Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Shaun on November 26, 2012, 04:57:10 pm

Title: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Shaun on November 26, 2012, 04:57:10 pm
I ordered some rattan in various sizes for kids' bows and experimenting. Playing with some full round s 1 1/8" material yielded this recurve. 52.5" NTN, 50# @ 28" (mass weight of 350 grams - just over 12 ounces). Mahogany stain and shellac finish, skived leather handle. Material removed from the back of the bow for tillering leaving the skin and nodes on the belly.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve012.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve011.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve013.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve014.jpg)

Full draw pic where I made an effort to get all 28" of it shows how rattan can really bend

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve009.jpg)

Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: nativenoobowyer86 on November 26, 2012, 05:07:20 pm
Thats an impressive bend there sir! im still kinda new to bowmaking but i have never seen a rattan bow......I like it :D
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Bowman on November 26, 2012, 05:57:42 pm
Fantastic bow. Must be fast. Never heard about rattan. :-)
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: k-hat on November 26, 2012, 06:53:17 pm
That is too cool!  how does she shoot?  I've wondered how rattan would do for a big boy bow.
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Naim Tėlperien on November 26, 2012, 07:30:57 pm
It is a very impressive bow sir, it woud be great if you could make a tutorial
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Badly Bent on November 26, 2012, 08:04:07 pm
Thats  a very impressive bow Shaun. Nice shape and the bend is as pretty as a picture, would love to see more pics if you have some time, close ups of belly and back. Nice work and I have to comment on your always impressive tillers.
Greg
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: lesken2011 on November 26, 2012, 08:37:22 pm
That looks really cool, Shaun! Good job and sweet bend, for sure! Just curious, I have checked into some prices on rattan and it seemed kind of expensive....like $20 per piece. Have you found a better deal? PM me if you need to.
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Shaun on November 26, 2012, 08:59:34 pm
Some more details...  the handle

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve025.jpg)

The back

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve020.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve023.jpg)

The belly

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve019.jpg)

Rattan, new shipment of 1 3/4", old shipment with 1 5/8" and 1 1/4". Bows are this recurve made from 1 1/4" round, kid bow 20# @ 24" w/ flip tips from round, kids bow 10# @ 24" made from split of 1 5/8".  Two different suppliers on the west coast (east coast supplier out of stock due to embargo). It costs me about $15 per 54" stick shipped to the Midwest.  Hope to get 15-20# kid bows from this lager stock when split. Gearing up to make a bunch of kid bows for Christmas. Also making poplar dowl kid arrows to go with them.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/shaunw/RattanRecurve029.jpg)
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: madcrow on November 26, 2012, 09:04:41 pm
I have seen them but never tried them.  Looks like you have a really good idea of what to do.  Build along maybe?
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: missilemaster on November 26, 2012, 09:47:01 pm
Great little bow there.  Tell me, do you notice a speed difference between ratan and wood?
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Dictionary on November 26, 2012, 10:45:37 pm
Wow nice.
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: JW_Halverson on November 27, 2012, 12:16:32 am
Sinew and hide glue sticks to rattan very nicely too.  I've seen a few Lakota style horsebows made of this stuff pushing 75# draw at 16 inches!

Good looking bows, Shaun.  Gonna be some happy kids come Christmas time!
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: toomanyknots on November 27, 2012, 10:00:02 am
Thats a beautiful bow. Thats also a good amount of money looking at how many ratton staves you got there,  ;D.
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Pappy on November 27, 2012, 12:27:51 pm
Thats a fine looking bow. I would think it would be pretty quick. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Tom Leemans on November 27, 2012, 01:05:46 pm
We decided to see if we could tiller a kids bow to 50# or better at Cloverdale one year. Here's a pic of it.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/IMG_1541.jpg)
They are dang near indestructable. They take a little set, but they'll fling an arrow!
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Maxspin on November 27, 2012, 02:20:07 pm
Shaun or Tom
If you were to start with the idea of making a 50# bow would you still start at 4.5’ long? 
Would a longer bow get sluggish out of rattan?

Keith
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: killir duck on November 27, 2012, 02:28:21 pm
cool bows, where do you get the rattan?
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Shaun on November 27, 2012, 06:28:18 pm
Rattan is slightly slower than wood. It takes some set but it really does shoot and it is heat bendable. Kids can hardly break these things and that is saying a lot, very tough stuff.

You can find suppliers on the west coast if you Google rattan suppliers. East coast supplier was out of stock and said there was an embargo of some sort. Standard pieces are 9 ft but must be cut unless you want to pay freight trucking charges. So, 54" (half a stick) is standard. Costs about $15 each w/ shipping.
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Arrowind on November 27, 2012, 11:13:52 pm
WOW!
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 27, 2012, 11:29:30 pm
That's impressive.  I never paid much attention to Rattan...until now.   O:)
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Pat B on November 27, 2012, 11:51:30 pm
Excellent little bow, Shaun and beautiful tiller. You got all the goodie out of that piece of rattan. I tried a few pieces of rattan years ago and just couldn't make it work well for me. I think you found the secret of rattan.  8)
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Blacktail on November 28, 2012, 12:15:51 am
WOW,that is a good piece of work...i looked up some supplerys out here in the west coast and only found rattan for furniture..thanks for sharing john
Title: Re: Rattan recurve for big kids
Post by: Tom Leemans on November 28, 2012, 11:13:08 am
We always bought it from Bamboo and Rattan Works out on the east coast. If you tell them you need it for kids bows, they know what to do.

I once bought a couple of full length poles to test the longer bow theory. I was going to show up at MOJam with a rattan warbow. Problem was, I got it from another supplier and it was bruised all over the place. With rattan, bruise = instant hinge. I never ordered more to try it out again. If I did, I'd get it from the aforementioned BRW.