Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: tom sawyer on July 26, 2012, 11:41:04 pm
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I cut this wood myself about four years ago, got a real nice stave and bandsawed it in half to get two bows. Turned them into nearly identical blanks at last year's MOJAM, 64" t/t and 1.5" wide to midlimb with bulbous handle. Then let them sit in the basement for a year, looked at them almost daily but never got the urge. Tillered both to 60@28 at this year's MOJAM. Now I'm trying to finish them up to give to two friends before hunting season. One guy hates snakes so I backed his with rawhide I got from Pine Hollow. Great stuff, thinned and almost clear. The other guy got prairie rattlers, also from Pine Hollow. Both backings were applied with watered down Titebond III. I haven't finished the bows yet, I'm going to use Formby's tung oil finish. Gotta get them good and dry first. I'll post the finished version when they're done but I wanted to show them off bad. Haven't been bowyering much and I think I got the bug back.
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They couldn't be any more similar even after tillering. They both shoot nicely with no hand shock.
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They look more like twins than just sisters. I like them.
George
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Tell me about the Titebond III. Does it dry yellow when watered down? It's a great glue, but I have been shying away from it due to the color. I'd love to see a close up shot of the backing. It's too wet where I live to hunt with hide glue backing so I've been looking around for something else. Nice bows btw!
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I'm gluing these backings onto osage so I can't say how yellow it dries. Its thinned a fair amount (something like 1:1) and I think it dries fairly clear. I used this because I had it on hand, and its a little more waterproof than hide glue. I cut the backing strips to near dimension, applied glue to both surfaces and then wrapped them with Ace bandages. Did the snakes last night, the rawhide this morning.
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Very nice, sweet set. I have wondered where you have been,it has been a while,great to see you back posting,missed ya. :) :) Still talk about you at the Classic with the little girls in the Barbi tent. :) :) :)
Pappy
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Unfortunately those girls have outgrown the Barbie tent. They'll still occasionally pick up a bow though. We still talk about our adventure to the Classic too, will be returning one of these times.
While I haven't been bowyering so much, I haven't stopped collecting supplies and the workshop is well stocked.
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Been a long while man! I agree with George, identical twins. Those are beautiful and I'm sure well crafted. Good to see your work again, always enjoyed it.
Tracy
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Nice!! :laugh: :laugh:
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Well done!!
You're going to have some happy hunters :)
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I think they'll like the bows. Both guys are serious hunters so I am hopeful that they'll get a deer with them this fall.
Of course I told them I was making these bows a year ago so they've been waiting a LONG time. I'm giving these away but they have strict orders to tell everyone they paid big money for them.
I just ordered a couple more rawhide backings from Mike Yancey, and some timber rattler skins. My next project is going to be a similar style bow for the Ducks Unlimited auction next Feb.
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Looking nice, real nice. Hope you post them up again when finished, would love to see more.
Greg
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Finally finished the sisters up tonight. Nothing fancy but they'll make good hunting bows.
First, the snakeskin backed bow.
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Nice bow!
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Now the rawhide backed bow.
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The leatherwork, including a couple of string keepers I came up with. The rests are small wedges of bamboo, don't know why they are so shiny in the pic.
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Just looking at the pics, the top limbs of both bows look a little stiff. They had a touch more reflex in the outer 8" of the limbs though so I think they're OK and will survive as hunting bows.
I had to shoot them both lefty because I can't pull 60lb right-handed. They both have a touch of lean towards the righty side. They shot really hard and my 50lb-spined arrows were showing weak.
Glad to have all the little detail stuff done. I really enjoyed tillering these at MOJAM and its revived my interest in bowyering. On to the next tiller!
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Nicely done sir! I like em both :)
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Both bows very nicely done, handsome looking bows and tillers look real good to my eyes. To me the top limbs look to be holding their own but the busty woman in the backround of that last pic looks to need some support on her top end, kind of sagging there.
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Both bows very nicely done, handsome looking bows and tillers look real good to my eyes. To me the top limbs look to be holding their own but the busty woman in the backround of that last pic looks to need some support on her top end, kind of sagging there.
>:D i agree on botj accounts ;D
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Those both came out beautiful. Glad you finally got back to work on them.
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Thanks all. I'm well past my "build a bow a week" stage but for awhile I told myself I'd get back to it when I retire, but thats far enough away that I figure i'd better at least stay in practice. I know the guys getting the bows will be happy, hopefully they'll have enough time to practice before deer season.
I'm refinishing the wooden statue. You can't tell because of the perspective but she's about 2' tall, with strategically placed limbs coming off the trunk used that form interesting circles. its been kinda fun sanding her down. She's been in my shop friend for quite some time, I actually got her from my mother-in-law.
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That's a real nice pair Lennie...
Of bows that is. ;) The skins and rawhide really work on them. Glad that you are back to building bows again.
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I was waiting for that statement to show up, and I'm not surprised who came up with it! You'll notice I've done relatively more sanding in those regions. I may bring it to MOJAM next year for a camp display. Maybe put it in a tent and charge a nickel to see it.
I was sifting through the pile of wood the other day and was nearly killed. Time to restack and put those staves I procured at MOJAM on bottom for curing.
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It's a gift Lennie.. :D
Better be careful in the shop while re-stacking the project pile.
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Great bows. (I tried the watered down titebond III for backing and am loving it - thanks for that tip)
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Wow, nicely crafted, real sweet. They're truly cute together, don't give one away or they'll miss eachother forever.
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Very nice on both! As far as "nothin' fancy", my favorite kind.