Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jcougar on September 17, 2007, 05:57:22 pm

Title: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 17, 2007, 05:57:22 pm
Here's a Yumi inspired hickory bow that I just finished.  It's ~80" long, and about 1" wide.  I heat treated several inches of reflex into the stave to start with.  Just unbraced it holds abot 4" of reflex.  The finish is black leather dye and tru-oil.  Draw weight is around 60# @ 34".  I have also included a couple shots of my next project.  Enjoy....

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi006.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi005.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi004.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi003.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi001.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi008.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi007.jpg
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jamie on September 17, 2007, 06:05:09 pm
sweet!
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Pat B on September 17, 2007, 07:08:59 pm
OK, you know we need a full draw pic. Cool bow. The Yumis have always intrigued me. You did a nice job of this one. I'll bet full draw is right on! ;)     Pat
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 17, 2007, 07:21:25 pm
Thanks!  I'll get a fulldraw shot as soon as I can-OK, a shot of how far I can draw it!  My longest arrows are only 31", so that will have to do for now.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Justin Snyder on September 17, 2007, 08:29:38 pm
Cool looking bow.  Nice crossbow too.  ;)
Hey Pat, how am I supposed to know if the full draw is right on?  I'm not sure what it is supposed to look like.  ;D  Justin
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 17, 2007, 09:08:05 pm
Here are a couple of "full draw" pics.  Both are at about 30"-4" short of the real full draw.

http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi010.jpg
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/jcougar/?action=view&current=Yumi009.jpg
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: 1/2primitive on September 17, 2007, 09:58:04 pm
Very cool, I've always been interested in those kinds of bows.
     Sean
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: mullet on September 17, 2007, 10:03:15 pm
I like it,very cool.I was going to buy one but they are outrageously expensive.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Pat B on September 18, 2007, 12:06:59 am
Excellent!  8)  It is a self bow isn't it?  I think I'll wait till next month to submit my newest! ::)   The tiller is perfect.     Pat
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 18, 2007, 12:36:50 am
Yeah, its just one chunk of hickory.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Pappy on September 18, 2007, 05:48:32 am
Very nice ,how dose it shoot.Like the black looks cool. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: DanaM on September 18, 2007, 06:52:58 am
Looks exellent to me, now you need some traditional Kyudo clothing so you look the part. ;)
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Marc St Louis on September 18, 2007, 09:12:58 am
Very nice. How does it shoot?
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 18, 2007, 11:13:51 am
Thanks for all the positive feedback.  It took a little getting used to.  The arrow speed seems pretty good.  The strange thing is that it shoots better if the arrow is nocked perpendicular to the bow handle, not the string.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: mamba on September 19, 2007, 10:31:07 pm
I'd like to shoot one of those some day.I wonder how or why they came up with that design.
 Very nice job Coug,have you shot it for distance?
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: cowboy on September 19, 2007, 10:42:17 pm
Very cool looking bow (kinda weird) in design. I've always wondered about those - sure I'll try it sometime :).
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Timmah on September 20, 2007, 03:56:38 am
Absolutely fantastic!

This is exactly the sort of thing that I want to try. Any info on how you tillered that beauty? I cant get my head around it. Is the bottom limb stiffer or does the different string angle/leverage from the asymmetry mean that they are the same weight??

Again that is fabulous!!

Cheers,
Tim
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: jcougar on September 20, 2007, 10:48:45 am
I haven't shot it for distance yet.  As far as tillering, the upper limb takes most of the bend, with the bottom doing very little.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: snedeker on September 20, 2007, 11:04:39 am
thats great.  I made one, boo backed BL for my son a couple years ago to use with 35" arrows.  Has sort of a floppy feet when shooting but reall sends an arrow.  Neat to see one done as a self bow.   

Dave
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: Far East Archer on September 20, 2007, 02:06:03 pm
Great bow mate! Tiller and braced shape seems to be right with the originals.
The reason for this design is because at first the Japanese tried to use horn bows from Korea or China but when they brought them back they said the bows became rubbery because of the humid conditions. The samurai were horseman and so they now needed a new design since the horn bows didn't work. They got what materials they had plenty of and designed a bow after many attempts that could be shot off a horse or kneeling positions and still have the long draw. Since they weren't using horn/sinew they soon learned that in order for this design to work and not break they had to make it long, and to shoot off horse they made it asymmetrical. Thats all I know about the design.

-Alex
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: bhenders on December 28, 2007, 10:04:22 pm
Nice pics of full draw.  Have you tried shooting it with the japanese draw?  Thumb draw with the arrow on the 'outside' of the bow. 
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: vhatp on November 11, 2009, 11:34:21 am
Nice job, my piece of fresh preshaped (reflexed) ash is waiting for something similar.
You mention that it shoots better with the arrow nocked perpendiculary to the handle. That perhaps indicates that the lower limb is bending too much. This way of nocking is definitely not the correct way (Im being taught Kyudo).
I understand that you were curious about the design while sticking to your usual way of shooting, but I suggest you consider the japanese style while shooting a Yumi. Besides the not-crucially-important principles, there is actually one more reason for incorporating such an asymetrical bow design and thus, the angle of the wrist, being tilted cca 65 degs, as if punching the fist. The Yumi is pressed just in between the thumb and forefinger, not the bottom of the palm as you appear to do it.
Then, of course, much longer draw is used (arrow length measured from Adams apple to the fingertips plus 5cm), resting from the right side of the grip while drawing the string with thumb (in a glove) pressed against the middle finger and forefinger pressing the arrow in a rotative manner... but thats kind of ridiculous to explain, since its a manner of years to acquire the correct technique.
Good luck with further jobs!
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: RyanY on November 11, 2009, 12:16:53 pm
That's awesome. Great job.
Title: Re: Hickory Yumi and some pics of my next project...
Post by: OldBow on November 17, 2009, 08:59:12 pm
Which is the full draw from Photobucket? I don't have time to look at al lthese threads............ >:D