Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bowhntineverythingnh03743 on January 21, 2013, 10:50:13 pm
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This will be my second attempt at a self bow. The first one I made many attempts and now the bow sits in the corner as more of a trophy than a work horse. Hopefully this one will be different. It is an Elm stave that was very graciously traded by Pearls. I plan on a 64 ttt bow somewhere around 50+ pounds. Layed out the bow and started hoggin off wood with hand tools only. I think I get too impatient when power is involved. Here it is so far... some snake which makes it super cool... Thanks for looking
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0454.jpg)
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0455.jpg)
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0456.jpg)
Still have a ton of wood to hog off one limb and in the handle area but slow and steady wins the race... Right?
Hopefully you guys like it and think that I am on the right track...
Justin
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Practice makes perfect. That's a good piece of wood. Everytime you work one you will move ahead. So get some under your belt.
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That's a nice, challenging piece of wood. Looks like you're off to a good start.
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This is not a timed event. Take it slow. Use a tillering gizmo. Impatience has killed many a bow.
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You had one failure already, Justin! Oh no! I actually had 14 times that before I got a shooter. No power tools until you are shooting bow #6 is my advice. Jawge
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Dont forget to temper it, thats key with elm in my experinece.
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George ya must be a slow learner:) LOL
Nice stave Justin, slow and easy does it. Ya can always take more wood off, BUT once ya take wood off, ya can't put it back on.
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Well got the stave all roughed out. Took my time but still have some work to do in the tip area. One had a saw mark in it and I needed to thin both sides out evenly to take it out. Its almost gone but just a tad more to go. Anyways here are some pictures of where I am at now.....
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0498.jpg)
The saw mark... lil more to go
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0499.jpg)
Top limb tip
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0501.jpg)
Bottom limb tip--- the none that needs some more work
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0500.jpg)
I laid a sting along the belly of the bow in the middle of each tip. The string tracks nicely and with just minor tweaking.... say 1/4 of an inch it will be right in the middle of the handle. I am hoping to be able to shoot of the inside bend of the bow so that it will be closer to center shot.
Any comments welcome.. Have a good day guys!
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Looks good Justin. Im anxious to see this one bend.
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That's looking good,looking forward to seeing it shooting. :) Love the snake. :)
Pappy
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Ive got a half log thats much, much more snakey. Its the wierdest looking elm I have cut. I sent Justin a wiggly and a straight one......figgers he'd grab the nasty one first!
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Thanks Chris again for the staves again. I actually pulled the straight stave out last night n looked it over. There was a crack in one side is it but think I can still get a 60 ttt bow. This next one is def gonna be a recurve with sinew. Can't wait to start on it!
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So after a few days of feeling as though I got hit by a Mack truck... dang flu... I still am not up to par but figured I can't sit around anymore. I started back up on this bow and am getting to get it bending just a little. I floor tillered it the best I could just to get the limbs bending slightly then jumped to a long string for a bit. Once I got the bow bending to around 4 inches I went to a tighter string. Here is how the string falls just about and inch braced above the handle. I have much more to go but want to get your guys opinion before I continue on removing wood. Here is how the string is lying on the bow. I have temp nocks taped on.
One Limb
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0520.jpg)
Other Limb
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0521.jpg)
String alignment through handle
(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x344/bowhntineverythingnh03743/IMAG0523.jpg)
I am super nervous I am going to remove wood in the wrong places. This stave is the first snakey one I have worked on. It has minor prop twist in the limbs in different areas and I do not want to get ahead of myself. I figure I will post a lot and ask for all you guys for tips and advise. I am hoping to get my first selfbow with this stave.
Comment are needed guys. Thanks
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Looks good to my eyes.
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Looks good so far. Man I wish I had that stave! Lovin' that profile.
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Thanks Chris and JW... I am trying to take this thing ultra slow. I find that if I rush it and just hog wood off it ends up over the back bank where all the dead trees rest now. Hopefully this weekend I will start to post pictures of the bow bending. I definately will need help through pictures and I may try posting a video of the bow bending.
I really need to find someone to make me a tillering gizmo... mine is awful even when I followed the plans Eric put up. My pencil slides out after I adjust it so I think that is why I am having problems tillering the bow. I may see if someone wants to swap me something for making one for me that actually works.
Again thanks Chris and JW! I need all the help I can get... you guys really help
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Lots of pics Justing. Just dont be too timid with it, thats another great way to make 30# bows. Heat tempered elm is tough, dont be scared to bend it some. Gizmos are fine, but any 5-6" long straight edge will work. When the gap skinnys you scrape that area. Once you can run that scraper down the belly from fade to 8" shy of the tips without that gap changing, your tillered. You should try to get it tillered out by 15-16" of draw. That way you can land on any poundage you want and not miss it by a pound. Trust that gap you see, it rarely lies to you.
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That's great advice Pearl. I'm going to have to try that. It seems so simple, but I never would have thought of it.
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Cool Chris sounds good! Made a new Bosnia tonight out of cocobolo. Put two coats of finish on it. Nothin fancy but works. I will get it bending a little more than heat temper...pics to come!
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That is an awesome looking piece of elm! Looks like it is coming along nicely!
Pearly is giving you great advice. I don't tiller with a proper gizmo either - I have a little five inch block of 1 X 2 and use it exactly like he described. When I run it along the belly of the bow and it shows a big gap of light between the block and the bow - I put a line across the belly to remind me not to remove any wood from that spot, since it could be a hinge developing there. When that gap of light between the block and the belly gets thin, I see a need for more bending, so I scribble on that area with my marker. Then it's off the tree and more rasping/sanding. I agree that heat tempering elm is what makes it really perform.
You are doing great. I couldn't really tell from the pic, but was the inner bark/cambium layer still on the back of your stave?