Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on October 02, 2007, 01:48:12 pm
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This is about my tenth bow, but being a slow learner, it's the first one I consider to be a successful hunting bow. I usually end up either with a lot of set, a broken limb, or a lightweight bow. This time, I finally managed to hit my target weight of 70# @ 26", 62" nock-to-nock. I wanted a bow on the heavy side, to help make up for my short draw length. I like having a few extra foot-pounds for penetration insurance.
This came from an Osage stave that's been seasoning in my shed for about 4 years. Unfortunately, half of the stave was unusable due to cracking. The good half was snakey, but wide enough for 2 billets. Being inspired by Pappy's recent snakey twin bows, I decided to try making a takedown with twin snakey billets (twins joined at the hip, I suppose). I figure the symmetrical curves help balance everything out. That's my theory, anyway.
The billets started out with some twist and a bit of natural deflex. I used steam to remove the twist and add a bit of reflex. After tillering and shooting in, it ended up with a hint of R/D shape, and almost no set (A new triumph for me).
I tried my hand at a fading dye job for stealth, and sealed it with tru-oil. I'll buff out the shine soon when I hit the woods. I'm shooting it off my hand, with a basic suede wrap. I added some layers of leather over the sleeve to give it a bulbous grip. It shoots straight, no arrow wobble, and really thwacks the target. I welcome all criticism for my next one, but I don't plan to mess with the tiller at this point.
-Tom
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...and a couple more pics
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Man that is a beauty, I love it and you know how I like the snake.The take down is cool
also.What about a full draw picture,just had to ask. :) ;D Great job Tom.
Pappy
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Thanks a lot, Pappy. You know you're my hero. I think I sneaked the full draw pic in as you were typing.
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Tom that is a beauty, pure poetry. I like everything about it from the symetry in the snaky limbs, the finish, and the
sleek deadly profile. Well done. You set the bar pretty high for Oct BOM
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Mighty fine lookin' weapon.
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... Y E S !!!
frank
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thats is beautiful. i love it. will remember this for october self bow of the month :) it is really nice
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Yepp, a great bow. Congrats :)
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That is indeed a very nice looking bow
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Tom could you explain the process and stains used to create the fading stian job, Thanks.
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That is a dandy!!! I really want to try a take down myself. Thanks for the inspiration.
Mark
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That is very,very nice Tom.I love take-downs.
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Thanks for all the kind comments, guys.
Dana - for the coloring, I used red & black dyes mixed with alcohol. I started with a weak dilution of red, and covered the outer 2/3rds. Then I made a stronger solution mixed with a few drops of black for the outer 1/2 or so. I kept going this way until it was a concentrated all-black solution at the tips. After each coat, I blended it with 0000 steel wool. I recommend using gloves, which I didn't do. Wiped on 3 coats of tru oil afterwards -- gotta love that stuff.
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That must have been what happened,I opened it this morning and there they were,I thought how did I miss that.Looks great you done a fine job.Now that straight wood will seem a lot
easier. :)
Pappy
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Wow, truely a beautiful bow. Love the stain job and finish.
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Wow beautiful bow Stickhead!! Nice job getting a great bow out of a difficult piece of wood.
Alan
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Nice one! :)
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You've got a winner here. Something unique like your new take-down makes BOM a little more interesting. -OldBow
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Thanks Oldbow, but the month is young.
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I really like the fading stain you did.
Think I'll try that on one of my future bows!! ;)
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Now that is cool! Well done!
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Absolutely beautiful. Good job....
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Great looking bow and a take-down at that! ;)
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all i can say is: that's one impressive bow.
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I love it! That is a great tiller. Well done. Jawge
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I really like everything about but it would pull way to heavy for me. David
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it looks very good. the tips outer limbs are a bit too stiff for my taste, but it seams to work fine. a job well done.
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Excellent looking bow. Watch out, after building a couple of those snakey bows I found the straight ones weren't fun anymore. ;D
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Wow, reeeel nice looking bow there. Glad you came out with one that works.
Sean
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Thanks very much, George and everybody else. Wow, I wasn't expecting such a great response. The planets kinda lined up for this one, and just in time. Tomorrow is opening day. I don't normally like to change bows so close to deer season, but this one shoots too well for me not to hunt with it. We've been hittin' the 3D range hard together, and it feels right, so we'll hit the woods in the morning.
-Tom