Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PaulN/KS on May 10, 2016, 10:14:41 pm
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Today the short bendy handle osage decided to show frets on one of it's limbs. Before that the short bendy handle ash did the same thing. Neither were radical designs, just simple bows that have worked in the past. I've either gotten a bad run of wood to work with or my bow Mojo has deserted me. :-[
The next one to try will be a short piece of osage that has a nice natural reflex to it . If that one doesn't make a bow I have a long piece of hickory that should be "fool proof". :-\
But then, never underestimate the power of a determined "Fool"... ::)
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You'll get it, bud!
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If you make enough bows sooner or later you'll run into a spell of bad luck. Just keep telling yourself that it's just a piece of wood and move on to the next one.
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Don't fret brother! >:D Sorry I couldn't help myself!
I've been that way since the black locust broke at OJAM. Everything I have worked with has literally gone to pieces. That's why I put my trade bow aside for a while.
But I'm almost done with a little r/D bendy for my niece, just gotta take some more weight off.
You'll get it, just hang in there bud!
Patrick
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If you make enough bows sooner or later you'll run into a spell of bad luck. Just keep telling yourself that it's just a piece of wood and move on to the next one.
That's it!!!
Happens to all of us I think
Greetz
Cord
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Yeah, I've just had a run of repairs to do.
I've patched and rawhide backed a Yew primitive... dunno if it will hold. I might just give it away (it won't actually explode... just fold if it fails ... in theory >:D )
Keep on keepin on... the alternative is to ask her indoors :-* if she wants any decorating done :o :-X
Del
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"Don't fret..." Thanks Patrick. :laugh:
I appreciate the encouragement Gents.
Probably just a slump... :-\
Oh and Del, I am waaay behind on those indoor projects but it's Spring so the outdoors projects are calling... ;)
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Yep I have that happen from time to time, just have to get back on the horse and ride, it will get better. ;) :)
Pappy
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I've had it happen too. Use it as a learning experience.
These things don't happen randomly. They happen for a reason.
About 10 years ago I had an osage bow break.
It was because I dd nt keep the knotted area slightly flat and that is where the stave brole.
Jawge
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Paul it sounds like you may be getting too serious and not having fun. Or you just haven't had enough libations ;) Sorry to hear it man. Just keep on keeping on.
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just slow down a bit, it'll come to you :)
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I agree with George, few things in this hobby happen randomly or from bad luck. Something made those bows fret. Poor tiller, green wood, poor design, who knows? The key is figuring out why and not letting it happen again via adjustments in your recipes :)
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It happen to me ...when I looked at the staves real close all were from the same tree.....there's a bunch of variables, stick with it and don't give up, it'll come around.
DBar
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Last summer I broke 5 bows in a row(!). I knew humidity was up overall about 15-20 % but I didn't pay much attention to it, was kind of thinking that a perfect tiller can make up for loss of compressive strength that humidity brings. But eventually I had to adjust my bow design to the humidity. I quickly made a couple of overbuilt ELB's, 74" ntn, 1,5" wide at the handle, 40#/28". Just to have a couple of successes. That worked great for my mood, and somehow my bow making went well from there. So if I were to give you an advice, I'd say get working on the hickory stave right away and play it safe. Don't underestimate the good mood that comes from small successes. :-) Good luck!
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Some bows just don't go well. My last, hickory, fought me all the way. Took me 4-5 tries to heat the kinks out of it and in the process I scorched a spot. Finally cut a foot off one end in disgust. Took about a thousand scrapes to get it to start bending, but when I put a short string on it it was already borderline hinged on one limb??? Lost all the natural reflex. Finally called it finished and stained it dark to cover the scorched spot. Then when I gave it a coat of tung oil over the stain I ended up with a sticky mess that won't dry. Bow for sale cheap...
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If you make enough bows sooner or later you'll run into a spell of bad luck. Just keep telling yourself that it's just a piece of wood and move on to the next one.
+1
Don't know how many I have destroyed for what reason ever. I always was in the shop again, at least on the next day! 8)
keep it going on!
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I've been in the same slump. Haven't gotten in the shop as much as I'd like to and when I finally do another issue pops up. I really thought I'd have finished my trade bow by now.
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Same here!! The last 2 bows I've finished just didn't cut the mustard. I think my mind was elsewhere and I just couldn't seem to focus. I'm only now starting back after about 30 days of laying off. Sometimes we just need to take a break.
That being said I do feel much better about the two new staves in progress.
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I've been in a slump for well over a year now. That is one reason I reluctantly said yes when I was asked to be in the first Invitational Bow Trade. It got me going on a nice, narrow osage sliver I had. All I needed was over 45# and I knew this piece of wood had at least that in it. I made a beautiful little bow that pulled just over 45# and shot very well. So, I decided to dress her up...buffalo horn tip overlays, snake belly skins from Osage Outlaw(thanks again Clint), hemp wrapped handle with a floppy rest, the whole kettle of fish. After shooting a few more times she went out of tiller. Talk about a kick in the pants. I re-tillered her back but to a much lower draw weight and gave her to a friend at the Classic for his grand daughter....making lemonade from lemons. ;D
I'm heading to the basement when I finish writing this to continue on with #2 that I started many weeks ago. I'm hoping this will get me out of my bow building slump. Only time will tell.
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Well at least that nice bow went to a good cause Pat, a great example of "making lemonade from lemons".
My "Lemons" I fear are proving unworthy of kid bow salvage but I think I can make a couple atlatl's from them.
Thus taking a step backward ( in time.. ;) ) before heading back to the bow making.
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I am in kind of a slump as well. Last few years my motivation to build bows has been falling off. Last year I think I may have done maybe a dozen or so this year I think about 3 and none of them are quite finished.