Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: AH on December 01, 2013, 10:13:51 pm

Title: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 01, 2013, 10:13:51 pm
A friend of mine wanted me to build him a bow, so he went and bought this hackberry stave and asked for a flatbow. It's 62" long.
I thought, "why not do a build along". This is my first build-along, so bear with me.

Here's the stave. I've drawn out the front profile on it.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 01, 2013, 10:14:19 pm
Roughed out the front profile
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 01, 2013, 10:15:11 pm
Drawing out the side profile. I just freehand it.
This stave has some fat rings
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: RyanR on December 01, 2013, 10:16:02 pm
Sweet, can't wait to see how it turns out.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 01, 2013, 10:16:57 pm
roughing out the thickness with a hawk. I would have gotten more done today, but unfortunately there's always homework to be done.
 ;)
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: rabbitassasin on December 02, 2013, 03:30:15 am
awsome! im tillering my hack shortbow (53") atm so this will be interesting to read
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: BOWMAN53 on December 02, 2013, 11:35:32 am
How do like that sog hawk? I was thinking about picking one up.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: Gaust on December 02, 2013, 04:44:26 pm
I'm there you with my own hackberry stave, going for a flatbow, too.  It's drying right now after rough shaping it.  The limbs are slightly deflexed, like a natural string follow.  Looking to steam or heat them up to get rid of that.  My stave is 72" long, 2" wide limbs for the most part, then tapering to 1/2", handle is 5" with 2" fades.  The limbs are 1" thick off fades and tapering down to 1/2" right now.  Won't start final shaping and tillering for a couple of more weeks.
George
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: Joec123able on December 02, 2013, 06:18:21 pm
Good old hackberry, it's good stuff I just shot my hackberry flatbow for a few hours today I love it. Can't wait to see the rest
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 02, 2013, 10:17:56 pm
OK, so I did some rasp work. Trapped the back, cut in temporary string grooves. Finished roughing out. Next time, I'll toast the belly and start tillering
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 02, 2013, 10:19:04 pm
How do like that sog hawk? I was thinking about picking one up.
It works pretty well for what I use it, roughing out bows, but don't take me too seriously because I don't have that much experience with hawks. ;)
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: dane lund on December 02, 2013, 10:29:34 pm
I know I'm going to sound ignorant, but what do you mean, "trapping" the back.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 02, 2013, 11:14:07 pm
I know I'm going to sound ignorant, but what do you mean, "trapping" the back.
It's basically when you round the back corners/crown the back somewhat to reduce the stress on the belly.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: bowmo on December 03, 2013, 01:11:21 am
Lookin' good.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: Blaflair2 on December 03, 2013, 10:24:46 am
Trapping the back means to making it look like a trapezoid. Making the back a little narrower than the belly wood


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Something like this.

Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: AH on December 04, 2013, 08:24:20 pm
Got some heat treating done. At first it looked hideous because i heat treated it across a stove, but after some long string tillering the schorch marks pretty much disapeared. There's a deflex part right out of the fade on the right limb and a little deflex elbow on the left limb out at mid-limb.
Title: Re: Hackberry build-along
Post by: toomanyknots on December 04, 2013, 08:38:08 pm
Lookin good! Love that hackberry. I think we should make a thread about why hackberry is king!  ;D You know if you hot box the bow, you don't have to burn the crap out of it and it will take very little set if any at all afterwards. (that is if you hot box it before you tiller) Although it is not the same as heat treating of course.