Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sadiejane on October 10, 2011, 12:27:30 pm
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well, this was originally meant to be my trade bow.
but once that crack developed, finally decided against this stave and started from scratch on the trade bow.
so this one got set aside, but not forgotten.
last week, finally put the first 100 or so arrows thru it.
yup, i think it's a bow.
it aint pretty, but shoots well and hits hard
there's likely a dozen things i did wrong or some of you guys woulda done different, but here it is nonetheless.
still some finish work to be done.
ok first off the stave a pal gave me had been sealed with paint from end to end front and back.
for about 4 yrs.
got all the paint off so we could see what was up with grain etc
it was a huge stave and at first i figured we could get at least two bows outta it, maybe three.
but, man, that thing had a twist
ended up splitting just this one right outta the middle, sorta...
if you can picture this piece of wood down the center but diagonal in the stave. thats how the grain ran, so be it.
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN8273.jpg)
only cupla small knots. this one is three or four itty bitty pin knots together
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN8274.jpg)
got down to a ring, drew out the bow, and started getting the basic shape down.
got it roughly shaped out, went home for the nite.
when i returned the next morning this had developed
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN9454.jpg)
continued to work and shape for another few days before finally deciding that,
even tho i may be able to pull it off, didnt want a bow with a crack to be the one i sent for the bow trade.
before giving up at that point, i had filled with super glue and clamped.
the glue ran all the way thru and dripped on the floor.
the next day the crack was twice as long....well crap
off to the corner it went.
(this crack developed before applying heat to get that twist out-had no clue what would happen straightening this thing out-the end with the crack had lots of twist)
(to be continued)
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sorry, thought i already had taken lot of pix of this bow when i started the thread...
so anyhoos, got that bow taking shape
er, set is more the appropriate term...
after getting the tiller nearly done, the bow had taken on nearly 2" of set.
never flipped tips on a bow yet, and even tho this had that huge arse crack at one end,
what the hay, this bow may never last anyways, might as well go for it right?
(of course this was before the thread about flipping tips last week. where pat. i believe, stated the obvious about stress when doing this, and how everything shld be right first...)
so you guys gotta understand, i am a rank amatuer making bows.
this will be my 6th completed bow
started my first in april of 2010.
but i'm learning and willing to experiment.
this bow seemed a fine candidate .
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0033.jpg)
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0038.jpg)
have several pieces of salmon skin that i've dried to use on something.
thought id give one a go here. shiny from tru-oil. might leave it, might steel wool it duller.
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0028.jpg)
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0031.jpg)
that crack ran with the grain. under this patch it turns towards the edge then back towards the center of limb.
that running towards the edge made me nervous so i patched the sucka.
the rawhide while wet, was almost touching edges.
when it dried it had pulled this much.
that rawhide is on there tight!
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0034.jpg)
from the front
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0005.jpg)
yup it aint the prettiest bow ever made. but shoots hard and right where i point it.
still some finish work to do. the tips are not done as you can see.
and yes, more pix coming. know you guys wont let me get away from here without:
braced
let ya check out where the string lies
and of course
full draw
back later.
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Could be wind checks Sadie. Hard to say......if anything you could cut it in half and splice a good half to the existing good half.
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yeah pearl. i think the initial cracking was from all the stress that old tree had built up over the years.
we have all seen staves change as they are split smaller and smaller.
and then again as wood is removed.
tho the inner wood is "dead" and no longer growing.
nevertheless it has life force.
this piece of wood was twisted more than 90 degrees from one end to the other when we split it.
will this bow stay together? time will tell.
right now its holding...
like i mentioned earlier-last week i put well over hundred arrows thru it after applying the rawhide.
and letting it dry for two days.
but before starting work adding leather etc to handle.
it would take a lot of force to bust thru that rawhide.
but obviously this piece of wood has a lot of tension built up within.
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That looks pretty good to me, if that's only your 6th, you are doing great.
The flip tips look really tidy.
It's all down to experience finding what you can get away with in terms of cracks and twist and other character...that's part of the fun. All the help on this forum is great, but the bottom line is you still have to try for yourself and sometimes it's usefull to deliberately do it 'wrong' or push the boundaries, sometimes the 'experimental' bow or the 'quick try out' turns out better than the one you spend hours over.
I love the little 'signature' motif thingy, is there a story behind it?
Del
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thanks del-much appreciated.
ok got a few more shots.
will have to wait till there's someone round the homeplace to get that full draw. but i will.
the string is a tad left of center(top limb coming at ya)
beings right handed i reckon not to worry about it too much.
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0049.jpg)
braced
(darned if i dont find it difficult to take decent pix of bows...)
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0052.jpg)
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0046.jpg)
the bottom limb is still a tad stiffer than the top. may take the scrapper to it just a bit more. or not.
might just wait till i've shot it more first.
thanks again
this bow making thing is one helluva lot of fun!
oh yeah-62" ntn, 48# @ 28"
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U done good, looks like that one taught you a few lessons ....got to love the challenging ones ;)
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Very nice bow, Sadie, especially for one of your first. The crack looks like a wind shake like Pearlie suggested. The dark color of the crack indicates that it has been there a long time, even before the tree or stave were cut.
You know we need a full draw pic or we will continue harassing you about it! ;D
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You know we need a full draw pic or we will continue harassing you about it! ;D
i know pat-working on it. cant seem, for the life of me, to get a pic on my own. today or tomorrow will get someone to take on at full draw. thanks!!
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sadie it doesn't matter how many or few, you have a nice touch with whatever you are working with.
Flippin' tips is next for me to learn(its hunting season though) so if you got time, how did you go about it? They look great.
Just think, when your hickory dries you wont have to mess with that punky yeller wood any more :laugh:
I will be out of touch for a bit after tomorrow and really do want to see a full draw shot soooo.
Lane
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sadiejane, excellent work on a difficult stave. Jawge
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Yes Ma'am!
That's one fine looking bow you wrestled outa that stave.
May your string never break, and your arrows fly true.
-gus
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The bottom nock, is that for stringing? I only ask because you have a regular nock and then what looks like a pin nock. If so you may want to ermove some length. The less mass on the ends the faster the bow will shoot with less handshock. Just a thought but looks good.
Bill
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nice bow i love that rawhide.
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love the braced pics, and think the handle is really cool.
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well, we had bow class last nite and i had the guys take some shots of me at full draw.
but for varying reason, i never got one . one the bow is a little on the stiff side for me,
and two i couldnt hold it long enough at full draw to get a pic taken
(my buds using my camera and fiddling and fiddling before they got a shot)
but heres the only one of me with it that came out at all, and it's not full draw
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0130.jpg)
man, i gotta get better at standing up straight. most every pic of me shooting i'm leaning back...
heres a cupla more with the bow at full draw and not canted
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0121.jpg)
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0134.jpg)
thanks guys, all your kind words and encouragement are appreciated
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I love those full draw bends Sadie, looks dang nice to me.
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thanks pearl
hope ya'll dont mind and will indulge me one more shot of this bow
decided yesterday to add some more salmon skin
(http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/sadiejane9/bowmaking/DSCN0140.jpg)
thanks!
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Yes Ma'am!
I'm liking that Salmon Skin!
And of course, the rest of the bow...
I love to crisp and eat Salmon skin when I have the fish on hand.
But next time I will have to for go eating it and stretch it instead... ;D
-gus