Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Eric Krewson on September 25, 2015, 06:20:20 pm
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I am building a take down static, lots of work in it. When I bent the static tips I got the usual cracking but this time it was deeper than I liked to deal with, I decided to build up the back side to compensate for the thin belly by using thin strips of osage and walnut.
I cut an extra slot in my bending jig to hold the end of my 1/8" lams.The bending jig is the same one I bent the statics in.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/010_zpsfeatxtjt.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/010_zpsfeatxtjt.jpg.html)
I have already glued on the first strip of osage and am putting the walnut strip on today. Time to start bending so the lam will fit the curve easily on the glue-up
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/001_zpspvqh4kk6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/001_zpspvqh4kk6.jpg.html)
Heating;
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/002_zpsnwitzh2b.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/002_zpsnwitzh2b.jpg.html)
A few added shims to tighten the lam against the curve of the jig.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/004_zpszoop36yu.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/004_zpszoop36yu.jpg.html)
Done bending the lam;
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/006_zpsjlw9ldco.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/006_zpsjlw9ldco.jpg.html)
Because the limb is already rounded( I was going to make a straight limb bow and changed my mind) I need a bent clamp pad. I always use a Popsicle stick because it is soft and grabs the belly of a rounded bow tip. I bend the Popsicle stick to match the curve of the static.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/007_zpslv4fcze3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/007_zpslv4fcze3.jpg.html)
I put a piece of paper between the Popsicle stick and the bow to keep the stick from gluing itself to the bow, makes cleanup easier. I clamp the ends first. I use a piece if edge grain pine for a clamp pad in the curve. It will break into several pieces and conform to the curve when I apply clamp pressure.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/008_zps8eko2uqd.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/008_zps8eko2uqd.jpg.html)
Done, You can see how the center clamp pad broke to conform to the curve. The tip overlay will be next.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/005_zpsea4lhhz1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/005_zpsea4lhhz1.jpg.html)
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Seems like it might want to pop up where it feathers into the back. I know your glue is very good though.
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That is a non bending area and will be feathered out to paper thin.
I have done this before, no problems after thousands of shots. My new project will have longer overlays than the one in the picture but will be treated the same way. Unibond is pretty much bomb proof about turning loose.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/sexystatic001_zpscbd5d64f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/sexystatic001_zpscbd5d64f.jpg.html)
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a fella can't help but learn a TON on this forum!
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This will help a lot of guys Eric, I've done the same with tb2 so i know the urac will hold and it dont bend anyway
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thanks for the great photos and info,, B :)
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Interesting cure and nicely done.
But why did you got a crack on the back? Never seen that, on belly - o. k. when not heated enough or long enough.
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No crack on the back, it was belly cracks.The back is a convenient place to build up and make it look like a long tip overlay to add mass to offset the thin belly wood.
I always get some cracking even with plenty of heat or steam and a metal band to hold the splinters down while I clamp. I can usually file away the cracks and have plenty of wood left for my tips, this time I felt I needed a little reinforcement.
This is bow #153 so I have a little experience in making these things.
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153 statics? ;)
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Ohh sorry Mr. Krewson, no offense from here.
I have misunderstood - thought you ment the cracks on the back.
English isn't my first language ...
And I have no doubt - you are an experienced bowyer.
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Only a few statics, the rest were straight limb, a few hickory, a few hickory backed red oak, 50+ bamboo backed osage bows, 4 or 5 bamboo backed hickory bows,the rest were osage stave or billet bows, lots more spliced billet bows than stave bows.
153 marks only the ones I have in my log, no telling how many more fell by the wayside or were lost in time to my memory.
Here is the above bow tip today, darkened by age. It is about 3/8" in the finished form, the bow really spits out an arrow. I am going to play around with statics for my next few bows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/3c4a0131-303c-48f6-b575-6ade3f4ba76c_zpsu9aecn2m.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/3c4a0131-303c-48f6-b575-6ade3f4ba76c_zpsu9aecn2m.jpg.html)
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Awesome thread Eric. Great pictures, very well explained, and very well executed. Thank you
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Very good explanation for sure Eric! I have done a very similar thing a few times. Especially when a static turned out to be not so static. But I've learned a few tricks watching your process.
Patrick
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Is there anything wrong with a static that starts to bend? Other than it ain't what you wanted :D
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Here are the reinforced tip overlays today after shaping. I won't cut the side grooves until I get to full brace and then use the string as a guide to get the perfect angle.
I will narrow and refine these overlays before I finish the bow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/reinforced%20overlays%20001_zpsltf2jhtb.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/reinforced%20overlays%20001_zpsltf2jhtb.jpg.html)
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Those look really really good Eric! I may have to try that idea someday. Patrick
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Very cool Eric
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Eric those look great. I have only built two like that . One craked on the belly as yours did but I put the overlays on the belly side.where you able to get all the crack sanded off the belly? And why did you pick the back to put the overlay? Looks? Arvin
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I got all the cracks sanded off. Like I said earlier this bow was planned to be a straight limb bow and the tips were already rounded and shaped when I decided to recurve them. If I had put an underlay on the belly I would have had to flatten the belly which would have left pretty thin tips much thinner. The back is already flat and I could make the overlay look more like it was part of the bow design plan.
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Got ya Eric thanks . Arvin