Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: druid on April 23, 2012, 08:01:17 am

Title: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: druid on April 23, 2012, 08:01:17 am
I usually do not make so short bows ( I am slowly transfering to warbow making I hope :D) but recently I have made two of them. One is this little elderberry. 60" ntn but very comfortable to shoot, with low set. 50# 30" but I realiesed that I like it more in 28". It is interesting that it is hollow sapling with cross section like U. After two hundred arrows (we had little meeting where everybody tried it) this is follow. As I already said: elderberry is great bow wood, I like it very much. Not heat treated. Nocks are Tim Bakers light tip solution.
(http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/166/87544260.jpg)
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/918/42271991.jpg)
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/6901/89613859.jpg)
(http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2253/58434989.jpg)
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5172/19891996.jpg)
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: bobnewboy on April 23, 2012, 08:18:19 am
Brilliant!  What a bend on a short bow!   8)  I have heard that elderberry is very good too - very hard wood for its density and makes a bow which is light in the hand, especially due to the hollow section.  The problem for me is finding a piece which is 1, big enough, and 2, not shaped like a dog's back leg.  I'll keep my hand chain saw in my pocket while walking on the woods though......
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Pappy on April 23, 2012, 08:44:34 am
Sweet,thats a beauty for sure,tiller is prefect.Very nice work. :) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: tattoo dave on April 23, 2012, 09:03:47 am
That's just awesome! Nice work as usual.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: dwardo on April 23, 2012, 09:29:47 am
Thats a stunning bend you got going on there. Once you start on the shorties you will wonder why you ever made anything longer. ;)
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: lesken2011 on April 23, 2012, 09:45:39 am
That's a unique lookin bow. I agree the tiller looks good and the color is also pleasing to the eye.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on April 23, 2012, 11:06:44 am
another nice one.  although a "simple" design, your bows appear to be very well finished. just proves you dont need extra colors or decorations to make a beautiful bow
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Del the cat on April 23, 2012, 11:17:01 am
Nah, that's a canoe for Mice  ;D.
But seriously that is really something else.
Gotta try some Elder one day.
Stunning tiller!
Must be weird to tiller a tubular stave?
Del
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: blackhawk on April 23, 2012, 11:30:43 am
Yup...a perfect classic druid bend there ;)...n i agree the color is sweet,looks almost like fresh cut osage.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Jodocus on April 23, 2012, 11:37:39 am
great bow!  8) how thik was that wood when you started out? Did you tiller it by carving out the hollow section or shaving the belly? And why is it filled still on that one limb?

thsi opens perspectives! after all, it's rare to see a piece of elderberry that would qualify for a classic bow design. With a hollow section in it, however, that should be very possible to get by.

congratulations on this one



Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: coaster500 on April 23, 2012, 12:55:30 pm
Beautiful in all its complex simplicity....  another wonderful bow  ;)
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Adam on April 23, 2012, 01:10:26 pm
Wow Druid, you really do amazing work!  Every time I see you've posted another bow, I get prepared to be jealous!
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: ErictheViking on April 23, 2012, 01:51:12 pm
gotta love the bend on that one!  just simply gorgeous. sweet work Druid
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Dauntless on April 23, 2012, 02:58:18 pm
You tillered a tube!

50lbs no chrysals? You really know how to bend wood Druid.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Ifrit617 on April 23, 2012, 04:12:25 pm
Incredible little bow druid... I love everyone you post...

Jon
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: dmikeyj on April 23, 2012, 04:44:00 pm
Count me as a fan, druid- every bow you post has a perfect bend.

Mike
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: bubby on April 23, 2012, 05:21:44 pm
heck Druid all your bows look the same to me, picture purfect, Bub
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: dragonman on April 23, 2012, 06:25:42 pm
like your bow druid, perfect bend,   theres a lot of elder by me , I might try it one day after seeinng this bow
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: rps3 on April 23, 2012, 08:02:20 pm
Glad I got to see this, thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: druid on April 24, 2012, 08:29:06 am
Thank you very much for your comments my friends! I am trying to do every bow as it is the last one.  :)
Elderberry wood is great to work, hard, do not rise splinters, fine under sandpaper.
dwardo, I think I will never came over to the dark side and begun with shortbows.  ;D
This colour is its natural, just finished a little with pig fat, my necessery recipe.
Del, it is not difficult, just ignore everything.  ;)
Jodocus, it was baout 3 x 3 cm in the begining.
Dauntless, elderberry must be very overstressed to show crysales, it is both compression and tension strong but seems better in tension: I have made bows that had 90 degrees twist of the tips and it holds excellent.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Dazv on April 24, 2012, 04:32:01 pm
you are an amazing bow maker.
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: soy on April 24, 2012, 07:14:50 pm
That druid is very cool 8)
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: PeteC on April 24, 2012, 11:05:51 pm
Very nice. I really like that one.Good job. God bless
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: Pat B on April 25, 2012, 12:15:08 am
I could look at your bows forever, Druid. A perfect picture of beauty and function.  8)
  Do you know the species of the elderberry you used. We have 2 species around here, American elderberry(Sambucus canadensis) and scarlet elder(S. pubens). Except for having straight trunks, neither seem bow worthy. Maybe I'm missing something.  ::)
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: mikekeswick on April 25, 2012, 04:01:32 am
Beautiful!
Picture perfect - i love it!
Is it Sambucus nigra? I have a stave drying thats about 2 inches diameter....wouldn't it be cool to do a rigid handle bow and have the pith going through the handle!
Title: Re: Elderberry shortbow 50# 30"
Post by: H Rhodes on April 25, 2012, 04:51:14 pm
Wow, druid....  you sure make some fine bows.  I am curious about the wood species too....  I think there must be a big difference in the type elder that we have here in Alabama.....  Ours is too soft to do anything with.  I love the way you tiller a bow.  Really awesome.