Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Sparrow on March 09, 2008, 02:15:51 pm
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I am building my first serious bow.I built kid bows when I was a kid,none of which were over 30 lbs I'm sure.I am doing the bow on page 307 of T.B.B. 4.(First flatbow) Chopped it out with a hatchet and worked it over with the spoke shave and got it to floor tiller last night.Now I'm scared.Will make me a tiller board today and keep going,but am on un-certain ground. No mentors up here on my island(Even though I live in a native village.no one knows how to build bows)
Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. Frank
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good luck my friend!
keep us posted!
mbg
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Wish ya luck :)
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Post photos when you start tillering, and I am sure you will get feedback. What wood are you using Frank?
Keith
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One thing. Once you tiller it to brace height on your tillering stick/rack/tree, leave it there "braced" for 24 hours until taking it further. This has been the single most helpful tip of my and others' recent bows. Helps insure it won't blow if there are flaws and makes the first time bracing it easier. I'm sure there are more, but those are the biggest.
Good luck!
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Good luck, and don't forget to enjoy the ride. To often we get so worried about breaking the bow or messing up and forget that we do this for the fun involved. Justin
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Keith I am using a red oak 2x2 I bought a coupla years ago at a lumber yard,the growth rings were very straight and I had just read about picking a board in one of the T.B.B. books. Hopefully!... I haven't heard of leaving the thing braced for twenty four hours before. I am at that stage now.I will do a little more cleaning it up and then will cut nocks and make a short string.Brace her up. I am sorta having fun,but....... Frank
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Good luck and keep us posted on how it is coming along. :)
Pappy
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take your time , have fun , and ask questions. good luck
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This may help you. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/archer.html
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Hey George ! Thanks for the tip.The website is a BIG help.(Is now added to favorite places) I will post a picture or two of progress today sometime. Frank
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Have the bow braced and started tillering with the flat of a knife blade,scraping off little wisp of wood,I like this part.I have the limbs pretty even and am going to start with the tiller stick today.I will add in a picture this morning as soon as my wife teaches me how to do it again. Frank
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You should nix the 24 hour brace thing until the bow is finished. Even then I wouldn't brace one of my bows that long as it's not a natural thing to do, 3 or 4 hours yes but certainly not 24.
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Okay...Just braced and then tillered a bit and then on the stick @16". Not bending as much in the right limb,what are you guys seeing ?
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Looking good so far. The right limb is starting to bend pretty good, but is stiff from midlimb out. It could work a little bit more near the fade, also. The left limb is bending at midlimb only, I would try to get it bending more out of the fade and also past midlimb. Keep the last few inches of the limbs stiff.
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I am tillering along and then I notice that I am begining to see a propeller twist to the limbs.What am I doing wrong? Frank
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Is it just twisting when you pull or is the twist there when it is relaxed? Justin
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It shows up at 16 inches on the tillering stick.I scraped off some wood on the outbound side of the twist and un-braced her.No sign of twist in either limb un-braced.I will put her back on the stick and work along the draw until I start seeing them start to twist.It looks like most of the twist is in the outer third of the limb.Should I continue to scrape the outbound side until I eliminate the twist ? Frank
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Sounds like you have it figured out. I would measure the thickness on both sides of the limb to see if they are close to even. When you have problems like this it is best to study them. You can sure learn a lot from problems and mistakes. Justin
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I have my bow about tillered to my draw length.I still have a little propeller in the limbs although the string is about perfectly centered.Anyone got a suggestion? Should I resort to dry heat or leave it since it's centered or is there yet a tillering thing I can do?I also have a little room to narrow the tips. Frank
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looking good but pic #1 doen't open up for me...
frank
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My 2 cents .. Leter fly, string close to center or off to the upper limb side.
put an arrow in her & let er go.. Have fun it is suppose to be primitive
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Iron leg I think you've got something there.Reckon I'll finish her up and go to shooting.I forget that I have been making arrows for years and that the first ones were'nt near as perfect as the ones I make now.I think it might be a darn nice bow for a first bow and I have learned so much from it.I've got two hickory staves waiting and four really big fat Black locust that I split years ago,big enough I might get 7 or 8 bows outa them. I'll post a picture as soon as I finish the handle,sand her down and put some waterproofing on her.(Rains here all the time) Frank
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Full draw.54 Lbs.@28" What are you guys seeing ? The weight I was supposed to take this to according to the book(T.B.B. 4) Is 50 lbs,so I've got a little room to tiller yet. Tell me what you think. Frank
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Nice Bow....but it looks to me like the Top Limb is bending more than the Bottom one is...
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yeah...that becomes very apperent with the eliptical line drawn in.I now need to get the bottom limb working the same as the top but then will I have too much bend in the middle of the limbs? or does that matter? I really appreciate your help. Thanks Frank
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The Bottom Limb is perfect....but you cant put the Wood back on the Top!!! >:D I myself....would leave it alone...you want the Botton a little Stiffer than the Top anyways...but not necessarily that much....but I don't think that I would weaken the Bottom to match the Top....lets see what others chime in with....... I like the Bow....I would shoot Her the way it is....and enjoy it....JMO
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I worked on those limbs a bit, actually got them pretty evened up,down to 52 lbs@ 28".Target weight is 50 lbs.so.....I reckon that is going to do it.I will sand and mess with the handle tommarrow,get my wife to take another picture that I will post and see what you guys think. Thanks for the input.I have learned a ton and will start on a stave bow right away. Frank
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looking very good! wish my first was that nice!
Phil
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I think that you will find that if you shoot that bow for a while that bottom limb will settle in a little closer to the top as far as bend goes. I would definitely shoot it a while ( couple hunnerd arrows) Then see where it sits...if retillering is needed then go ahead but I bet it won't