Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Ranger B on December 10, 2013, 11:55:20 am

Title: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Ranger B on December 10, 2013, 11:55:20 am
Just finished this hickory self bow. We cut the hickory on Twin Oaks last year and I got a couple of pieces. It's 68" long and 47# @ 27"  It shoots a 500 grain arrow 165 fps. The back is trapped and it's a nice little shooter.
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/RangerB/IMG_4041_zpsb5ab6b21.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/RangerB/media/IMG_4041_zpsb5ab6b21.jpg.html)(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/RangerB/IMG_4038_zps11e02349.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s289.photobucket.com/user/RangerB/media/IMG_4039_zps32bb5d73.jpg.html](http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/RangerB/IMG_4039_zps32bb5d73.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s289.photobucket.com/user/RangerB/media/IMG_4042_zps2df89de8.jpg.html](http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/RangerB/IMG_4042_zps2df89de8.jpg)[/URL[URL=http://s289.photobucket.com/user/RangerB/media/IMG_4040_zps7cfb7575.jpg.html](http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/RangerB/IMG_4040_zps7cfb7575.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/RangerB/media/IMG_4038_zps11e02349.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Pat B on December 10, 2013, 12:01:23 pm
Very nice hickory stick Jimmy and good performance. Is that the bow you just shot a deer with?
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: TimBo on December 10, 2013, 12:10:55 pm
That looks great!  How did you bring out the grain like that - did you stain or dye it and wipe most of the stain off quickly? 
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Badger on December 10, 2013, 12:13:33 pm
  Sweet bow Jimmy, great performance as well. Steve
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Ranger B on December 10, 2013, 12:20:14 pm
No I haven't taken this one to the woods yet. That was the last one I made.  I used Minwax Jacobian stain. Hickory is tough to get to absorb the stain but for whatever reason it sucks this one up.  I've used other things and it wipes right off but it drinks this stuff.  The ones with a poly in them do not work well at all. I've tried two of them and it's a mess and very little stain if any.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Pat B on December 10, 2013, 12:28:42 pm
You can water down(with alcohol) alcohol based stain and get the same effects. I also have used finely ground charcoal and alcohol, hand rubbed into the bow to get the same effects with hickory and ash.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: burn em up chuck on December 10, 2013, 03:10:51 pm
      I've heard good things about this one, looks great, nice work

                                                                   chuck
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: DQ on December 10, 2013, 04:46:40 pm
Very nice! I like the profile.  Upper limb longer?  How much longer?

Darryl
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: burchett.donald on December 10, 2013, 06:11:31 pm
 Love some hickory...Looks like a nice hunter. The unstrung profile shows great care.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: IdahoMatt on December 10, 2013, 06:17:14 pm
Great job man.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: ken75 on December 10, 2013, 08:43:31 pm
very nice bow Ranger ! I have a thing for hickory.
when I saw your post I thought about where I went the other day . I got to visit the infantry museum in colombus with our fifth graders couple days ago . a must see for anyone that's close
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: mwosborn on December 10, 2013, 09:20:20 pm
Nice looking bow - like the red color of the tips!
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Hrothgar on December 10, 2013, 10:05:58 pm
Good looking bow Jimmy, nice job with the grip too.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: scp on December 10, 2013, 10:34:33 pm
Beautiful bow! How wide are the working limbs and how much "trapping" did you do? If you don't mind, I like to know how many hours did it take you to make the bow before finish and handle.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Ranger B on December 10, 2013, 11:28:29 pm
The limbs are even but I shoot 3 under. My bottom limb always looks like that - always. I stop paying attention to the tiller tree at about 20" and take pictures but it always seems to bend just a tad more but I've never had one play out and they shoot well.  The top of the limbs are trapped 1/4" until the last  8" of the limb and then it tapers.

I don't know exactly how long it took.  I shaped it up for a couple  of hours. By that I mean I got the sides clean, smoothed everything out and cut nocks in.  Then I put it on the form and heated the belly for the second time.  That really dried it so I put it in my house for two days to regain some humidity. It was still quite dry so I spent about 3 hours getting it to brace then put it up for a day.  Then I tillered it to 22" or so then rested it for a day. Then I tillered it to 27" taking pictures and got the limbs where I wanted them.  Then I began the clean up and finishing work. It took 5-6 hours of finish work.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on December 10, 2013, 11:31:21 pm
Sweet Shooter there.  I like that unbraced profile.
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Arrowind on December 10, 2013, 11:38:40 pm
very nice bow.  love the finish.  Looks cool. Good job!
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Will H on December 11, 2013, 12:19:57 am
Nice one Jimmy! Looks even better in person!!  ;)
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Pappy on December 11, 2013, 05:38:46 am
Looks good Jimmy,built in the cold always for a good shooter,by the way great fly over last night,did you see the 8 point and 2 does in the corn field,I was watching them at 50 yards when you came over,after the 3rd fly over they had had enough.Good thing it was getting dark and I was ready to come out,you saved me getting stuck in the stand. Sorry for the off topic, back to to bow.  :)Beautiful. ;) :) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: Ranger B on December 11, 2013, 06:17:47 am
No I didn't see them. Wasn't sure where you were. I also buzzed Will and Greg's place. I figured it was time to come out. 

I'll give props where they are due. Will encouraged me to trap the back. I like it. I'm up and getting dressed now. It's about 10 degrees but I'm headed to the stand with this bow. I sure would like to get some experience under its belt ;-) 
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: chamookman on December 11, 2013, 06:34:12 am
Great looking Bow - two thumbs up ! Bob
Title: Re: Jimmy's Hickory Selfbow
Post by: H Rhodes on December 11, 2013, 07:26:26 am
Nice looking hickory bow.  Great work.  That unbraced profile is awesome.