Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: GaryR on August 29, 2011, 11:35:10 pm

Title: First ever bow
Post by: GaryR on August 29, 2011, 11:35:10 pm
Finally completed my first bow with the help of George.  Tell me what you think. 
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: blackhawk on August 29, 2011, 11:57:26 pm
That's a challenging stave with the limbs coming out at different angles of the handle. Nice first bow. Congrats  ;)

Im assuming its Osage. But what's the stats on her. Gonna take her meat seeking?
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: half eye on August 30, 2011, 12:11:32 am
I do believe ya done really well......most guys dont "start" with staves, let alone one with challenges like that.....well done.
rich
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: osage outlaw on August 30, 2011, 12:43:07 am
That looks very nice.  Great job.  You lucked out with a good teacher. 
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 30, 2011, 12:52:59 am
You did well! Nice job. Jawge
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: ken75 on August 30, 2011, 01:08:37 am
very nice first bow , next thing ya know George will have you knappin
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: okie64 on August 30, 2011, 01:14:24 am
Great lookin bow! Dont much care for the shirt though. :laugh:
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: MWirwicki on August 30, 2011, 01:37:35 am
Nice looking bow, GaryR.  If the bug bit you as bad as it did the rest of us, you'll be making many, many more!  For the full draw pulls, I would have a correct length arrow on the string.  It will insure that you (and especially your friends) don't overdraw it.

Congratulations on #1
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: gstoneberg on August 30, 2011, 01:50:04 am
Hey Gary, nice to see your pictures up.  I keep looking at that full draw wondering if I steered you wrong tillering to keep the tips in alignment.  We sure did make that lower limb bend more but it didn't look that way on the tree.  Seemed to shoot well, have you had a chance to get some arrows?  If I remember right the stats are 65" n2n, 55lbs@27".

Lets make another one?!

George
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: johnston on August 30, 2011, 03:39:28 am
Wait a minute...They play football in texas :o??? >:D

Super first bow Gary, really nice job. You got any idea how many folks would love to build one with George's help? Hang with him as long as he will stand it ;) and you will be a boyer in record time.

Lane
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: Del the cat on August 30, 2011, 05:16:19 am
Great first bow.
If you want me to be picky I'd say the top limb looks a tad stiff, a few scrapes along the top limb will also take a little pressure off the bottom one so it will even it all up a tad.
(I do realise the limbs don't start straight).
Del
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: gstoneberg on August 30, 2011, 10:02:00 am
Great lookin bow! Dont much care for the shirt though. :laugh:

Yea, it's about that time of year again.  My son-in-law is from OK so I'll be kept up to date on your season.  I lived in Nebraska so long that it's hard not to keep up with them too.  I can't even keep up with which teams are actually from Texas.  There are a bunch.

Yes Del, I wish I'd taken some pictures of this bow on the tree.  That offset top limb really tricked me, looking like it was bending more than it was, and I didn't see it until I saw the picture.  We actually stopped working on the top limb way early as that tip was about 4" further down at full draw than the other.  We talked about heat bending the lower limb into some deflex and then heating in some recurves, but Gary opted to keep it as-is and call it character.  Good choice.  Interestingly, it took no set at all. 

Gary did a great job on his bow.  He lives quite a ways away so it took awhile, but we had a great time.  My wife did her best to get him to gain a couple pounds by feeding him.  I don't think it worked on him, but it did on me. ::)  Hopefully we can get together again.  He brought me a couple hickory quarters so you may actually see a hickory bow come out of my shop.

George
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: Pappy on August 30, 2011, 10:07:12 am
Good job on your first, welcome to the addiction.  :) :) Challenging piece of wood for your first,you done well. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: ErictheViking on August 30, 2011, 01:50:09 pm
excellent job on that bow Gary. your a lucky dog to have George help you with your first. great fulldraw and I think you chose right to keep it a longbow and forego the recurves.
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: Gus on August 30, 2011, 07:34:32 pm
Yes Sir,

Nice looking bow!

-gus
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 30, 2011, 08:12:36 pm
George, with those limbs coming out in different places the ante was upped regarding tiller. See how she shoots and take it from there, Gary. Make sure the limbs feel balanced in the hand at full draw. Jawge
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: Buckeye Guy on August 31, 2011, 12:23:24 am
Mighty fine first ,bet ya it wont be the last !
Welcome to our addiction
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: Primitive1 on August 31, 2011, 04:56:30 pm
You should definitely feel proud of your first...that's one heck of a job!  I agree with the earlier posts regarding the top limb, looks a tad straight/stiff?  I don't think you'll lose much with a couple of scrapes off of the top limb...then again, it could just be the picture...well, now that the bug's bitten you, you'll be grabbing ridiculous amounts of wood and storing it up for more challenges...I know I did, I have a basement full of Ash, Dogwood, Osage, Cedar...hope I have enough day's left in my life to try'em all on!  Once again, well done and cheers - P1.
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: GaryR on August 31, 2011, 08:16:44 pm
Blackhawk, this bow was osage and 66 ntn, 55lbs@ 26 it was a squirelly build being my first with reflex in one limb and deflex in the other coming out of the handle
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: GaryR on August 31, 2011, 11:06:36 pm
Halfeye, if most don't start with staves, what do they use, boards?
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: youngbowyer on August 31, 2011, 11:48:14 pm
Thats a real nice bow, looks like a sweet shooter. Dang George, how many folks have you gotten into bowmaking ;)
Title: Re: First ever bow
Post by: gstoneberg on September 01, 2011, 01:00:04 am
Good question Tom, I haven't kept track, just like I don't know how many bows I've made.  I just keep making bows and teaching folks to build them.  Gary is the third since we moved here and there are 2 more bows in progress from other guys in the shop.  There were at least that many in Nebraska as well.  So, who knows, around  10 I'd guess or maybe less?  But, I still have more time... ;D  Hopefully more people will want to learn.

George