautifully.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Arrowind on March 06, 2011, 09:38:51 pm
Good job!  The tiller looks great, the design is excellent.  I like the handle.  Good job!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: toomanyknots on March 06, 2011, 09:50:23 pm
Very very nice!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 09:56:38 pm
Thanks a bunch guys, glad you like it.  I plan to do a lot more staves this year and maybe by the end of the year I'll be as good at them as I am the laminates.

Cam, Level 4 huh! ;D  Woohoo.  Oh, and I know you don't like the wrap....that's okay. ;)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: ricktrojanowski on March 06, 2011, 10:45:09 pm
Excellent job.  I love the look of a static recurve, you nailed it.  Fine work
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: El Destructo on March 06, 2011, 10:48:06 pm
Nate....I think you did an Awesome Job on this Bow...She really looks sweet!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 10:50:01 pm
Thanks Rick and Mike.

Mike, I owe you one.  The one I had been working on to send to you just kept pissing me off so I tossed it in the corner with a few other jerks ;D
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 06, 2011, 10:50:23 pm
Looks good Nate.  You did that stave justice.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: El Destructo on March 06, 2011, 10:54:21 pm
Mike, I owe you one.  The one I had been working on to send to you just kept pissing me off so I tossed it in the corner with a few other jerks ;D

LMAO.....that's funny...because everything I have been trying has turned to crap lately too.... tried to put a new wood stock on my Battle Rifle...well the Recoil Spring and Guide were too big...so I tried to change it out with the Original one from the Plastic Stock...well to make a long Story Shorter...I had to drive out three drift pins that held the springs on the Rods.....and I managed to bend both Guide Rods doing so...so now I have a nice wood Stock...and a non-working Gun...... >:(
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 06, 2011, 10:59:33 pm
Thanks Marc, when I get enough skins I hope you'll have some more elm that you'll be willing to part with.

Mike, sounds frustrating, some projects just do that to you.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: juniper junkie on March 07, 2011, 01:12:22 am
very nice indeed.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: DEllis on March 07, 2011, 01:18:28 am
That's a beauty. Nice looking grain through the handle. Not a big recurve fan but I like this one.
Darcy :)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: ErictheViking on March 07, 2011, 01:45:47 am
absolutely beautiful Nate. I think I need to get some elm. Tips are awesome. good job.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 07, 2011, 01:49:54 am
Thanks Juniper, Darcy, and Eric.

I really liked working with the elm.  I got inspired to use the stuff after seeing all the nice static recurves being made from it. 
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: n2huntn on March 07, 2011, 03:37:47 am
Board or stave, looks like you can make what you put your mind to. Very nice job.
Jeff
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Pappy on March 07, 2011, 09:50:25 am
Beautiful bow ,very nice job all the way around. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 07, 2011, 09:51:24 am
That is a beautiful bow. Haven't tackled a static recurve yet. Nate what kind of Elm did you use? Dean
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: ken75 on March 07, 2011, 10:20:53 am
perfect in every respect ! maybe your a level 20 now  >:D
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Josh on March 07, 2011, 12:09:15 pm
Wow, beautiful recurve Nate... it blows mine outta the water for sure!   Got it bookmarked for March Self BOM contest too!  :)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: swamp yeti on March 07, 2011, 12:11:07 pm
Dang nice,like it a lot.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Postman on March 07, 2011, 12:14:42 pm
sweet - needs some brazillian  rainbows on it!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Matt S. on March 07, 2011, 12:18:32 pm
That looks great. I hope my first bow from a stave looks half that good.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 07, 2011, 12:22:44 pm
Thanks a bunch guys.

@ Dean, I think it might be Rock Elm, but not sure, can't remember if Marc said what kind or not.

@ Ken, just trying to keep up with the likes of you ;D

@ Josh, You can't get away with false humility here Josh.  You made a superior recurve from mediocre wood, I made a mediocre recurve from superior wood.

@ Postman, Are you talking about brazilian rainbow boa skins?  I haven't gotten any of those yet if you are, and I don't think they'd fit this bow too well ;D
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Parnell on March 07, 2011, 12:36:08 pm
Nice bow Nate!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Josh on March 07, 2011, 12:52:40 pm
There's nothing mediocre about this bow Nate...  :)  I think you nailed it.  Look up "elm static recurve" in the dictionary and I bet there's a pic of this bow.   ;D 
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 07, 2011, 01:12:10 pm
I don't have any more Elm from that particular tree Nate but I do have some from other trees.

I used one of your skins the other day
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: Ryano on March 07, 2011, 01:47:53 pm
Looks good. That's my kind of bow right there.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: rileyconcrete on March 07, 2011, 02:35:54 pm
Awesome Nate.  That is a great bow.  I love working elm, it is great bow wood. love the handle wrap also.

Tell
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: PeteC on March 07, 2011, 10:07:01 pm
You did that Elm good Nathan. That bow looks great,and I bet it shoots good too. God Bless
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 08, 2011, 06:46:03 pm
Thanks again guys.  I look forward to playing with this design and perfecting it down the line.  I like the elm but an osage static is surely in my future ;D

Marc,  Are we going to see pics?

Pete, Seeing your elm recurves is what gave me the first itch to make one of these.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: 1776J on March 09, 2011, 12:43:46 am
This is really a well crafted sharp looking piece of Elm you have here!  Great job on it...it really has a very appealing look, strung and unstrung.  Great work! ;)
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: medicinewheel on March 09, 2011, 05:01:49 am
Well done Nate!
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: dragonman on March 09, 2011, 08:12:29 am
that bow looks fast and well made, well done, I can see why you're happy with this one.

I like the look of the dry climate too, aahhhh... I long for dryness,   here is sooo damp...
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 09, 2011, 01:13:49 pm
Thanks 1776J, Frank and Dragonman.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: barebo on March 10, 2011, 07:03:19 pm
That's an excellent static self  recurve in every respect. I have to ask though....what do you find "tacky" about a sculpted grip on a selfbow?? I like a grip that conforms to my hand, and on all of my selfies will fashion the grip as such. Lots more work, but never had anyone say that the grip looked out of place on a flatbow or longbow. A lot of hybrid longbow bowyers have adopted a recurve style grip to aid in repeatable hand placement also. Just wondering why you're opposed to it?? Your grip is great, and compliments the bow nicely. If you styled a grip though, do you think it would look out of place ??
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 10, 2011, 07:07:25 pm
Barebo,

That's a fair question and I don't have a good answer.  I've come to like a nice contoured grip on the laminates but they just seem "wrong" on selfbows.  I can't really quantify it and to each their own for sure.  As far as repeatable hand placement...well you don't need a highly contoured grip to get repeatable hand placement.  I meant no offense by my comment it's just my taste.  But who knows, I didn't like the fancy R/D bows when i first started but they've sure grown on me ;D

My exact qoute "tried to keep it subtle as I think they can look tacky on stave bows if overdone

It's all about degrees for me.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: mullet on March 10, 2011, 08:16:49 pm
You did real good with that one, Nate. I've always liked that style bow.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: gmc on March 10, 2011, 09:03:45 pm
Now that is one dang nice bow right there.

Outstanding.
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: NTD on March 10, 2011, 09:09:21 pm
Thanks Eddie and gmc!  They are work but yeah I like this style, I will definitely be playing with it more. 

I did shave off about 1/8" off each side on the last 10" of each limb.  Figured it could use a bit of narrowing
Title: Re: Static Recurve (Or my first truly succesful stave bow)
Post by: barebo on March 12, 2011, 06:45:33 pm
Nate - I took no offense about the grip comment at all, but was curious as to why the pistol or 60's style grip was such a turn off for you. I guess that my preference for that grip makes me biased, and wanted to hear the other side of it??!! I had a '57 Kodiak with the classic 50's style grip, and a beautiful Sentman longbow with the same, and although both great shooters, I had torque problems.
Not to say it's the bow - it's not. Your bow looks classic, and I'd be proud to have it on my rack!!! I'm just getting ready to try my first recurve out of HHB. If it's 50%  as nice as yours, I'll consider it a success.