Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 4est Trekker on March 07, 2014, 05:43:15 pm
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Howdy, all. I've had a few people contact me recently asking me how I do brush nocks on static recurves. I thought I'd do a simple tutorial on what I've learned and what works for me. Below is a 64" osage recurve I'm working on that I'm adding rosewood and padauk brush nocks to.
Step 1: Prepping the Various Laminations
I cut them on a table saw, then true them up by hand on a belt sander. I find it easier to work with wider pieces to prevent rocking/cupping. As such, I'll be cutting the padauk lams down to size later.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-1_zps609160b0.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-1_zps609160b0.jpg.html)
Step 2: Tapering the Limb Tips
I taper the last 7" to make it easier to bend the recurves in. I use a belt sander to get a perfectly flat surface. The tape helps give me a reference so I don't go too far.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-2_zpsee635b0f.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-2_zpsee635b0f.jpg.html)
Step 3: Bending the Limb Tips
I use a heat gun and go SLOW. It takes about 20 minutes per tip. If you let the wood plasticize properly (slow and even heat), you'll not struggle with the belly cracking under tension. I get the last 4" good and hot, then place that tip in the jig and work my way down the limb. I use one hand to gently support the weight of the bow (which is now sticking up in the air) but let a little of its weight help pull the bow down over the form.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-3_zps799f67b0.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-3_zps799f67b0.jpg.html)
Step 4: Prebending the Laminations
I heat and prebend the first three laminations on the same jig. They don't hold near as much bend as the tips do, but it helps immensely. I use a scrap of particle board as a backer to keep the lams from lifting splinters.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-4_zps0e765578.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-4_zps0e765578.jpg.html)
Step 5: Applying the First Lamination
I use leather pads and small wooden blocks to help spread the clamping pressure out evenly. I use Titebond III, which requires a smooth surface for glue-up (i.e. it does NOT fill voids and gaps). This is prefect since both surfaces have been prepped with the belt sander.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-5_zpsaa4a807d.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-5_zpsaa4a807d.jpg.html)
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Step 6: Rough Shaping the First Three Laminations
I apply three laminations, two of which are full length (7") and one that is 4". Then I use a disc sander to rough shape them, leaving the last 3" alone. I do this now while I still have room to do it. Once I get the final laminations on the last 3" of the tips, it makes it VERY difficult to fade and taper these first three laminations.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-6_zpsca15e134.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-6_zpsca15e134.jpg.html)
Step 7: Final Shaping the First Three Laminations
Using a rasp, file, scraper, and sandpaper, I true up the fades of these laminations and round over the sharp edges, again leaving the last 3" of each tip alone.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-7_zps3f200dea.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-7_zps3f200dea.jpg.html)
Step 8: Preparing Limb Tips for Final Laminations
I use a disc sander to flatten the last 3" of each tip. This makes it much easier and quicker to add the laminations that will eventually create the raised portion of the brush nocks.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-8_zps5a6cfce5.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-8_zps5a6cfce5.jpg.html)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-9_zps02e73380.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-9_zps02e73380.jpg.html)
More to come! :)
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Thanks 4est. This is gonna be great! 8)
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Thanks, Pat! It's been awhile since I've posted anything, but I've been checking in a lot and liking what I see...a lot of great bows being made and posted here! I've been working a lot on my DIY backpacking gear and doing a fair amount of winter camping in the meantime. As such, I haven't gotten a lot of work done on bows the last several months. :)
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Show off your DIY backpacking stuff too .I'd like to see what you're doing.
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Thanks 4est. This is gonna be great! 8)
+ 1, I always love your posts, been a fan since your red oak build on tradgang, :).
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Man, oh man, toomany... I should go back and redo that buildalong. :-\
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All right, your tutorials are always an easy read, already got it pinned to favorites, bub
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coooooooooooooooooooooool. can't wait to see the rest.
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I want to see the backpacking stuff...... :'(
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Very nice demo and easy to understand with the pictures.
Tracy
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I've always admired your work. Thank you for doing this.
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Show off your DIY backpacking stuff too .I'd like to see what you're doing.
Yup, Id like to see it as well
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I remember seeing your brush nocks for the first time years ago you are the master I have a grumley and his don't compare to yours.im enjoying this.
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I posted some backpacking gear over on the Campfire.
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I remember seeing your brush nocks for the first time years ago you are the master I have a grumley and his don't compare to yours.im enjoying this.
There are Grumley fans that will hunt you down for saying that. lol.
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I remember seeing your brush nocks for the first time years ago you are the master I have a grumley and his don't compare to yours.im enjoying this.
There are Grumley fans that will hunt you down for saying that. lol.
Agreed! Nels Grumley was a master bowyer who I would have loved to meet. His ability to accurately and consistently produce osage bows of the caliber and complexity he did never ceases to amaze me.
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Step 10: Gluing Up Riser Blocks
This three-lamination piece will form the elevated "riser" section of the brush nocks
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-10_zpsfdf33cac.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-10_zpsfdf33cac.jpg.html)
Step 11: Profiling the Riser Blocks (Which I Screwed Up!)
I use a drum sander on my drill press to put a concave hollow on the end of the riser block that will eventually face away from the bow tip. I also taper the block slightly, although I treated the wrong end of the block which made me glue it on with the taper going the wrong way in the next step. Oh well, that's why I leave plenty of extra material. It'll be fine in the end.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-11_zpseabff0d4.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-11_zpseabff0d4.jpg.html)
Step 12: Gluing On the Riser Blocks
This step is nothing special, although I'm careful to line up the end of the riser block with the edge of the flatted portion of the tip to make it super easy to blend the two together later on. You can see the slight concave radius to the front of the riser block and how the taper is actually going the wrong way. It will still work because I have just enough height left to work with.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-12_zps0e359491.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-12_zps0e359491.jpg.html)
Step 13: Rough Shaping the Riser Blocks
I use a band saw and disc sander to get the profile of the tips roughed in and trued up.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-13_zpseaff4747.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-13_zpseaff4747.jpg.html)
Step 14: Blending In the Riser Blocks
Using a few round files, sandpaper, and a pocket knife for a scraper, I blend the riser blocks into the rest of the limb.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-14_zpseee287ae.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-14_zpseee287ae.jpg.html)
Just a few more steps left! :)
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man that is just downright perty
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Looking forward to seeing these all shaped up. Some pretty wood there.
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man that is just downright perty
Yeah it is!
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4est:
This is a great build-a-long. Wished I'd have seen this when I made my brush nocks. On the second picture where you taper sanded the glue surface, it appears to be a backing lam, only on the belly. Is it just the lighting in the picture fooling me? Is this an all wood laminated bow? Sure looks nice. Can't wait to see the rest of the story... :)
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This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you for doing this.
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4est:
This is a great build-a-long. Wished I'd have seen this when I made my brush nocks. On the second picture where you taper sanded the glue surface, it appears to be a backing lam, only on the belly. Is it just the lighting in the picture fooling me? Is this an all wood laminated bow? Sure looks nice. Can't wait to see the rest of the story... :)
It's all wood in the laminations...padauk and rosewood.
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Very nice!
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this is going on my to-do list, might make a good trade bow
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4est your the man!
I love your tutorials. I built a pyramid bow following your a tutorial
you posted on trad gang several years ago. Came out really nice.
Keep posting tutorials, It helps a lot.
Dor
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Hi 4est,
This has been great; thank you for putting in the time and effort associated with this post.
Have you got some pics of the few more steps you mentioned? You left us with a cliffhanger! :D
Your work is beautiful and much appreciated.
John D.
Boise
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Wow, you are really good at writing tutorials! Let me know when I can buy your book!
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Definitely watching
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awesome build along thank you
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I will post the final round of pictures in the next day or two. Thanks for the kind words, all. Hope you get some use out of this tutorial. :)
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Step 15: Profiling Tip Overlays and Underlays
I use a disc sander to create a flat, angled pad on the tips that I glue an overlay to. Angling the pad keeps the transition smooth and the bulk down. In this case I'm using some stabilized flamed maple for the overlays. I also further profile the brush nock underlays, especially out toward the tips.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-15_zps77d8a8bb.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-15_zps77d8a8bb.jpg.html)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-16_zps9589cbf0.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-16_zps9589cbf0.jpg.html)
Step 16: Final Shaping and Sanding
Here they are all dressed up for the prom! I use a Dremel tool, round files, sandpaper, a pocket knife (as a scraper), a carbide cutting rod on a hacksaw (makes cutting in the initial string grooves a breeze) and patience to do all of the final shaping. They really don't take that long to shape since each previous step is designed to chip away at them incrementally, preventing excess work on the following step.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-18_zps7b0cac9f.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-18_zps7b0cac9f.jpg.html)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-20_zpsab141e9d.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-20_zpsab141e9d.jpg.html)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-17_zps423a4831.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-17_zps423a4831.jpg.html)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-19_zps1ec9b101.jpg) (http://s984.photobucket.com/user/isaacscr/media/Bows-2014%20and%20later/Brush%20Nocks%20Tutorial/Step-19_zps1ec9b101.jpg.html)
I don't have any pictures of the bow strung yet, as I need to tweak the tiller on the long string again before getting it to brace height. As such, I'll post a separate thread when the bow is finished with some close-ups of the brush nocks "in action". I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial and that it can be of some help to you.
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Wow very tidy work there. I can't wait to see the completed bow. Great follow along.
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Cool. Think I might try some one day. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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Superb craftsmanship & excellent tute. Thanks for sharing.
I'm new but I've learned this much- can't learn unless ya ask so can someone explain (other than obvious eye candy) what the advantages (disadvantages, if any) there are with this style nock? Thanks! Ron
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Rock on ....thanks!!!!!
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This style of nock looks pretty awesome, this was a great tutorial and it may be something I try eventually and will keep it saved for future reference.
But I will 2nd zenart's question, what is the benefit to this style of nock other than looking really cool? I imagine by their name it has something to do with hunting in thick brush areas. Something that is very relevant to our terrain around here, walking though the woods is walking through considerable brush once you leave a trail.
Does it increase hand shock or lower the bow's potential speed? The generally train of thought seems to be lighter mass tips makes a faster bow with less handshock. But I guess with nearly every aspect of bow design there is give and take. My first question might answer my 2nd in that if the benefit of a bit less speed and a bit more handshock is worth the benefit that they provide. Either way they look sweet.
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Incredible, absolutely incredible. Well done with the tutorial as well.
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Cool tutorial :)
Wiley - they are designed so that little twigs, leaves etc don't get caught between the string and the limb. On a normal nock recurve or otherwise the string and the limb form a wedge shape.....into which ever little thing has a habit of finding its way! Oh and its always the lower nock...which is behind you so you have to stop,reverse and then 'unhook' yourself....this can get annoying ;)
Use nocks like this and you eliminate the wedge.
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Yes, they do serve a purpose. They're desinged to keep brush from snagging between the string and belly of the limb on recurve bows. This is not only annoying, but can really wreck/twist/break a recurve if you're not careful. As far as hand shock goes, it's a bit counterintuitive. If you have working recurves or a very short recurved/flipped tip, then yes, this style of nock tends to add a bit of shock. However, if you've got a pronounced static recurve, then no, I've found I get no hand shock (assuming the limbs are tillered/timed properly!). Brush nocks tend to exaggerate any tiller/timing inaccuracies.
The above reasoning works on the much the same principle as a horsebow. Logic would suggest that those long levers (siyahs) would jar your teeth. However, for a number of reasons, horsebows are amonst the smoothest drawing and shooting bows.
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Good to know. I'll chalk brush nocks up on my "to-try" list for future bows. In a 2-3 weeks time the woods here are going to turn into almost a solid wall of green, and I can definitely imagine how a recurve would like to hang up on so much trying to get anywhere off a substantial trail.
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Thanks 4est & mikekeswick for comment on the function.. didn't see it at first but now pretty obvious in the name: "brush" nocks.
So, these have to be a modern treatment .. or do they? Primitives certainly thrashed in the bushes. Anyone know of any that maybe strapped little brush guards on tips? maybe using hide glue n sinew or somethin' ?
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Hope you get some use out of this tutorial. :)
4est, You have an overactive sense of humility! This is fantastic and you've done us all a service. Thank you,
John D.
Boise
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Thanks 4est & mikekeswick for comment on the function.. didn't see it at first but now pretty obvious in the name: "brush" nocks.
So, these have to be a modern treatment .. or do they? Primitives certainly thrashed in the bushes. Anyone know of any that maybe strapped little brush guards on tips? maybe using hide glue n sinew or somethin' ?
Not too many primitive people used recurves with curves to the degree that became popular later.
The concept of brush nocks seems to be the innovation of Nels Grumley in the 30s and you can see the two main types he developed for Bear Archery in many online pictures.
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PatM is correct, although the highly-recurved Asian composite bows often had string bridges that, in function, acted a lot like brush nocks.
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4est, this is a very interesting and informative tutorial. With your permission I'd like to "sticker" it to the "How To" page after interest slows down here. Thanks for posting this for us all to see. 8)
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great idea Pat, I already had it bookmarked
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great idea Pat, I already had it bookmarked
+1
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Very cool, I may use this to do some brush knocks on my trade bow.
Patrick
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You bet.It's on my list too.Beautiful craftsmanship.
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ttt. Has anyone saved the pics for this tutorial. It sounds brilliant.
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Unfortunately all those pics were lost years ago.
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It's sad how much precious information was lost from old threads like this.
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I agree and at the same time my laptop crashed and I lost all my personal pics and Photobucket decided to hold everyone's pics for ransom.
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I started in the IT industry about 25 years ago. About 10 years ago there was a major push to move everything to the cloud. It reminds me of a bad science fiction movie.
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Wish I saw this before i did mine, very cool.... wish the pics were available