Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: dragonman on September 13, 2011, 03:24:15 pm
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Hi All, greetings from Wales, thought you might find these pics of an ash bow workshop entertaining!! This the 4th one we've done down in the deepest jungles of Wales and they have been very successfull. Most guys have never made bows before and 95% make good working bows in a weekend ( intense weekend). We use a selection of tools from axes , draw knives, saws , planes and scrapers, depending what people are comfortable with. The design is a 68" x 2" basic holmgaard. The best of which are achieving max 1 1/2" of set without heat treatment.
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Excellent. Great pics.
Not sure about having two hands on that saw tho' ;)
Del
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heres a few more pics , the last is a shortie roughed out of green ash with a side axe, as ongoing experiment!!!!
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Very cool bow building shed you got there. Looks liek fun with like minded firends to me!
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Nice looking bows too.
Are you sure that's Wales... it doesn't appear to be raining ::)
What sort of weights were you turning out?
Del
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wow, Del, you were off the mark, didnt get time to send the other pics. Thanks, and yeh, you're right not the best sawing tecnique in the world, but he got the job done and stayed well clear of the line with the saw. Definately West Wales 10 mins from the sea. We where aiming at 55#, some went over others under but mostly not too far off.
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found another nice pic of shed and shave horse, hope not boring you all
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Hell yeah...that makes me wanna skip across the big pond and jump in on that fun. Lol :laugh:
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55# That's very respectable.
I like that style of bow, but I'm not too fond of Ash as it's a bit tough. Great to see guys want to get stuck in and have a go rather than fiddling with their mobile phones texting whilst moaning into their beer... whoops nearly slipped into rant mode!
Del
(certainly not boring)
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What do ya mean Del? 'ash is a bit tough'??? ;) its a great wood to work with.
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damned fine bow building, there. I feel bad for ya, not being able to get out and hunt them though. Looks like they all had a good time and made good bows......dont get better than that.
rich
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What do ya mean Del? 'ash is a bit tough'??? ;) its a great wood to work with.
Ah, but when you get to my age with years of Badminton, Golf, Goalkeeping, and 'Gentlemans recreational exercise O:)' the elbows find it a bit hard going!
Del
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sorry to here that Del!!! how about a draw knife? does that hurt the elbow too.?
Hi Rich, good to here ya, hunting here is illegal, but no-one here expects it, so it goes on anyway, Kinda makes it more fun, and increases ones ninja skills so to speak.... rabbits, pheasants, fish and deer( in some parts) are common enough and not endangered , the police here are pretty dumb, ya just have to be smarter....
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sorry to here that Del!!! how about a draw knife? does that hurt the elbow too.?
Hi Rich, good to here ya, hunting here is illegal, but no-one here expects it, so it goes on anyway, Kinda makes it more fun, and increases ones ninja skills so to speak.... rabbits, pheasants, fish and deer( in some parts) are common enough and not endangered , the police here are pretty dumb, ya just have to be smarter....
The problem is I have too much power and not enough sense, so it's easy to over do it! I rely on the bandsaw for roughing out more thesedays, so I'm not trying to remove too much wood too quickly.
There's still life in the old cat yet... big six O coming up in December, I'm hoping Mrs Cat won't organise a big do, I'd rather it slipped by quietly and un-noticed.
Got a guy wanting a 90# longbow for early next year, that'll exercise the elbows :)
Mrs Cat is after an Autumn break, maybe I'll persuade her that West Wales is good destination, gotta be some great walking there. We'd love a nice Venison steak!
Del
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Nice set up for bow building. Similar to what Pappy has at the Tennessee Classic in may.
Nothing better than walking and working on shavings. ;D Keep up the good work!
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yeh Del , West Wales has some beautifull coastline and good walking, come and visit me and the wife anytime, your welcome,Unfortuneatley theres no deer aound here though, aren't they more down your end? theres a few munkjack here but pretty rare
Thanks Pat,
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thats good stuff from the shavin to the poachin . keep it up
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thats good stuff from the shavin to the poachin . keep it up
And since we are talking about the land of Robin Hood and his merry men poaching the King's game, there are historical precedents! LOL >:D
Looks like a great setup and lots of fun!
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Very good stuff,good to see it is a live and well in Wales,looks like yall are making a bunch of shavings. :) Got ot love that. :)
Pappy
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Hey nice one setting this up, your barn/shed looks perfect for a bit of bow making!
There's quite a few shavings on that floor! ;) If you ever put another thing like this on let me know.
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nice job man have you ever been the the 3d archery shoot in wales near chepstow i think??? iam going back there soon its only £10 for the hole day.
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Dragonman,
Great pics and it looks like you have a really good set up there.
I've had a dream for some time of primitive bowyer/archer meets in the UK, something that runs for a weekend, a week and a weekend. Somewhere people can turn up when suits them, meet up, make something, camp, chat around the fire and drink a few beers, show stuff they made, go when it suits them. If there is somewhere we can shoot a bit, or maybe a drive to a course/field where we can shoot that would be great.
Would your set up there work for that?
Would you be interested in something like that next summer some time?
Mark in England
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Looks like a good time ;)
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What a great thread. Thanks for posting the pictures.
:)
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Dragonman,
Great pics and it looks like you have a really good set up there.
I've had a dream for some time of primitive bowyer/archer meets in the UK, something that runs for a weekend, a week and a weekend. Somewhere people can turn up when suits them, meet up, make something, camp, chat around the fire and drink a few beers, show stuff they made, go when it suits them. If there is somewhere we can shoot a bit, or maybe a drive to a course/field where we can shoot that would be great.
Would your set up there work for that?
Would you be interested in something like that next summer some time?
Mark in England
you guys could have a go at the 3d shoot in wales its ment to be the best one in europe i think. It is very good its oly £10 for the hole day shoot as much as you like. http://www.wyevalleyarchery.co.uk/
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thanks very much guys ,
Dazv, I've heard about the shoot in the wye valley but I've never been, I'm a bit of a lone archer/bowyer, got dissillusioned with all the clubs some years ago, but since you mention it I'll check it out,might be time to get involved again...
I should mention this isnt actully my place, belongs to a good freind. but we,ve made a few bows there now.
Mark, thats a good idea, I'll pm you later
Mikekeswick, i'll remember you next time, I'll pm you.... Where are you based?
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I like the whole build-it-outdoors concept. Looks like a productive place. Keep 'em coming!
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thanks very much guys ,
Dazv, I've heard about the shoot in the wye valley but I've never been, I'm a bit of a lone archer/bowyer, got dissillusioned with all the clubs some years ago, but since you mention it I'll check it out,might be time to get involved again...
I should mention this isnt actully my place, belongs to a good freind. but we,ve made a few bows there now.
Mark, thats a good idea, I'll pm you later
Mikekeswick, i'll remember you next time, I'll pm you.... Where are you based?
yep it is really worth it iam going back there next week i think?? it is an awesome place and WAY worth the money.
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thanks very much guys ,
Dazv, I've heard about the shoot in the wye valley but I've never been, I'm a bit of a lone archer/bowyer, got dissillusioned with all the clubs some years ago, but since you mention it I'll check it out,might be time to get involved again...
I should mention this isnt actully my place, belongs to a good freind. but we,ve made a few bows there now.
Mark, thats a good idea, I'll pm you later
Mikekeswick, i'll remember you next time, I'll pm you.... Where are you based?
I live near Darlington but don't mind driving! I'm quite often in and around Llanberis doing a bit of climbing.