Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: H Rhodes on January 18, 2014, 10:07:37 pm
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I haven't posted one in a while, so here goes. This is my first attempt at eastern hophornbeam, which is sort of a rare bow wood in my neck of the woods. I split this stave from a eight inch diameter tree that I cut down last year. I split this stave and roughed out the outline when it was pretty green, so I painted the back and ends with some old left over grey paint to keep it from checking. This proved to be a mistake, since it stuck in the little grooves and valleys in the back of the bow. I started to try and sand it all off, but then started to like the textured look of it. I ended up staining over the remnants of painted areas and ended up with a pretty cool camo effect.
The bow is 66" tip to tip and 1 1/4" wide at the fades tapering to 1/2" tips. I wanted to get to know the properties of HHB on this first attempt, so I didn't heat treat it. I did steam a slight flip to the tips long before tillering the bow, but it hasn't seen a caul. I didn't use scales or a tillering tree this time and tillered strictly by eye and feel. I am truly impressed with hophornbeam as a bow wood. I see why all you guys from further north are so impressed with it. This bow came in in the mid forties and will cast a 600 grain arrow around a 150 yards. It is accurate, sweet on release, and took very little set. This stave had a big knot near the handle, which worried me at first. No problems through a couple hundred shots. HHB or ironwood is definately my number two bow wood and will rival osage in how narrow a stave can be for a hunting weight bow. I am liking this one.
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A couple more pics...
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Nice looking bow like the full draw pic. I've never worked HHB but it's on the list.
Again real nice bow.
DBar
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Nice looking bow!
Danzn Bar, you should have some HHB in your area. Its some good bow wood.
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Yeah, OO I think I've got some on my place just never looked real hard. I will this spring and cut one if I find a good one.
DBar
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Good to see ya post a bow again Howard, looks great too with a nice tiller. I'm a up north yank and would you believe I've never made a hhb bow yet, whats wrong with me? Looks like that wood worked out real well for you, make a good hunting bow I bet.
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Thanks guys. I can see many more bows from hophornbeam in my future. I will send you a piece of this stuff Greg. It would be cool to see what you created from it. It is beautiful wood. Someone who is more into finishing work, like yourself, could really make a looker out of it.
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NICE! Great job!
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Great job man. The paint share turned out to be a pleasant mistake looks great.
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Looks like a great hunter, I like how the stain turned out. Cool FD pic, HH
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Thanks Arrowind and IdahoMatt. Thanks Postman. Yeah, the stain over paint worked out okay. I sealed it with a little spray urethane over that. Sanding and finishing has never been my strong suit. Once I get them shooting, all I think of is getting on to the next one.
I plan on trying some other designs with hophornbeam. I can see that with some tweaking, a really top notch bow is possible from this bow wood. This one shoots good without having had any reflex induced or heat treating. I can't wait to see how the next one turns out.
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Very nice - I need to find me some of that stuff. I like the stain over paint look too.
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Really nice tiller, really nice...Love the front profile on that one especially the tips, it's gotta be a screamer 8)
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Thanks Mitch. Thanks Donald. It has turned out to be one of my better performing bows. I have a couple more staves that both look better than this one did from the other half of the same tree. I am anxious to see how they do with a little reflexing and heat treating. HHB is holding way up on my list of favorite bow woods.
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Nicely done, HR. One of my very fist bows was with HHB. It is a fine wood. I also have a bow that Pappy built of HHB. I like how you used your instincts to put it all together.
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Thanks for the offer Howard but save those remaining staves for yourself brother, that stuff is all over up here. Was out hunting this past tue. and was eyeing it everywhere, some nice straight ones too but on public land where cutting is a crime. I'll get out this spring and find some on private land that I can harvest, gotta be much easier to come by here than where you live. Looking forward to seeing your next hhb bow posted here.
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Nice bow there Howard. I guess I'll go looking for some of that wood this spring.
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Sweet curves. Love the shapes on it!
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Very well done Howard, just gorgeous, that dog will hunt, right there
rich
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Nice bow I like it.
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Nice job, love the full draw pic. I have used HHB a few times and have to agree with you it is right up there with the best bow woods.
Mark
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Good bow, i like it!
Very nice profiles you got there and the camo finish looks cool!
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Man that's nice ! I just learned what a great bow wood it is myself! Nice work Sir! Josh
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Thanks so much guys. Your compliments mean a lot to me - not too many people that you come across really get it. I appreciate you folks. :)