Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Danzn Bar on February 10, 2013, 05:45:26 pm

Title: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 10, 2013, 05:45:26 pm
Had a nice stave with a big knot and "S" curve in the handle area.  It was very difficult to tiller with one limb higher on the tillering tree than the other limb.  See the below pictures.  The knot would not let me remove the "S" with heat.  The limb to the right is the top limb.  Both limbs are similar in profile but different because of the "S" in the handle. I ended up with about 1/4" positive tiller.  There doesn't seem to be much hand shock.

What do you guys think of the tiller?  Would you have done it different?

Thanks
DB

 
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Weylin on February 10, 2013, 06:08:39 pm
Beautiful! Nice work. I like the backing, is that turkey feathers?
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 10, 2013, 06:10:19 pm
Great looking bow! I have a soft spot for statics.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 10, 2013, 06:23:20 pm
Weylin,
Yes turkey feathers, I used whats called "Flex Coat". I't's a two part epoxy. Fishing rod builders use it on the threads of the guides.  It is the first time I,ve done this and I'm wondering if it holds up.  Got about 150 shots and the coating looks good still.

Pearl,
I've been reading a lot of your posts and have learned a lot from them...........thanks,  and I'm partical to statics also.
Thanks again,
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Hrothgar on February 10, 2013, 06:27:44 pm
Looks like a shooter. I would say you did everything you could/should.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: okie64 on February 10, 2013, 06:31:42 pm
Thats a beautiful bow and the backing looks awesome!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: blackhawk on February 10, 2013, 07:06:35 pm
You did a good job with that stave...tiller looks good to me...good work
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Will H on February 10, 2013, 07:08:05 pm
I think the tiller looks great! And I always like to see a good turkey feather backing :) those are cool. The flex coat interests me, how many coats did you use? Also, does it seem to have much of an ambering effect? What I mean is, is it clear or slightly yellow?
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Badly Bent on February 10, 2013, 07:08:30 pm
Wow , thats a fine bow! Nice work, the recurves and tips are top notch work and that back is real sharp also. :)

Greg
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: mwosborn on February 10, 2013, 07:11:43 pm
Very nice looking bow - tiller looks good!  I am working on one now that has the same issue - limbs not even out of the handle.  Does make it a bugger to tiller.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: osage outlaw on February 10, 2013, 07:15:45 pm
Great bow!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Arrowind on February 10, 2013, 07:20:20 pm
Yeah the tiller looks good. NICE BOW!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Keenan on February 10, 2013, 07:35:09 pm
Db, that is a great looking bow. I think you did very well with the tiller and especially like the turkey tail camo.  With staves like that I think it is sometimes best to just work with the natural shapes instead of trying to force to many changes. You did that very well!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 10, 2013, 07:41:55 pm
, Thanks everyone for the kind words...............

Will H,
The Flex Coat comes in two different mixes.  Flex coat lite and flex coat HD which is thicker.  I use the thinner lite.  I apply one thin coat to the back of the bow, enough for about two feathers, then add a feather.  Over the top of that feather add another coat.  Move down the bow adding a coat, a feather, and another coat.  I think the trick is using a very soft hair brush.  As you put the top coat on the feather blends in and flattens out.  Like applying skins you need to make sure the feather rolls over the edge.  Once the flex coat begins to get tacky, if a feather does not roll over the edge you can with a light touch of the finger push it down.  I apply one more coat over everything after I trim the edges with a fine file. Similar to trimming skins.  The last coat needs to go past the edge to keep the feather from lifting.

Boy, I got long winded sorry...........to answer your question, one precoat , then feather, then one over coat,  after dry one more.  As far as coloring it's crystal clear.  And stays that way.  Back when I built rods I use it on the entire rod,  so I figure if it's flexable enough to use on a rod it would work on a bow. 

I'm building it for a friend so sure hope it holds up, ....I think it will.

Keenan,
I agree, when I cut and split the stave I planned the knot in the handle.  I've got another sister stave just like it.  I thought I would splice it out but it ended up fitting the hand real well.

Thanks again all
DB 

Thanks again
DB
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 10, 2013, 08:03:19 pm
I had to pull a "seabass" on this one and come back to look again! This is one of my favorite bows posted in a while. How does it look unbraced? Mine tend to slightly follow the string in the main limb.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: RyanY on February 10, 2013, 08:22:33 pm
Excellent! That's the tiller shape I like to see on recurves. That feather backing is sweet. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: steelslinger on February 10, 2013, 08:36:33 pm
wow! Great work.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 10, 2013, 08:37:24 pm
Pearly if I may call you that...............I'm glad you asked, I looked back at the pics I took and didn't have one.  So I got may wife to help again.  I've only got about 150 shots thru her at this point.  It's tillered to 28" , and the bows going to a guy with only a 27" draw. So, I hope it holds where she's at.

I noticed I hadn't posted the spec's..........53# @ 28"  68" ntn,  it's a little long, but when I started I wasn't sure how I would handle the knot.  It sure draws easy. Maybe thats why it doesn't have much string follow.

Thanks
DB
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 10, 2013, 08:50:19 pm
WOW! Thats a wonderful bow. I cant imagine it will be easy to let go of.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Don on February 10, 2013, 09:01:23 pm
Bow looks good. The feathers really make a nice looking back.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Dvshunter on February 10, 2013, 10:45:40 pm
That's a nice one for sure. Well done!
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: SLIMBOB on February 11, 2013, 12:06:06 am
Very sweet all the way around, tiller to finish.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Carson (CMB) on February 11, 2013, 01:15:35 am
That is a sweet one.  Very nice bow right there. 
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Markus on February 11, 2013, 07:11:07 am
Very good, Smashing bow. Markus.
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Pappy on February 11, 2013, 08:05:10 am
Beautiful bow,tiller looks great to me,considering what you was working with I don't See how it could have turned out any better. Finish work is exceptional also. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: coaster500 on February 11, 2013, 12:18:08 pm
Well done and great detail!!

Love the curves :)
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: darwin on February 11, 2013, 06:34:59 pm
That's got to be my favorite backing i will have to try that please post again if you find any durability issues or if you think of anything else that would be useful to know for someone trying to replicate that style of backing
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 11, 2013, 08:29:40 pm
Thanks again everyone for your comments...

Darwin,
I sure will post any good or bad issues with the backing in the future.  I'm giving this one away to a good friend. Don't know how many times he will have it out shooting but I'm making another one as soon as I get some more turkey feathers.

I've had flex coat on fishing rods for years in the sun and weather and they seemed to do fine.  But time will tell.
Thanks
DB
Title: Re: Osage with a big knot in handle
Post by: soy on February 12, 2013, 03:58:19 am
Very nice looking!!! I believe it was straight arrow that had a feather backing like that I fell in love with it then and you have rekindled it...wow!! did you also lay the feathers down with elmers glue or how did you secure them???