Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 10:47:21 pm

Title: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 10:47:21 pm
   Finally got around to taking pics of this bow.  It is my fist D bow, and my first time using mountain maple.  It is a very nice wood to work.  It smells nice and gave way readily to hand tools.  Final specs are 58" ntn and pulls 47#@27".  The tips are cow horn, first time working horn too.  I like everything about horn but the smell.  Kinda makes he hungry for steak.  Only kidding.  It started out with just under four inches of dried in reflex and hold just under an inch at rest.  I was going to temper the belly but wanted to see if this wood could handle it.  And it did.  Any critique is more than welcome.

Matt Kulchak
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 10:51:09 pm
More
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Japbow on November 25, 2013, 10:51:39 pm
      Only one critique...More Pics!!!

      Japbow.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 10:52:26 pm
More still
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 10:55:06 pm
I'm having a hell of a time with sizing sorry
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Zion on November 25, 2013, 11:03:23 pm
Really nice simple bow! I love mountain maple.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:04:05 pm
Thanks Zion I'm really starting to like it too
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:05:49 pm
I have more pics but I guess they are too big.  Must be just over 200  >:(. I have tried all I know
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on November 25, 2013, 11:06:03 pm
Excellent bow Matt, nice lean lines, great tiller and those tip overlays are perfect. Also like how smoothly you rounded all the edges, gives it a real clean look. My kinda bow there.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:08:01 pm
Man thanks Greg.  I'll try to get some more pics up soon
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: bow101 on November 25, 2013, 11:15:45 pm
Nice to see others using white wood
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:18:28 pm
I am too.  It's a nice break from locust.  And it grows locally
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Pat B on November 25, 2013, 11:27:29 pm
Sweet bow, Matt. Simple and sweet.   8)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Arrowind on November 25, 2013, 11:28:44 pm
VERY NICE!  Love it!
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Accipiter on November 25, 2013, 11:34:57 pm
Wow, that is one heck of a bow, simple but very inspiring.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: PrimitiveTim on November 25, 2013, 11:38:44 pm
Sweet!  That's an exceptional bow.  I just like looking at it.  How wide is it at the handle?
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Badger on November 25, 2013, 11:45:19 pm
  Beautiful job on that bow!!
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:45:54 pm
Thanks Pat you told me I should temper it in a tiller check post.  I had a hard time not.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 25, 2013, 11:48:06 pm
Thanks arrowind
Thanks accipiter
Thanks badger
Very much
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: steve b. on November 25, 2013, 11:59:35 pm
Wow, that came out really nice.  You don't look like you are anywhere near Sandpoint but I happen to be hiking around the ski resort there and the MM was everywhere.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 12:09:27 am
Thanks Steve, no I'm nowhere near Sandpoint I'm about ten hours south.  But it's here too in the desert. 
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: hedgeapple on November 26, 2013, 12:41:13 am
That's about as perfect of a D bow tiller as I've seen.  Beautiful.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 12:43:19 am
Wow thanks dave
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: dmc on November 26, 2013, 12:58:11 am
I really like the contrast between dark and the white maple. I've seen some awesome bows on this forum, but am always drawn to a simple bow. In this case, simple = outstanding! Love the look, great job.  Dave Mc
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 01:02:43 am
Thanks to you Dave Mc
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: soy on November 26, 2013, 01:36:34 am
WOW WEE what a bow!!! Are you gonna enter it in the bom?
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: bowmo on November 26, 2013, 01:41:11 am
Sweet bow. Always been a sucker for horn over white wood.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: bubby on November 26, 2013, 02:45:25 am
Sweet bow Matt, great fd
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: J05H on November 26, 2013, 03:26:42 am
Wow! That's a great looking bow. Excellent tiller and finish work.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: Pappy on November 26, 2013, 06:14:22 am
Now that's a beauty,love the tips and tiller looks dead on.Very nice job. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: dwardo on November 26, 2013, 06:17:19 am
Great clean lines, a joy just to look at.  8)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: blackhawk on November 26, 2013, 07:39:28 am
Simply nice matt  ;)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 09:41:18 am
Thanks Soy and yes I will, but it will be up against some pretty intimidating bows.  I.e. Pearly, Chris,and Bryce to name a few :-\

Thanks Bowmo
Thanks Bubby
Thanks Jo5h
Thanks Pappy
Thanks dwardo
Thanks Chris

It really means a lot coming from my peers. 
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: campx on November 26, 2013, 10:17:36 am
Beauty bow.  I've yet to build a D-bow, but its on the list.
Question:  is 'mountain maple' the same as Douglas Maple?  The climate and scenery of Idaho looks a lot like southern BC, and we have nice Douglas maple here.  Good stuff.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 10:34:21 am
I believe it is the same.  Latin name is Acer Glabrum
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 10:46:19 am
Here are the ones I had to resize
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: ErictheViking on November 26, 2013, 12:09:07 pm
beautiful work. love the simple d-bow, nothing prettier
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Parnell on November 26, 2013, 12:22:29 pm
Wow Matt, that turned out great!  That is inspiration for the piece I have.  Your tiller is superb!
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Onebowonder on November 26, 2013, 01:03:19 pm
What a beauty!  Clean seductive lines.  Perfectly smooth curve.  Gorgeous contrast between the tip overlays and the bone white limbs.  Just an impressive look all the way around!

OneBow
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: BOWMAN53 on November 26, 2013, 01:10:00 pm
thats a beauty.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: paoliguy on November 26, 2013, 01:39:30 pm
I really like the way you shaped the tips. Super clean looking.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Denham Archer on November 26, 2013, 02:38:20 pm
WOW!!!  The is nothing as simply beautiful as a well made DE bow.  Fine work on the tips.  Well done!
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 06:40:17 pm
Thanks Eric
Thanks Parnell,  the only thing I would do next time is temper the belly.  Just a thought for yours.
Thanks Onebowonder
Thanks Jordan
Thanks paoliguy
Thanks Denham Archer
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: dmenzies1950 on November 26, 2013, 08:33:35 pm
Man you did a great job on that one! I cut my teeth on mountain maple. We had lots of the stuff when I lived in NW Montana. My first 20 bows or so were all from mountain maple. I love it as a bow wood! No one ever talked about it 20 years back, I'm glad people have discovered it! Campex,there are 5 different sub-species of mountain maple Douglas maple is one of the five.

Dale
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 08:47:04 pm
Thanks Dale both for the compliment and for the knowledge  :).

What kind of designs did you use.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: burn em up chuck on November 26, 2013, 09:39:36 pm
      that is nicely done, thanx for the extra pics

                                        chuck
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 26, 2013, 10:08:16 pm
Any time Chuck. 
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Badly Bent on November 27, 2013, 09:06:56 am
Came back to look at this bow again for about the fifth time and now I just have to comment on the photography.
Graceful bow posed against twisted and deeply textured tree roots and stumps with that pretty sky and colorful mountains in the background, magazine cover stuff here. Just think its a great way to show a really fine bow Matt, nice work all around man.

Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 27, 2013, 09:52:27 am
Man, Greg that is just about the nicest compliment I can think of anyone giving.  Thank you so much.
These mountains are some of the most beautiful around.  I thought it fitting because the first time my white and I took our nine month old boy Henry on a back pack tour of them,  I snagged this piece of mountain maple.  They hold a dear place in my heart, and harbor some of the biggest mule deer in the state.

Thanks again for all the nice comments
Matt Kulchak
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: ajooter on November 27, 2013, 10:37:22 am
Gorgeous bow sir!  You may have already answered this question but what tools do you use to shape the horn nocks?
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: DuBois on November 27, 2013, 11:08:48 am
Really beautifu man. Nice curves.
Gorgeous bow sir!  You may have already answered this question but what tools do you use to shape the horn nocks?
+1
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 27, 2013, 11:23:59 am
I get them flat on a belt sander and glue em up with epoxy.  Then use a diamond cut file.  Go slowly but the horn is quite forgiving.  Then I use my normal rat tail file to cut the string groove.  I tried something new with the line out of the string groove and will do so now.  I cut down first once the horn was shaped so I could string it up.  Then strung it up and drew where the string was laying and simply cut on the line for a perfect match.  Worked like a charm

Matt
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: seminolewind on November 27, 2013, 04:05:16 pm
Dang that thing is really sweet ! I really like the tips !
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 27, 2013, 04:38:56 pm
Thanks Seminolewind
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Sidewinder on January 09, 2014, 10:38:01 am
Very clean lines and I love the tiller. Nice bow.    Danny
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Steve Milbocker on January 09, 2014, 11:11:16 am
Those tips are awesome!
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on January 09, 2014, 11:52:11 am
Thanks Danny
Thanks Steve it was the first time that I used horn, but it won't be the last :)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Josh B on January 09, 2014, 03:00:29 pm
That tiller is a thing of beauty!  Excellent bow in all regards!  Josh
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on January 09, 2014, 04:45:45 pm
Thanks Josh.  That means a lot coming from someone as experienced as you :)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: RyanR on January 09, 2014, 07:16:09 pm
Great looking bow. I love those D bows. I hope to try and make one soon. Nice work. ;)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on January 09, 2014, 08:34:26 pm
Thanks Ryan.  They are pretty fun. 
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Alaska Hunter on January 22, 2014, 05:37:36 am
That is exactly what I would like to learn. Great job.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: bowa on January 22, 2014, 06:23:40 am
Fantastic.
Very beatiful bow
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on January 22, 2014, 06:31:53 am
Hey Matt, Very nice bow! I love the horn tips, good stuff to work with. Another similar material is cow and pig hoof, I really like it even better and you can find it in different patterns and colors. It smells bad too though.
I was born and raised in N Idaho but I bet I'm closer to you now in the very N part of Utah.
Great bow!

Mark
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: SLIMBOB on January 22, 2014, 08:01:32 am
Nice work Matt.  2nd round of pics great.
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: IdahoMatt on January 22, 2014, 10:02:20 am
Thanks Alaska,  I had the same thought before I embarked on this one.  People on here were very helpful and made it possible.  With the pms and responses to the tiller check post. 

Thanks MDS65.  I will have to try and find some hoof.  Do you think deer or elk would work?  Where in Utah are you living.

Thank you Slim.  I know never ending. :)
Title: Re: Mountain Maple D Bow (resized pics pg. 3)
Post by: ohma2 on January 22, 2014, 10:13:01 am
Thats top shelf for sure matt