Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 09:09:39 pm

Title: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 09:09:39 pm
My first trip to Marshall was 1994. I bought a hickory stave and got a ton of help getting it started. It turned out crude, but it was my pride and joy. An outdoor writer even took pictures of it and wrote a small article in Woods and Water. At GLLI I received some help from Tim Baker regarding changes to the nocks. I hunted turkey, deer, and bear with it, but never punched a tag. Here are some pics of it from this spring.
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/making%20it%20all%20primitive/primitivemike7.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/making%20it%20all%20primitive/primitivemike4.jpg)

Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 09:21:40 pm
This year my buddy Kevin Halverson and I were invited to a Primitive Hunting Challenge by Chuck Deshler. No laminated bows, no carbon, no loincloths! So we decided to try to build a bow or two. I figured my best bet was to try to rework/restore my hickory bow. So off to Marshall I went for the second time, 8 years later. When I got there Pearl Drums, Blackhawk, and Chuck were willing to help me with my inept skills. If you look at the pics from Marshall that is me next to Blackhawk while he is showing me how to heat temper my bow. Of course, this was after removing all that beautiful leather dye and wax I applied over the years.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: KHalverson on June 28, 2012, 09:35:18 pm
come on mike
get to the money shot after the restore
im anxious to see it at full draw
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 28, 2012, 09:38:35 pm
You and me both Kevin! She was super hot naked, cant imagine what some clothes on her might look like. So hurry it up Mike or the lawn chair stays with me!
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Dictionary on June 28, 2012, 09:38:53 pm
thats one whippy tiller. But the wood is beautiful
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: coaster500 on June 28, 2012, 09:41:22 pm
Your a lucky man....  someday maybe if my bills and job ever allow me a weekend off I'd love to go to one of the gatherings and meet some of the most helpfull good natured folks I have known...  I've learned a tremendous amount here but I'm sure there's nothing like have the eyes of these folks on your work first hand :)
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 28, 2012, 09:43:01 pm
thats one whippy tiller. But the wood is beautiful

He hasnt posted the finish pics yet. Those are from last spring per his post.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 10:03:30 pm
So after several days of coaching, phone calls, and e-mails this is what I have now.(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0227.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0229.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0225.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0221.jpg)
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 10:06:20 pm
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0222.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0224.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0231.jpg)
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/DSC_0233.jpg)
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: lesken2011 on June 28, 2012, 10:08:40 pm
Nice job OB! I can see why it turned out so well with the crew you had helping you.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 10:12:12 pm
Thanks! I was really fortunate to get the expert advice that I got. The bow is SO much more fun to shoot and accurate too.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: KHalverson on June 28, 2012, 10:21:46 pm
sweet
i really like the grey stain
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 10:29:31 pm
Thanks KH. I should mention that Kevin has been along for the ride on this one too. He made me an awesome scraper, and shared his stain recipe, although I modified it a bit :)
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: coaster500 on June 28, 2012, 10:47:03 pm
Wow what a difference!!!
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Buckeye Guy on June 28, 2012, 11:09:45 pm
Me like !!!

Good job hope to see you shooting it in person !!
Have fun !!
Guy
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 28, 2012, 11:16:47 pm
Thanks Guy. Now I have a bow I can shoot at Marshall next year! Hope you'll have time to show me the course and give me some shooting tips.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Gus on June 29, 2012, 01:02:17 am
Yes Sir!
P.A. Folks are some of the Best kind of Folks...

Nice Looking Bow you wound up with!
You really Brought Her Around!
And a Fine looking Bend she has!
Not to mention Her Makeup!  :)
Well Met!

I wish you many Red Arrahs and Easy Blood Trails!


-gus
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: soy on June 29, 2012, 02:00:34 am
Breathing new life onto an old bow is good medicine  ;) shure you had a good group to mentor you that adds good to it also ...sweet bow! May the memories and the bow serve you well for many years to come
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: hedgeapple on June 29, 2012, 02:17:00 am
Talk about teaching old dogs new tricks!  That's simply amazing.  You took a shootable bow and made it better.  Nice job by all.  I would not have in thought about doing so.  You've got me looking at my bow rack now.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Badger on June 29, 2012, 03:27:09 am
  Bow came out nice! Major improvement!
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Pappy on June 29, 2012, 06:30:21 am
Great remake,very nice. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: gstoneberg on June 29, 2012, 06:36:14 am
Very nice work guys!!  That brace picture looks just about perfect to me.  I'll bet it makes meat this fall. :)

George
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: CTT on June 29, 2012, 08:29:38 am
That Grey is fine looking, I should try that sometime.
Nice save on an old bow Mike.
The two Chris' done you good.
 Now when can we see your bamboo arrows and the rest of your garb?

CTT
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: blackhawk on June 29, 2012, 09:06:44 am
Thats a big time major improvement. Nice facelift. It needed it.  ;) i know for a fact its a much better shooter now in all departments just seeing the after pics,and knowing what it looked like firsthand before the facelift.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 29, 2012, 09:44:27 am
Thanks all. Yep, without the two Chris' I would still be hauling that ugly ol brown bow around. Been straightening my bamboo, too darn hot to work on them right now. I have an old beaver pelt quiver that Teresa Asbell made for me years ago that she is refurbishing for me also. If I don't kill anything at the "Challenge" I will be stylin' :D
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 29, 2012, 10:06:01 am
Great job sealing her off Mike. Bring it to Elm Hall so I can her yet once again!
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: H Rhodes on June 29, 2012, 10:30:51 am
Now that was a good make-over!  I like that grey.   ;)
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: HickoryBill on June 29, 2012, 11:04:08 am
Great job on the re-do..Gotta love that Hickory
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on June 29, 2012, 11:52:17 am
Let me explain what we did, since Mikey left it all out. We narrowed the working limbs by about 3/8", shortened it by 2", heat tempered and reflexed it about 2". One tip was way too thin to allow a 50# plus bow. A 12" long by 3/16' thick hickory slat was glued to that tip and then worked back into the rest of the limb with rasps and a sanding block. It stiffened it up enough to allow any draw weight we wanted. The grip is totally reshaped as well and the bow totally retillered.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: CTT on June 29, 2012, 12:19:28 pm
That's right Chris, One bow was dumped on the ground to save the Grey Owl from extinction.
I hear OB wants to set up a bow shop in car port now. Him and KH are ate up with this stuff.

CTT
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: Carson (CMB) on June 29, 2012, 12:35:21 pm
Nice work OB.  Sounds like you took it to the right people.  Thanks for adding the dirty details PD, I was wondering how you corrected that tiller and kept weight. 
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on June 29, 2012, 12:44:48 pm
I would've filled in the details but I was too busy listening and trying to follow directions! I now have staves drying, borer worries, wood plans, and hopes that when I get stuck (and I will), that I haven't worn out my welcome on my first bow! Thanks again!
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: CTT on June 30, 2012, 11:24:45 pm
Call me anytime Mike, and I will give you Chris's number ;D

That bow looks nice. Well done fellas.
Title: Re: 1994 Hickory Restoration
Post by: owlbait on July 01, 2012, 12:24:01 am
Is it OK to shoot this bow when it is so hot out? I want to shoot a bunch of arrows thru her, but I'm not savvy on how well she will hold up in this heat and humidity. Even with 6 coats of Helmsman on her.