Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: TenkaraGrasshopper on August 17, 2015, 12:17:01 am
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Howdy all,
I am here today to share with you all the build of my first bow in way to long. I am calling her "Eve" as she is my first and all others will follow from her. I am super excited to see how she offers her development in the near future.
She started out as a Red Oak stave from Home Depot due to the fact that cost is kind of important to me as I refine my bow making skills. If all goes as planned the will come in with measurements of 66" with a 45-50#@28" the Good Lord willing and my level of ineptness not withstanding. :-\
I look forward to hearing what you think as I continue work on her. I will be sharing pictures very soon so that you can all give me your tips and suggestions. Keep an eye open for updates to come soon.
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I'll be watching fly guy. If your up for it? Expect some direct answers and even sharp advice. You know the web, there are two options. Say nothing and let the guy think he is right on. Or, tell him what you see in the nicest way you can! I like latter ;)
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Looking forward to seeing her progress. :) Did I mention we love pictures. ;)
Pappy
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A board from lowes is a board from lowes. A stave usually pertains to a split from a log. Good luck and go slow
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Best of luck as that board mutates!
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Thanks guys. I will try to get some pictures up. But for some reason my pictures are to big for the server. Not sure how to get those up. Any suggestions.
Getting ready to go with backing tonight.
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Open them w paint and resize to 200 mp, or less.
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Thanks Pearl Drum
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A lot of people use a program on computer or use photo bucket I believe. I use my phone and I just downloaded a resizer app. Hope this helps and welcome to pa.
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Here are a few steps with "Eve" and more photos to follow.
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You will have to glue a 12-14" board the same width on the back of that now. Blend that in as fades as you work the limbs down.
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Well, it's already too late for my advice. You are beyond hope. Once you start, you are addicted. Sorry to break the bad news.
Keep posting, dying to see how it turns out, it's Eve-olution, so to speak!
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Oh boy Oh boy your on your way. Welcome to self abuse satisfaction and tears.
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>:D Thanks for the comments guys. I know I am committed for the long haul at this point yet I know in the long run it will be all for the best! ;D
I glued the backing on this beauty this evening and will post a pic tomorrow hopefully for you all.
PD I am taking my chances on this one and not running with a backer board although I agree it would be a better idea. "Eve's" younger sister will get that treatment. I have some ideas that are coming together for that build but first with "Eve"
As for the rest of you knuckleheads, :P ,thanks for your encouragement!
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Not a backer fly guy, a handle section. You have to have a double layer of board where you made all those cut outs for fades and a grip. That cut out section and 1-2" each way cannot bend even a little. It will break, regardless of draw weight, draw length or grain.
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Not a backer fly guy, a handle section. You have to have a double layer of board where you made all those cut outs for fades and a grip. That cut out section and 1-2" each way cannot bend even a little. It will break, regardless of draw weight, draw length or grain.
Or just make those fades much longer decreasing the angle of violation....he needs to make them much smoother and longer anyways. This way ya skip the glue and glued on handle that could have a chance of popping off..n how many times do we hear n see newbies with handles popping off because of too abrupt fades...just like he made the front profile of the fade way to short and sharp...
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Thanks PD as a matter of fact I have some mahogany for the handle! Should come out really sweet.
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Perfect, just be sure you have that handle well beyond the fades each way, at least a few inches of feathering.
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I will definitely do that. Thanks for the advice! Looking forward to working with it some more. Amazing how much we forget as we get older and our minds do their own thing. :-[
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Photos to come tomorrow. Bummed to say that I bought the wrong string length but get to hit up the shop tomorrow and get the new correct length.
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Ok everyone. I was finally able to upload a picture of "Eve" from a few days ago. This is at a rough tiller stage at 21". Curious to get your feedback. Also I will be picking up the correct string today and will be working on the tillering and look forward to starting "Eve's" break in period.
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Its going to break in half. You didn't add a handle like I mentioned.
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:-\ Still tweaking trying to figure handle right now. Playing with some ideas that have been mentioned by a friend or two. Going to be putting a few things into play here. And also have a new bow in the planning stages right now that I will definitely play with.
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Also keep in mind that while people may seem critical of your work, they are only trying to help. I have seen bows posted on here far worse than yours, and the comments have remained helpful!
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Do what you will. Wear safety glasses please.
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good luck.
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Safety glasses are number one with me. 8) To many sketchy things can happen. Actually just got some stuff to start work on the handle.
Also had to get a custom string made today. Will pick up in a few days and then will continue the tillering process. Pretty psyched not the less for the fun to come. ::)
And then I have more reading to do. Bowyer's Bible One and Two down. Three and Four to come.
;)
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You don't seem to have any fades to speak of and the front profile has been narrowed quite a bit so that's why all the bend is in the middle. Could you post a close up side view of that handle section? Its difficult to see because of the photo, but I think you've cut the fade within the handle itself rather than taper into the limb. If that's the case the thinnest part of your fade is also at the thinnest part of your flare. I did exactly the same thing on my first try.
This was mine
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2192/8eit.jpg)
I posted this on another forum and was kindly helped out by Bowjunkie I'm guessing that its the same person as on this forum. he posted this pic to help explain it to me (I hope he wont mind me reposting it)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Jeff_Durnell/Assorted%20bow%20pics/FlaresandDips_zps2343269d.jpg)
If I'm wrong and the whole thing is uniform thickness forget everything Ive posted. (apart from listen to pearl and glue a handle on to support the middle)
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That's what you call them dips. Those goofy Pennsylvania guys call them dips, the rest of the civil world call them fades!
Just kiddin' Jeff!
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DaveMac here is side profiles for you requested. ;)
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(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b548/dmcloughlin79/20150825_133343_zpsepp6eari.jpg)
here is an edit of your photo the arrows show where I see your flares, the red arrow shows where the front profile is the thinnest and your side profile is also at its thinnest. I think your bow will break at one of these red arrows.
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Thanks DaveMac. Any suggestions on strengthening this region of the bow?
The good news is this is a return to bow making for me. Relearning the whole thing again. At least if nothing else "Eve" will be a test run for future bows.
Heck, look what happened to the first Eve! >:D
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the only thing to do is pretty much what pearl drums suggested like 10 posts back. l'd plane the side profile totally flat and glue a 11"-12" block where your handle will be. Your 5" handle will be full thickness and the rest will be feathered into your fade. Remember your fade will have to go into your main board (so the glued on section doesn't pop off), so you will lose some thickness and as a result it will be lower weight.
Good news is this will also allow you to extend your flares which I think looked a little sharp. Mine did shoot in the end (although Ive never really trusted it) so don't give up on this board yet, at the very least it will teach you some stuff.
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b548/dmcloughlin79/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140505_205719_zpsiaadihvi.jpg)
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b548/dmcloughlin79/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140427_115943-1_zpsx3izvpoe.jpg)
I extended the fade to 3" and the flare to 2" this way the limb depth gets thicker as its width gets thinner.
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make the fades a little longer,, :)
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Thanks DaveMac. That is one beautiful bow. ;D
I will play around with this a little more and decide what to do.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions on this build.
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Thanks DaveMac. That is one beautiful bow. ;D
I will play around with this a little more and decide what to do.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions on this build.
I tried to learn as much of it as I could, so I practised tillering, nock overlays, finishing, stitching the leather handle. All in the hope that when I build a proper bow I will be able to do all the details. I haven't made the same mistakes again but have made plenty more, thanks for the complement but I've yet to produce anything I'm happy with (but enjoying learning).
I'm based in the UK and have yet to meet another person who has ever tried to build a bow, you cant ask a book questions, so forums like this are invaluable. Don't get me wrong I have read a couple of posts that have come across a little prickly (not on this thread I must add) however the advice has been sound. No one is a fan of critique but the hardest lessons are the ones that stick.
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Like this.
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Is that laminated?
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Yes, but you don't need to. Just grab a block of 3/4 x 2 x 10 wood and glue it on. Work your current handle flat with the rest of the bow first.
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This thread is teaching me a lot. Please keep it up.
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Maybe this helps, or maybe you already have a plan. The blue is drawn wrong, but that represents your current width fades extending to match the soon to be thickness fade.
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+1 on Pearl's sketching. + consider extending fade slope another 1/2 - 3/4" along length of limb to meet limb thickness you're gonna start with.