Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: H Rhodes on July 08, 2012, 06:53:59 pm
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I posted a bow that I made from white oak a couple months ago. It was 68 tip to tip and 50# at 28". I have made two bows from this tree so far and have about three more staves left over. I am becoming a real fan of white oak! This bow developed over three inches of set and I had set it aside for a while. I realized that I had left the tips sort of meaty, so I decided to recurve it to help improve the cast. I intended to use a form with the curve cut into a 2X12, so I steamed the tips forty-five minutes before clamping them down. I let each tip sit in the form overnight. I let the whole bow rest up for about three days after the steam bending process.
I ended up with a much better bow! This bow picked up five lbs. of draw weight and, with the recurved tips, has much better early draw weight.
I fitted it with osage nocks and added a leather flip rest and an arrow pass to quieten it down some. Recurving the tips really helped this bow's performance. :)
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...and it also looks a lot cooler! 8)
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Thanks! I got a couple more on the way that have recurved tips. This white oak really bends well. I am still a newbie and am just now getting comfortable with bending wood with heat and steam. I am working on one that is 56" NTN right now that has deeper recurves than this one. It will have more curves and will be the shortest hunting weight bow that I have attempted... wish me luck.