Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 06:35:39 pm

Title: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 06:35:39 pm
I started this bow about 4 months ago and set it aside and just got it finished up. It is Ocean Spray it was originally about 2 inches through I split it and spliced it up with a z splice. She is 64" end to end 50# @ 27" I used some leather I salvaged off a couch and it seemed to match the wood pretty good, some of the bark was cracking off so I scraped it off except the last 8" or so The bow took virtually no set so this wood really impressed me!. The full draw pic is makeing me second guess the tiller but the bottom limb had some reflex toward the last 1/3 where it looks like it should bend more, not sure I may take a few more scrapes off that it is also about 1/4 or so stiffer than the top limb. I charcoal stained the limbs and finished it with Spar Urethane 5 coats. Any tips or suggestions on the tiller are welcome. Thanks for looking

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 06:38:49 pm
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Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 06:39:42 pm
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Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Lee Slikkers on June 22, 2011, 06:44:11 pm
Dang, you guys and your Ocean spray, vine maple and yew!  LOL, Josh, KILLER bow!  Love the bark left on and that charcoal stain is really growing on me...probably try it on my next white wood bow.  I don't think the bottom limb looks out of tiller to me, at least from the pics.  I sure wouldn't change much on it that's for sure.

Thanks for sharing bud!
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 06:48:24 pm
Thanks Lee that makes me feel better maybe im being to critical ??? One thing I did notice is that the bow has a noticable amount of hand shock in comparison to most of my bows ??? ??? It is considered Iron wood and is very heavy and dinse so im not sure if that is a contributer? Thanks again Still the more I look at that last third bottom limb it looks stiff :-\

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Lee Slikkers on June 22, 2011, 06:59:16 pm
Don't know about the hand shock, sure doesn't look that far off, if any...I suppose if you got hyper critical you could take a 1/2 dozen scraped off the last 12" of the lower limb but not too much.  How wide are the tips and the last few inches?  Looks fairly thin and I can't imagine they are adding to the hand shock.  Never worked that wood so I couldn't say if the wood itself is so dense that it is the cause...doubtful imho.

Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: snag on June 22, 2011, 06:59:38 pm
Josh, guess I better keep my eyes open more. Didn't know Ocean Spray grew that big. I keep thinking about making some arrows out of it's shoots though. Great looking bow!
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: cowboy on June 22, 2011, 07:10:42 pm
That is one fine looking bow! I always thought ocean spray was for arras too ;D. I see what your seeing on that bottom limb but their so dang close it's hard to tell. I always heard we are all our own worse crittics. I wouldn't change it much if any..
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 07:15:22 pm
Thanks cowboy I will have to wait and see what I do ;D appretiate the kind words
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: bubby on June 22, 2011, 07:51:29 pm
if ya want to get picky you could take a few scrapes off the lower third, but i like the tips just a tad stiff, sweet bow josh, if its really bothering you I'll dispose of it for ya ;D, Bub
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 07:55:18 pm
 ;D Thanks bubby I think Im gonna take some off just to get that last 1/3 working a bit more thanks

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: sharpend60 on June 22, 2011, 08:19:30 pm
I find the use of a Fast Flight string reduces hand shock better than anything else... You using one?
Title: Re: Ocean Spray billet bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 08:22:47 pm
No im using B50 I though about that I have a ff string that may fit this ill give it a try thanks!

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: ken75 on June 22, 2011, 08:35:00 pm
very nice bow josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 08:56:58 pm
So I tried the fast flight string and it made a very noticable difference! thanks allot 60 ill have to pick a couple spools up ;D
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: dbb on June 22, 2011, 09:40:28 pm
Really nice bow,laserstraight and some charachter in the same package.
Well done!

/Mikael
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 22, 2011, 09:53:14 pm
Thanks dbb it does have a pretty bumpy back but you cant really see it in the pics thanks again

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Keenan on June 22, 2011, 11:35:37 pm
Awesome looking bow Josh. Love the character bumps and the bone flat profile. Congratulations on a very sweet bow. Try a heavier arrow and see if that helps the hand shock.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: ErictheViking on June 23, 2011, 12:42:27 am
WOW! today is show off your awesome bow day! great work Josh. all the oceanspray here is smaller than 6ft and nothing thick enough. good work and tiller looks goodto me.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Timo on June 23, 2011, 01:20:41 am
I really like this bow, the leather grip really matches everything well. I didn't know ocean spray grew big enough for bow wood?

Nice job.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: druid on June 23, 2011, 02:24:13 am
Rare wood and good bow. I should try splicing.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 23, 2011, 02:46:23 am
Thanks Keenan I am useing old growth doug fir shafts with 160 gr points I think they are pretty heavy but I will try some of my longer shafts and see what happens thanks

thanks Eric and Timo!

druid I have a few spliced bows in the works some yew ocean spray and scotch broom, it opens new doors to the wood you can use and is just as affective IMO as a solid stave. I use Urac 85 a Z splice and wrap it with heavy braided fishing line, this is the way John Strunk has taught me and he to uses splices allot.

Thanks again guys for all the kind words!  ;D

Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Gordon on June 23, 2011, 02:51:25 am
That turned out really well Josh. Congratulations on another fine bow.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 23, 2011, 02:55:06 am
Thanks Gordon Im gonna do some more tweeking but it will get there. Thanks!
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: aaron on June 23, 2011, 01:38:29 pm
Josh, is that stave from the ones we collected last year?- I just took mine off the drying rack and split 'em down a little. I have one that will make a one piece bow.
any pics of the splice?
did you manage to dry it without checks? mine all checked badly despite sealing the ends ( but i used spray paint) Next time i would perhaps split 'em opon cutting?
aaron
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 23, 2011, 01:47:41 pm
aaron I got this and some others a few months before we got yours but in the same spots. As far as drying this stuff will check like crazy weather you split it or not. The best way to handle it I have found is to seal it Good the whole length with shellack or glue or somthing like that. This stave did not check at all some of the first stuff I got checked but most is basically dry with no checking. I dont think I have any picture of the splice but its just a Z splice wrapped with very heavy braided fishing line. If all your stuff ends up checking let me know and we can go explore some new area that I know has a good amount of big stuff. I have some nice ones behind my house im gonna let go a while before harvesting but there is lots around here!
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: aaron on June 23, 2011, 02:13:37 pm
cool! thanks.
thin the tips on that bow, dude. you could try out back nocks like i use on all mine.
does the pith on that stave come out of the fades? can you post closeup of handle without leather wrap?
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 23, 2011, 02:26:16 pm
I cant take the wrap off well I dont want to its glued in place and like I said wrapped with braided line ;D
The pith I removed there is just a small channel near the handle where it was but I have see a few of Strunks that have a ditch like this most of the length of the limb. Not sure what you want to see when it comes to the splice ??? have you seen a Z splice?

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Bow Nut on June 23, 2011, 05:41:02 pm
nice bow how is the re tiller coming along.  I probably would have left it allone my self it looked good but I understand wanting it perfect.
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Elktracker on June 23, 2011, 05:45:33 pm
Havent got to it yet but I will pry scrape some this weekend, I like the bottom limb slightly stiffer than the top so I will pry have to scrape some on the top limb to. I will have to wait and see, thanks for the interest

Josh
Title: Re: Ocean Spray bow
Post by: Tillstave on July 22, 2018, 09:56:35 pm
 :love this bow. Ocean spray is a favorite of Mr. Strunk as well. Harvesting some now down on the Willamette.