Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Del the cat on November 20, 2012, 11:03:13 am
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A guy contacted me hoping for an ELB for Christmas as a present from his wife.
How could I refuse... but I'm not delivering it down the chimney.
It's made from billets split from a nice half log I had which had been teasing me for a few years.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_2744.jpg)
The top of the splice and a bit of red blush from the remainder of a knot makes the grip area rather pretty.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/knotblush.jpg)
Nice knot remnant by the bottom nock too.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_2746.jpg)
Here's the FD shot, It's tricky shooting it at that long draw and I've twanged my raspberry ripple (rhyming slang) a few times.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_2751.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/Website%20stills/100_2749.jpg)
Full build along on my blog, starting here. (With another bow being built at the same time)
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/splicing-yew-billets.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/splicing-yew-billets.html)
Hope you like it.
Santa
Del
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That sure is a sweet bow.
Every time I see one of your bows it makes me want to try a yew bow.
Patrick
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Beautiful bow with great tiller, Del. I especialy like the mother of pearl arrow pass. Well one, Santa!
A breast protector might help! ;)
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Nice job, Dell!! Be sure to get your milk and cookies!! ;)
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Damn, I was shooting it in and suddenly the splice gave way in my hand... :'(
I may be able to repair it, the limbs are fine, but it will loose a little length.
Del
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Beautiful bow,to bad about the come a part :( but if anyone can repair it you can,good luck with that. :)
Pappy
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Sorry to hear that Del. A good cordage wrap will prevent that from happening again and it makes a good handle wrap.
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Del, that is a beauty. I sure hope you can get her back together again. Any idea why the splice failed?
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Great bow Del and the tiller is fantastic. Well done!
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She's a real beauty and i always love your work Del. I was just wondering when you were gonna take the "amateur" tag off of your website. You, sir, are certainly no amateur!!
Hope she get's it together (the splice that is!), i bet she shoots sweet.
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Nice work, Del! Just like I like 'em... clean, simple, round tiller. Too bad about the splice letting go. What kind of glue were you using? Ive spliced a few bellies, but always with a backing strip or a tri-lam. I use nothing but TB3, even for splices, with no failures so far.
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Thanks for the good wishes and votes of confidence with the splice.
I've had a look at it and i think I can salvage it, I'll loose about 2-3".
Rather thn building up the back with leather under the grip I'll add a sliver of sapwood.
My guess is the splice was a bit too tight at the tip of the V and when i glued it I gave it a firm knock on the floor to seat it, maybe that just squeezed out the glue from the tip. The belly stayed glued, I think the break opened up from the tip of the V on the back, but it's hard to tell.
Nature has a way of cheering you up... I went back into my garage and there was a peackok butterfly fluttering about in there :) They get in there to over winter.
I switched off the lights and came out to let it settle down
I hope that's a good omen... not that I'm soft enough to believe in such things O:).
Here's a pic of Del's patent bow hinge >:D...
BTW I used Resintite, used it before on Osage no prob...
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Dang. Such a gorgeous bow too. Well if you figure out how to fix it let me know. I have a bow that broke right at the handle thats waiting for some attention.
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Bummer about the break. She was such a classy lass. I was going to ask for dimensions , but it would seem that those are yet to be determined at this point. Josh
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That sucks so bad. Such a beautiful bow, and just gorgeous strike plate inlay.
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Very nice Del. Pity about the splice failure. I wouldn't trust a splice on a longbow unless I was sure it wasn't working especially if the bow is going out to someone else.
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Very nice Del. Pity about the splice failure. I wouldn't trust a splice on a longbow unless I was sure it wasn't working especially if the bow is going out to someone else.
Yeah, I'm relieved I decided to give it a good shooting in at the full 31" it would have been horrid if it folde in half on Christmas day :o
It was only 50# at 31".
I was a bit surprised as I've seen a similar splice of a 170# warbow! Mind it was made by Roy King.
All part of the learning experience, like the old saying goes, pride comes before a fall... doubly true in bowmaking I reckon.
If I can pull off the repair, I'll make damn sure I shoot a good 100 through it and test it back to 32"
Cheers.
Del
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Looks like a nice shooter. I broke my 3rd. bow twice in the handle area running along the grain. At any rate I glued it where it came apart. The bow eventually snaped but not in the 2 spots that were repaired.
It was due to my inexperience in tillering.
Having said that, ya some bows can be saved. :)
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Hate to see that break Del, sorry. That bow was a highly polished beauty, hope your able to make the repair.
Greg
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At least it salvageable.... what a beautiful Bow! if it don't go together well for you you could always make it into it take apart, and then send it to me >:D
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If anyone can repair it and make it back into a lethal weapon, it's you Derek.
Keep us updated.
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Very cool bow. I liked the handle area. :D That kind of break/damage are not funny :-\
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Oh Del, what a heartbreaker! When I saw the full draw picture, that sweet creamy sapwood against the heartwood, I thought I was seeing a glimpse through the pearly gates. That full draw was sheer beauty. Hope this one can be recovered.
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What a shame....
Interesting to hear Marc say that he doesn't trust splices in elb's. I've made a few that work in the handle and are still going strong, around 60lb'ers I think. The reason most handle splices go is either shoddy mating work or them being perfect and being clamped up too hard then getting starved of glue.
I really like hide glues for splices as there is no need to clamp and they shrink as they dry pulling everything together. You only need to hold them in place until the glue gels. Mind you need to be pretty confident in your processes! People will nay say about using hide glues but they are immensly strong and as long as you use a good finish there is no need to worry about moisture isssues just get your mating surfaces perfect and let nature do her job :)
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Too bad, but it happens sometimes. It has happened to me also, even with a Z splice. I was a smart ass trying to hide a fairly large knot inside the splice, did'nt work out. >:( Markus.
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This looks like a great opportunity for learning, and I have a funny feeling that you will be up for it.
Beautiful bow before she let go, that photo of the yew contrast and arrow pass is stunning.
Looking forward to seeing this one come back together!
Jamie
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Just caight this break Del. Sorry about that....
I'm no expert by any means, but I also wouldn't trust a bendy handle splice without some type of reinforcement.
First thing that occured to me was to laminate a slat of horn over the next splice.If you extend it out abit it looks like a nice grip overlay too. Not really ELB traditional but insurance just the same.
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Bad luck Del...beautiful work anyway.... the butterfly was an omen...I believe in omens and I'm not soft!!!??
Dave