Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 02:18:43 pm

Title: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 02:18:43 pm
(http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i411/rocketernally/20141226_122723_zpsvwnya687.jpg) (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/rocketernally/media/20141226_122723_zpsvwnya687.jpg.html)

Nust got this bow bending 40#@26 and the handle has a little give to it. I dont have the meat to grind a flat and glue on wood, its full of tear outs from splitting.  So I was thinking something along the lines of glue soaked hemp rope strands laid in and build up like sinew until I have good thickness and finish it off with a wrap? Any other ideas anybody can offer?
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: DC on December 26, 2014, 02:31:24 pm
I've run across this sort of thing and finally used glue and sawdust. Not the best looking choice. I've wondered what Ishi would have done? Maybe built it up with pitch glue/ Sinew and hide glue? Maybe anything and hide glue? All of them end up looking much like glue and sawdust :-\. I think your glue and rope has as good a chance of looking somewhat like wood grain.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 26, 2014, 02:47:40 pm
I'd probaly would and have let the handle bend. Jawge
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 02:54:33 pm
The handle does bend. Im not trying to stiff it up, im trying to add more meat to the handle for a more comfy grip and make it look good.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: PatM on December 26, 2014, 02:59:07 pm
Do what  blackhawk did, grind a flat at the angle already there and glue on a  piece.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 03:16:28 pm
Hmmmmm its tempting. Any idea what I could search to find that? Where is Chris these days anyway?
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: PatM on December 26, 2014, 03:23:24 pm
I'll try to find it but I really don't think you need to see it.  Just make it flat, stick a piece on and reshape.
 
 BOOM! My memory was correct. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,47763.0.html
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: bradsmith2010 on December 26, 2014, 03:29:19 pm
no dont grind it flat :)  fill it in with sinew,, then sand the sinew flat,, wrap  the handle in sinew,,, then put a nice thin rawhide wrap over the handle and fades,,,  it will look great,,, and the handle area will be beefed up a bit,,,you can even put a soft leather handle over the rawhide,,
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 03:48:16 pm
Thanks Pat, thats what I wanted to see, how it would look with different color wood glued on. Now, I wonder how an elk billet would look glued on the side just like Blackhawk had to deal with, and an elck billet crown with bark to cap it off, and of course I would accent the tips with elk inlays.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: bubby on December 26, 2014, 05:10:35 pm
Ya know sleek you could also grind it flat at the tear outs and ad layers of leather that would look good as well and you could stain it any color you want
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 05:16:16 pm
I have it gound flat now, and am on my way to see a friend with some elk billets.

A leather stack up.... that could be done to look interesting.  Especially if different colors were used in the layers....what glue would be best to use for that Bubby?
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: aaron on December 26, 2014, 07:16:34 pm
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,49428.msg675004.html#msg675004

I would build up with cork and wrap with leather.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 26, 2014, 07:44:34 pm
Ah! Gotcha. May be add some glued on leather? Jawge
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: Eric Krewson on December 26, 2014, 08:07:52 pm
I had a stave that split out much worse than yours, I called it my Frankenstein bow. I started flattening places and gluing on pieces.

Here is a start, it is bamboo backed.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/frankenbowhandleside.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/frankenbowhandleside.jpg.html)

Shaped;

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/frankenbowshapedhandle.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/frankenbowshapedhandle.jpg.html)

A guy found a bow with my name on it in an archery shop in Chattanooga and sent me a picture.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/Frankensteinnowpic-1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/Frankensteinnowpic-1.jpg.html)

It was my Frankenstein bow, still shooting many years later.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: Pat B on December 26, 2014, 08:19:24 pm
Bondo!  ;)
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: sleek on December 26, 2014, 10:44:24 pm
Eric, im probably going to neeed to copy your idea. The elk is so soft in the center I dont see it holding. Pluss I like how the lams look. Thanks guys.
Title: Re: split out handle build up help please
Post by: Springbuck on December 27, 2014, 10:05:01 am
Eric, im probably going to neeed to copy your idea. The elk is so soft in the center I dont see it holding. Pluss I like how the lams look. Thanks guys.

  Elks are soft in the middle!  ;-)

I was just about to compliment Eric on the quality of that work.  Looks great.  That's funny, because I once did the same thing to an arrow that got dinged, where I sanded out the ding on a 3" drill press drum, then glued in a splint, just bent a flat slip of hemlock (I think) into theat rounded divot, and worked it back round.  Worked amazingly well.

I liked your idea about rope and glue.  You can also make a little rasp by bolting 4-5 hacksaw blades together and sawing that in to square up the gouge.  Then you can glue in a squared splint.  Often, though, I just go ahead and cut the handle area to a rectangle x-section, as small as I dare, and buld it back with wood splints, or veggie-tanned leather, (which I like because I can carve the handle shape then with a knife, and soak it in superglue to harden.)