Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ajooter on December 09, 2013, 09:06:27 pm
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I picked up this particular piece of wood from an Owl Hardwoods in Chicago while I was working out there a couple months ago. I dont have a close up of the grain but it is the straightest grained piece of maple I have ever found. The bow is layed out with a 4 1/2 inch handle and 1 1/2 fades. The bow is going to be ~66 inches ntn with the limbs being ~1 3/4 wide to midlimb and tapering to 1/2 inch tips. The belly was tapered from 3/4 to 3/8 handle to tips. I then rounded the belly of the limbs ~1/4 inch from the belly to the side of the limbs. The back to the side was lightly rounded as well, but not as severely as the belly. The main reduction was done with a hatchet and the fine shaping with rasps. I haven't done much with the handle yet. I figured I would leave it flat while tillering.
(http://i.imgur.com/WhMxTCQ.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/WShW6Mo.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/5QquVOG.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/dieaPhD.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/s9ewPa0.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/ybDIr2g.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/qKYxtUJ.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/SXxsiXm.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/zRZcfVR.jpg?1)
My question is....can I use dry heat to add a little reflex? Do you think I should end up backing the bow? I am shooting for 50# to 60#. Thanks in advance for any comment/criticism.
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Have you ever made a bow? If not, or if very few, Id suggest leaving her as is go with it. Reflexed bows, are slightly harder to tiller. As far as backing? I never use one unless I have to. Does your board need one? Bad grain? Pin knots? Anything that says "back me"? If not, Id skip that to. Your 50-60# draw weight sounds good for the bow you laid out providing your not going past 28-29".
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Looks like you did good with the hatchet. If you can pick up a cheap jig saw it would be a bonus, thats how I taper my boards, then I finish it off with a hand plane. Any way have fun and enjoy.
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Owl hardwoods is 10 min from my house 8)
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I think white wood board bows (like maple) really excel with a continuous taper pyramid profile.
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I think white wood board bows (like maple) really excel with a continuous taper pyramid profile.
X2 on the pyramid with white woods boards, I couldn't agree more
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Get after that board! YEE YEE!
-Pinecone
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Finally got around to workin on this one. Ended up cutting it down to ~62". Had some trouble withe the tips when trying to glue on overlays. Runs 1 1/2" to midlimb the tapers to half inch tips. I heat treated the belly and added three inches of reflex. Im in delaware for the week so ill let it rehydrate and recheck the tiller when i get back. Right now its about 70#@28". Im gonna order some goat rawhide and back it before i finish it. Heres some preliminary pics. I know its probably overstressed but im gonna see if i can hold it @ 70#. Criticism always welcome of course!!!
(http://imgur.com/HkXAzuy.jpg?1)
(http://imgur.com/40VwEc8.jpg?1)
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Looks great! Nicely done. Jawge
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If you never test the limits how will you know when you are getting the most from a bow ;) Looks good!
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That looks good, how much of the reflex were you able to keep ajooter?
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Stunning work! I never tried a board bow ...
This one looks very good
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Looks like a nice piece of wood. Good job on it.
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BB - i heat treated it before i left so ill know when i get back when i start exercising the limbs. It took about 1" of set during tillering. In the future ill try and heat treat it before i start tillering at full brace. Im hoping for a straight bow. Im still learning thats for sure.
Lostarrow - i love testing the limits i couldnt agree more :-)
Thank you everybody else.
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Nicely done!looks good!
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Thanks bushboy...cant wait to try one of those pyramid mollys!
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After hundreds and hundreds of bows made the only bow I ever had explode in my hand and gash my face was a maple board bow with beautiful straight grain. I had shot it for months too when one day with no warning....POW.
Will stick with osage..hickory and black locust. Lol
Your bow looks nice.
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Thumbs up! Looks pretty, I'd back it with some light fabric or something to keep weight down, if you're worried, but she looks pretty good to me!
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Gonna try some goat rawhide from moscow fur thanks guys
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Your definitely working that stick! Nice work! Josh
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Man, that looks really good!
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Got the rawhide on her and most of the dressings. Gonna try a leather laced handle wrap after i get her sealed up. Heres what she looks like for now...
(http://i.imgur.com/iHBrqyC.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/VeT5cIg.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/rGOxJR8.jpg?1)
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Nicely done Sir! Josh
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I like it man.
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Will i be able to use artificial sinew to lace up the grip? If not im going to get some leather lace.
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Yeah Indianguy, I found that, of my few unbacked maple board bows Ive made, when they blow, they do so with no audible warning. Red oak gives a few ticks and cracks that say "please, no more!"
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You can use arti sinew, but it will take on a frayed ratty look pretty quick. Leather lace will look much nicer for longer. Josh
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After hundreds and hundreds of bows made the only bow I ever had explode in my hand and gash my face was a maple board bow with beautiful straight grain. I had shot it for months too when one day with no warning....POW.
Will stick with osage..hickory and black locust. Lol
Your bow looks nice.
Your Bow turned out nice, but like IndianGuy says I did the same with 2 other board bows a Maple and White oak, they were both pulling about 65# when suddenly they exploded..! :o I was lucky that I did not get hit in the face. When they let go, they let go with a pow that will blow you away, :o so be careful, Backing should help. I keep most of my boards now down below 50#..
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I appreciate the concern. Its about 70-75#@28 :o. I've put about 50 arrows thru it so far and i really like the way it shoots. That rawhide seems to be tough stuff. Hopefully it will give me a little insurance if she blows. I heated about 4" of reflex into it and its holding about a.half inch for now. Only time will tell...
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That's looking sharp 8) Nice job on the bend also...
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Thanks guys!! I hope i can come thru on the leather handle.
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Well id like to say that you were all right. When she went she went with a bang. I honestly think the bow was pushing 80#. It shot very well while is lasted. I think my fades were a bit stiff along with a possible grain runout. Another lesson learned. Diagnosis welcome :)
(http://i.imgur.com/YEkfFS8.jpg?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/jhCIBlh.jpg?1)
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I hate that. :( What was the draw length when she broke? That bow was working hard. I just don't think it could handle that kind of weight without longer wider limbs. I bet it was a screamer while it lasted! :) Build you another one. You are bit by the bow building bug now.
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Was looking awesome! I have a question. Was that board kiln dried? I don't know a thing but wouldn't it be hard on it to heat treat it? I would think it would weaken the wood by removing too much moisture. But like I said I know nothing about it.
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Baby go boom, to bad, just a sign to build another ;)
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That's a shame. Lovely looking now that. Like others have said just pushing it a bit but I know nawt about boards.
If you ain't breaking the odd bow you are not trying hard enough >:D
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Man, thats too bad. While I was reading the post and going thru the progression, I was thinking that it was too high a weight for those dimension on that kind of wood. You had it looking and I'm sure shooting good while it lasted. I'm guessing that the heat treat overdried it some as well. As Jawge likes to say, "if you aint breakin you aint makin". Time to try a hickory board, it may be a bit more forgiving. Danny
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Bummer bro!lately I have been really rounding the backs edges(trapping)and leaving the belly edges more proudly .this may have helped?I also believe that rawhide offers little protection in diffuse porous which tend to explode rather than lift splinters like ring porous woods.your tiller looked good which leads me to think that 80# plus was to much for the design?may 2"fades would have held but that's still a lot to ask from a self board imho!
Will be watching for your next one now that you got the bug!