Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on January 01, 2017, 08:00:20 am

Title: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: simson on January 01, 2017, 08:00:20 am
Happy new year everybody!
Here is my new warbow  >:D >:D >:D

From time to time I really enjoy working on simple stick bows, with a round diameter at handle and tapering somehow to the tips. Here is one of those quick made sticks, an Euonymus europaeus branch harvested in my garden just a months or so ago.
You can see the origin diameter of the branch at the handle, its only ¾”, nearly nothing. The right place for the arrow is marked with a pigment ring, the nocks are made with a rawhide strip and sinew.
The stick was straight but took an inch set.
Euonymus is good bowwood, can be polished like bone, but is without much structure or grain contrast – looks a lot like bone.

Mass is 312 grams
61” ntn

The low poundage makes it just right a beginners bow and whenever it get blown, nothing is lost. A next is quick made.

10”: 6,5
12”: 10;1   (+ 3,6)
14”: 13,5   (+ 3,4)
16”: 16,7   (+ 3,2)
18”: 19,8   (+ 3,1)
20”: 22,9   (+ 3,1)
22”: 26,0   (+ 3,1)
24”: 29,0   (+ 3,0)
26”: 32,0   (+ 3,0)
28”: 35,0   (+ 3,0)


(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%201%20von%2011_zpsrqx8z4gb.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%202%20von%2011_zps5hkyhu3s.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%203%20von%2011_zpss8nb3ld8.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%204%20von%2011_zpsd8txsjlu.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%205%20von%2011_zpsnpmrqrw0.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%206%20von%2011_zpsope5qwxb.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%207%20von%2011_zpsht9qashs.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%208%20von%2011_zpsx5dr6dtq.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%209%20von%2011_zpscpuzmrfu.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%2010%20von%2011_zpsr5mndc8w.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/87%20Euonymus%20minimal%20stick/Euyonimus%20little%20sapling%20-%2011%20von%2011_zpslntrteze.jpg)
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: bjrogg on January 01, 2017, 08:28:42 am
Very nice Simson, simple none of the fancy stuff but elegant in its bend and workmanship.
Happy and Healthy 2017 to you
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: BowEd on January 01, 2017, 08:28:56 am
Yes it's a new year!!!!Nice job simon.Excellent full draw pic.A person will be surprised how much zip and power a bow like this will have yet.
I often use the same type of string keeper on skinny longer lengthed tips of mine too.Like these lever bows I call them.Just to keep the string on unbraced  while transporting the bow.Without drilling a hole though which looks like a good idea really.
Those loops do get caught once in a while going through the brush though if a person does'nt pay attention.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Badger on January 01, 2017, 08:33:50 am
   Nice job, learning how to tiller this shape is good practice for all of us. I ran it through the mass calculator just for fun and came out with 312 grams. I figured 2' of stiff handle. Almost exactly what you ended up with.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Aaron H on January 01, 2017, 09:20:36 am
Euonymus huh?  That's interesting.  Great bend on a nice clean stick.  I think the wood is beautiful
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 01, 2017, 09:45:29 am
Beautiful, Simon! Happy New Year! Jawge
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: osage outlaw on January 01, 2017, 09:49:16 am
Very nice work!
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: wizardgoat on January 01, 2017, 09:53:19 am
I love a simple stick bow, great work Simon, cool seeing bows from wood I've never heard of
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: ---GUTSHOT---> on January 01, 2017, 10:26:09 am
Simple, plain and just nice.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: MulchMaker on January 01, 2017, 10:28:37 am
Nice bow! 3/4 of an inch to start with and you see a bow! What an eye for wood and skill to get a nice bow.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: mikekeswick on January 01, 2017, 12:29:41 pm
That is a really elegant bow to my eyes.
I have one really snakey spindle stave left. It is great wood and sands/finishes up great, just like bone as you say.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Pat B on January 01, 2017, 12:47:38 pm
Who would have thought of using euonymus for bows. I don't think I've ever seen euonymus big enough for a bow.
What a great start for 2017 to build a beautiful bow from a very uncommon wood like euonymus. Well done!   8)
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: dragonman on January 01, 2017, 12:50:14 pm
you're giving your bows some very good  tillers...the bend looks very pleasing to the eye....as a perfect thing should
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: burn em up chuck on January 01, 2017, 01:02:53 pm
    very very nice. I will be looking out for that wood.

                                                     chuck
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: simson on January 01, 2017, 01:45:28 pm
   Nice job, learning how to tiller this shape is good practice for all of us. I ran it through the mass calculator just for fun and came out with 312 grams. I figured 2' of stiff handle. Almost exactly what you ended up with.

Thanks Steve, yes 2 or 3" are stiff

Euonymus huh?  That's interesting.  Great bend on a nice clean stick.  I think the wood is beautiful

Euonymus is called Spindle Tree in UK (see Mike's post) I don't know if it grows in the States or Canada. It has some extra pink and orange fruits - really poisonous!

Who would have thought of using euonymus for bows. I don't think I've ever seen euonymus big enough for a bow.
What a great start for 2017 to build a beautiful bow from a very uncommon wood like euonymus. Well done!   8)

Pat, fortunatelly I have some really nice staves of Euonymus. They grow here up to little trees, the biggest I found with more than 4" diameter. The bad thing is they tend to grow twisted.

Thanks all!
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: selfbow joe on January 01, 2017, 03:51:26 pm
Very nice work!
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Pat B on January 01, 2017, 04:21:04 pm
Most of the euonymus growing here in the US are shrubs or vines from Asia. We do have an American variety, U. americanus. It's common name is "hearts a'bustin" because of it's fruit with an orange shell and pink fruit inside that shows as the shell pops open. I've never seen a stem of this plant more than 1/4" in diameter. Most euonymus here are very susceptible to scale insects and require pesticides to control it.
 There is an Asian variety, E. alatus(aka winger euomymus, burning bush) that grows here(invasive) that would probably get large enough to make a bow but I eradicate any I find before it has a chance to get to size.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 01, 2017, 06:25:01 pm
beautiful bend!

How about E. bungeanus? We've got some here in an arboretum that gives me cuttings from time to time.
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 01, 2017, 08:06:52 pm
Very nice.  Must be a strong wood to get that much draw weight from such a small stick
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Redhand on January 01, 2017, 10:04:25 pm
Nice bow Simon! You have worked your magic again turning a branch into a work of art.  Great job my friend!
Title: Re: Euonymus minimal stick 35/28 (No.87)
Post by: Parnell on January 02, 2017, 01:17:40 pm
Simplicity rules.  That's great.