Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DesertDisciple on July 30, 2016, 12:51:09 am
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I built this bow for my wife from another red oak board from Home Depot. I was really excited about this one, and decided to go for my first recurve. I might have rushed the tillering process a bit because the working limb has taken quite a bit of set, but it made it into a bit of a deflex/reflex, which hasn't done anything bad for the bow. It draws quite smoothly and whips the same weight arrow faster than my other red oak longbow. The tip overlays are bone that were salvaged from a broken maple board bow made shortly before this one. I think it's a bit short for red oak lumber, hence the set, but I like it anyway.
I backed this one with silk because I knew I was pushing it with the design. It has held up nicely. The finish is... interesting? I tried painting the back with water-based leather dye and hide glue and it didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked. It did give it a bit of a rustic look, which my wife appreciated, so as long as she's happy, I'll just be happy to learn from it. :) The silk wraps at the curves possibly were the worst idea I've ever had. They took hours of wrapping with a fly tying bobbin. Color choice wasn't great as the gold went a bit translucent once I put the superglue on. I will never do wraps this long again. ;D
It's about 64 inches nock to nock, pulls 36# @ 27 inches and is quite fast for it's weight (to me anyway). Overall, we dig it. Thanks for looking! Oh, and it's asymmetric, and I can't remember if that was intentional or not. LOL.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8388/28357950770_a4081b8b71_k.jpg)(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8695/28357937600_38189dc762_b.jpg)(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7684/28563733311_ba4560a84a_z.jpg)
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8600/28642370015_189c284a16_z.jpg)
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8744/28025243254_c1fcb3b100_z.jpg)(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8797/28025192074_167d8b66de_c.jpg)
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8655/28563649181_cbf18c8882_c.jpg)
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Nice looking bow and it looks like the lady knows how to handle one.
WA
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Wow man, you killed it. That is awesome
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Thank you both and yes, she is quite awesome. 😎
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Woah.. very nice!
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Sweet!
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Really like that one, I like the tips look good. Bow has nice bend, and looks like your wife has good shooting form.
Bjrogg
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That's a sweet looking board bow man! Cheers- Brendan
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Yessir you got a shootin buddy there with a nice bow.
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Another fine looking bow. Great job!
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That looks great! The time spent wrapping was well spent in my opinion. Happy wife, happy life.
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Nice job Andrew, looks like she can handle it well too
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man you sure got that red oak stuff down
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Thanks again all and yeah she's great to shoot with. Actually a year or so ago I got some great advice from this forum on teaching beginning form which helped loads. She is pulling more than she thought she could too!
Stixnstones, yeah I don't mind it at all but I'm definitely looking to expand the pallet. Got a sinew backed hickory curing as we speak. ;D
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Wow, very nice red oak bow.
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Looks like you got the steam bending down now too
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Looks like you got the steam bending down now too
Yes!
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Took set? Oh pshaw! We call that a bonus unintended decurve/recurve!
Set seems to tame a bow's shock and make 'em feel sweeter in the hand. That's a keeper (you can apply that to the bow or the shooter or both, as you see fit)
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Those wraps look pretty cool with the bone tips. Well done.
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Thanks all for the comments! I'm glad the hard work paid off.
And Bub, yes I finally got it to work for me. The hickory I'm working on now was much more forgiving than the red oak though! No splinters lifted at all. I had to hide a few on this one.
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Very nice. Bend looks sweet.
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thank looks great, congrats :)
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Nice bow!
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Nice rustic looking bow, how do you steam the tips, that it working for you now?? Special contraption you use??
Martin
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Nice rustic looking bow, how do you steam the tips, that it working for you now?? Special contraption you use??
Martin
While we were tillering the other bow he posted I set my steamer up and we vent the recurves in on another bow that andrew had started and i showed him how i did it
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Great bow! Don't be upset with how it looks unbraced. It has a great profile unbraced! With the amount curve you put in the tips, I think it would actually help how it shoots with the amount of deflex that's in the limbs. Your wife is a lucky gal!
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While we were tillering the other bow he posted I set my steamer up and we vent the recurves in on another bow that andrew had started and i showed him how i did it
Ok thanks Bubby do you have a thread or pics of that "Steaming contraption" of yours!!??
Sorry DesertDisciple I dont want to jack your bow "Show and tell"
Martin
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Kind words from all of you. Thank you and thanks for Taking time to look!
Martin no problem. The key is time really. I let it sit for over an hour I think. However I DID try something a little different. I made a cone of sorts out of some steel ducting and cut it to perfectly fit my cooking pot. Then I fixed a plastic sleeve over that and onto the limb I was bending to concentrate the heat. I think it increased my working time quite a bit as I was able to leave the bag on while clamping down and also leave the steam going while it settled on the form.
It worked really well but was terribly awkward as it was in the kitchen and my form couldn't stand on its own. The only splinter that lifted was from when I accidentally nudged it after the first clamp when down. The sideways motion pulled it out pretty easy. No biggie though, just superglue it as I knew I was wrapping anyway. 😀
When I finally perfect the method I'll post the setup I used.
Thanks again
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well done nice bow ,looks great to shoot nice tiller too
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Very nicely done. I love silk as a backing. Sometimes I sneak it under the snake skin for a little added protections and you can't even tell:)
Lovely bow. Nice work.
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You did that board sweet justice. Glad it works for your wife.
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Thats a great looking bow with a nice bend. I like the rustic finish and the handle, tip overlays and silk wraps all work together to give it a cool look. I bet your wife is proud of her new bow.
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Very nice looking bow and she has good form....bet it shoots well..
DBar
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Disciple . . . is push/pull used to string the bow? If so, is there any undue resistance between thread and bowstring when stringing it?
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Nice bow!
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Thanks guys. Hadn't seen the new replies so sorry for late response.
Knoll, I put stringer grooves in the tips so she wouldn't have to but I've string it via push/pull and yes it drags a bit. I think I could have remedied that by building up the finish a bit more there or even coating the wraps in epoxy.
And she is quite a good shot. Next up for both of us is a set of well matched arrow each and a proper target. Haha.
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Wow! Came out great. Jawge
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I bet those wraps did take forever but man, it looks sweet! I love the overall appearance and it looks like a good shooter!
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I like it! :)