Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Lefty8917 on March 24, 2014, 07:04:49 pm

Title: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 24, 2014, 07:04:49 pm
Just finished up my hunting weapon for this year! It is 64" and about 50#@26". This was my first attempt at a double layer overlay. I used rosewod and another layer of ironwood for the tips. I recently switched to the right hand side after i found out i was right eye dominant. So i needed a righty bow of my own. And ive been itching to work on this piece of ironwood i cut 2 summers ago.

(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0959_zps3cdf48d0.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0956_zps34da6e23.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0966_zpsb8023c5f.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0965_zps2e1c16ba.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0961_zps26e097c6.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0963_zps3819cbe5.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0973_zps748e6b27.jpg)
(http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k386/lefty8917/Ironwoob%20Bow%202014/100_0974_zps3945b8c2.jpg)
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: BOWMAN53 on March 24, 2014, 07:09:44 pm
welcome to the right side lol. bow looks great
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 24, 2014, 07:13:33 pm
Thanks Bowman. I forgot to mention i trapped the back and heat tempered the belly. I think this helped alot with set. It kept a little over .5" of reflex
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: osage outlaw on March 24, 2014, 07:17:07 pm
Nice bow!  I like that groovy back.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: mullet on March 24, 2014, 07:57:45 pm
  That is a pretty, graceful looking bow. Hop Hornbeam is one of my favorite bow woods.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Blaflair2 on March 24, 2014, 08:15:27 pm
This isn't hophorn eddy, it's hornbeam, it doesn't hop >:D
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on March 24, 2014, 08:22:23 pm
Nicely done Lefty, I like that bow and you got a real nice tiller on it too. Don't see to many from Amer. hornbeam being made. I've attempted two but only one survived, those rippled backs can be tricky. Your looks very well made.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 24, 2014, 08:26:49 pm
Thanks guys for the comments. BB, that rippled back was tricky. Fun, but tricky. The curved scraper was my best friend during that phase.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on March 24, 2014, 08:36:33 pm
Yeah lefty cleaning the back on one of those takes patience and determination don't it? Payed off for you though on that bow, looks like you got it done nicely.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on March 24, 2014, 08:45:24 pm
Lefty, I too am a south paw who shoots right handed.  We are....versatile.  Nice looking bow!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: rps3 on March 24, 2014, 10:13:01 pm
I have shot this bow and it is a sweet shooter, easy to be accurate with. The grip turned out nice too.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Arrowind on March 24, 2014, 10:16:23 pm
Awesome bow!  Like the tips.  The back looks cool too.  Good job on the tiller.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: lostarrow on March 24, 2014, 10:29:14 pm
 8)
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Wiley on March 24, 2014, 10:31:40 pm
I like this bow a lot. Its got an attractive character on the back, liking those lines.

Makes me eager to get some hornbeam. A friend of mine in NC mentioned to me that his place is covered up in hornbeam, not sure if he was talking about hophornbeam or american hornbeam, but I'll happily work with either.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: H Rhodes on March 24, 2014, 10:43:02 pm
Nice hornbeam bow!  We call that stuff musclewood around here.  It's got lots of names I guess.  It is some gnarly stuff.  Finding a good straight stave is sort of tricky huh?  Just debarking the back was interesting for me.  I think it's good bow wood, but it is challenging stuff.  You did a great job on that one.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 24, 2014, 10:51:04 pm
hrhodes, yes it is pretty tricky. Especially like you said, finding a straight and not too badly twisted tree. But i have a little honey hole with a couple more that will be coming down >:D Debarking i would say definantly needs done when its wet! I got it off pretty easy with a draw knife. But I heard its almost imposible after it dries. I found a goose neck scraper works the best for the final touchings on the back.  I got a few other staves left from the same tree. I cant wait to work with it again. The muscles on the back make for a character bow for sure.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Jesse on March 24, 2014, 11:17:51 pm
Well done Lefty. That looks great!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: TRACY on March 24, 2014, 11:26:58 pm
Real nice musclewood bow lefty! I can see where the gneck scraper would work best when the bark is still wet. Nice work!

Tracy
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: ajooter on March 24, 2014, 11:43:23 pm
Baby got back!!! I love the way ya left the back.  I need to leave a lil cambium on one of my staves and try that.  Is it just cambium or did you leave some bark as well?
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Pappy on March 25, 2014, 06:25:23 am
I was thinking the same thing Badly bent,lots of HHB but not many AHB.[ Blue beach] or as we call it also[ muscle wood].That is a very nice one for sure. Nice job. You don't find many around Tennessee straight enough,we cut one a few months ago that is fairly straight,I gave it to Burn um up Chuck,now he has something to espire to. ;) :) :) Sweet bow. :)
Pappy
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: blackhawk on March 25, 2014, 07:19:36 am
Muscle wood does make for a looker that's for sure....cool...I'm sure it looks better in person...

I'd keep an eye on the high ridges....I had one I made several years ago that eventually developed small tension fractures up all along the high ridges after a few thousand shots and had to retire it...but yours is a few inches longer n maybe that will spare it....what's happening is all the tension is only being placed on those high ridges leaving very little surface area to take the load...just a word of caution and an FYI....
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 25, 2014, 05:07:15 pm
Its just a little of the cambium layer left on the back. And thanks blackhawk I will keep a careful eye on those ridges. That makes sense that the ridges will take most of the tension.
Thanks everyone for the compliments  :)
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on March 26, 2014, 05:38:44 am
Noice!  Like the contrast of the wood and the leather  :)
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: burchett.donald on March 26, 2014, 09:12:47 am
Lefty,  That grain man even on the sides is nice...Hope she gives you many years of enjoyment...The back is wickedly grooved...Groovy Bow ;)
                                                               Don
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Sasquatch on March 26, 2014, 11:23:11 am
That is a beautiful bow,  I love the back and the tips!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 26, 2014, 02:06:10 pm
Very nice bow. Jawge
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Blackcoyote on March 26, 2014, 04:36:04 pm
Got a few growing in my woods guess I'll add one to the spring cut list! Great looking bow!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: 4dog on March 26, 2014, 04:56:37 pm
nice bow..straight up no frills meat gitter!!!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Sidewinder on March 26, 2014, 05:34:08 pm
Alot of nice bows being posted lately and this one is right there with the best of em. The back looks cool for sure. Great job.  Danny
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: ohma2 on March 26, 2014, 10:58:30 pm
Good lookin bow    good luck with that switch from left to right
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on March 26, 2014, 11:07:21 pm
Man that's a sweet looking bow.  I dig the back.  Nice work on the grip too.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Christian Soldier on March 27, 2014, 03:20:44 pm
Nice bow, great tiller. I really like the textured appearance on the back too.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Pat B on March 27, 2014, 03:25:15 pm
I have a hornbeam stave that Keegan sent me a few years ago. Not as straight or knot free as the one used for this bow. I guess I should give it a try.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Lefty8917 on March 27, 2014, 05:28:49 pm
Thanks everyone for the replys. It means alot to get complements from the vets who have been doing this alot longer than I have. I love making and shooting these bows, and thanks to my father-in-law, RPS3, I have a lifetime hobby to enjoy.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: rps3 on March 27, 2014, 10:03:11 pm
Your welcome, but I think I am the lucky one.
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: rkeltner on March 28, 2014, 01:47:13 am
I've got 9 or10 staves that I haven't gotten serious about, yet. this might motivate me!!
Title: Re: American Hornbeam Bow
Post by: Buckeye Guy on March 28, 2014, 10:17:37 am
Very good job Lefty!
Looks sweet to me
I don't have a Muscle wood bow on the wall so I better get in gear and get some cut ( I keep getting side tracked by that yellow wood )
Guy