Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 02:01:29 pm

Title: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 02:01:29 pm
It's me again  :D

63" ntn
52# at 27"
cow horn on the tips
rabbit fur on the arrow rest
hemp cord on the handle
rattler skins on the back
and... wait for it... a bow string made by yours truly  ;)

Couldn't have made this one without input an inspiration from wizardgoat and Del. Del's blog was particularly helpful in many ways, not the least of which was how to deal with knots on the side. There's a pic of this fix where you can see I cleared out the knot, filled with epoxy and yew dust, drilled a hole and plugged it with a yew dowel, grain running the same way.

Oh yeah, and the stave had a lot of natural deflex that I tried to straighten out a bit but not with much success.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 02:02:19 pm
more :)
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 02:03:15 pm
and more :D
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Del the cat on February 05, 2017, 02:04:49 pm
Great looking bow  :), glad to have been some help.
Del
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: bubby on February 05, 2017, 02:07:19 pm
Your best looking bow so far😉
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: DC on February 05, 2017, 02:32:45 pm
Very nice. Are these bows that you have made over the years or are you posting them as you're cranking them out. So many bows, so little time ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Pat B on February 05, 2017, 02:39:59 pm
Beautiful yew bow with nice hooks and curves. The tiller looks great too. Well done!   8)
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Stick Bender on February 05, 2017, 02:45:16 pm
I agree your best yet sweet stick !
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Bryce on February 05, 2017, 02:46:23 pm
It
Might just be my screen but.. is your bottom limb longer than the top?
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: ty_in_ND on February 05, 2017, 03:01:04 pm
Nice work! With the recurved tips, a hair of deflex isn't a bad thing.  In fact, the unbraced pic looks really nice!

It
Might just be my screen but.. is your bottom limb longer than the top?

The top limb looks shorter to me, too.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 03:11:57 pm
Thanks everyone.  :)

DC, there all coming as I make them. I know it's a lot. I spend a lot of time building.

Brice, I know what you mean about the bottom limb looking longer. I just got done measuring and it definitely isn't. Didn't have anyone to take a full draw pic, so I propped my phone up and set the timer. My stance is weird because I was trying to stand low so the camera angle would be perpendicular to the arrow. I think the top limb is tilted away from the camera.  Here's one more at a different angle.



Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: bushboy on February 05, 2017, 04:49:13 pm
Dead sexy bro!the bow that is !lol!you look like Blackhawk in that first pic though!jks!
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: dirthas on February 05, 2017, 04:51:43 pm
That is a beautiful bow. Love the cord-wrapped handle and the dowel trick. Also an epic pose in the original full draw shot!

Did you make the string out of Dacron?
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: osage outlaw on February 05, 2017, 05:28:40 pm
Great looking bow.  I agree with the other guys about it being your best so far.  Lets see some pictures of that string where you twisted in the loop ends. 
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: MulchMaker on February 05, 2017, 05:35:44 pm
Dude you are a machine...you make bows faster than I can make a tillering stick. Lol. I am thankful for that though . Another beautiful bow, your nocks are outstanding. Skin looks awesome.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: wizardgoat on February 05, 2017, 05:44:34 pm
Nice job on that bow, everyone needs a nice yew recurve, or 2, or 12  ;)
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: BowEd on February 05, 2017, 06:03:31 pm
I do believe your getting the hang of this bow making.Sweet looking bow.We're gonna nick name you the beaver as in being busy as one.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 05, 2017, 06:39:55 pm
Gracias amigos.

bushboy, you had me worried there for a sec  ;D ;D

dirthas, the dowel trick is all Del. He's got a ton of amazing info on his blog.

Mulch, the machine might slow down soon, this one tired me out.

Goat, thanks for the inspiration and all the insight in your posts about yew.

Bead, I'll take any name given by you.  ;)

And Outlaw...

Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: selfbow joe on February 05, 2017, 07:58:37 pm
Very nice bow.  I like how you did the tips.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Pappy on February 06, 2017, 07:27:03 am
Very nice work, beautiful bow. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Parnell on February 06, 2017, 07:34:07 am
That really is coming along.  Well done on that bow.  My only question would be on your grip...Do you prefer that cross section with a more squared off look on the back as opposed to making it more elliptical or softened?  Funny how the lower limb does look longer.

Way to go!
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 06, 2017, 07:38:29 am
That really is coming along.  Well done on that bow.  My only question would be on your grip...Do you prefer that cross section with a more squared off look on the back as opposed to making it more elliptical or softened?  Funny how the lower limb does look longer.

Way to go!

Thanks for looking Parnell. You know it's funny, I'm still new to cutting in an arrow shelf and I never really noticed how so many have that elliptical/softened thing going on until after I made this one. It definitely looks better, but is there a performance benefit as well?
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: loon on February 06, 2017, 07:45:58 am
Peculiar string loop... ..
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 06, 2017, 07:51:48 am
Peculiar string loop... ..

I followed some video on Youtube  :embarassed:
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: loon on February 06, 2017, 08:08:11 am
Peculiar string loop... ..

I followed some video on Youtube  :embarassed:
wonder what video.. It's not quite a flemish loop. But what matters if, does it work well? :P No weird twisting or unwinding?
The knot on the other loop should be fine, what kind of knot is it? not sure if it was to shorten it or a loop knot..
I think I like the bearpaw video the most for flemish string making.

Very nice bow.. :o
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: PatM on February 06, 2017, 08:22:46 am
Good job with this one. Looks like you missed a step on that string though.  You need to make an X when you cross the bundles before blending them in.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Aaron H on February 06, 2017, 08:49:27 am
Looks good, welll done upstate
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Bob W. on February 06, 2017, 08:56:03 am
Very nice work Jeff, you are getting better and your work shows it!
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Parnell on February 06, 2017, 09:25:52 am
My first bows had that "blocky" grip, as well.  I made some nice recurves like yours but just hadn't figured on the rounding the edges of the grip.  I see it as one of those progressional things.  Not much to it.  I just use a file and scrape from the back to the belly so a splinter doesn't lift and round it off.

As far as performance improvement?  I doubt it.  But, there is probably something to be said about having a comfortable grip for consistency in shooting.  And of course, it just looks finished.  It's been fun to watch your progression. 
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: bjrogg on February 06, 2017, 09:29:41 am
Really sweet bow Upstate. I don't know yew, but I'd like to someday.lol. I agree your best yet. It really does look like bottom limb is longer.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: DC on February 06, 2017, 11:29:15 am
Peculiar string loop... ..

I followed some video on Youtube  :embarassed:
There is one video on youtube where the guy just does it flat wrong. Maybe you hit that one. Like all things on the net, compare a few sites.

Oh, very nice bow.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: PatM on February 06, 2017, 12:39:11 pm
The most puzzling is the lack of bundles in the actual loop.  ???
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: silent sniper on February 06, 2017, 12:39:57 pm
Very nice looking recurve! I would say it was well worth the troubles. SS
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 06, 2017, 02:22:31 pm
Very well done
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Hans H on February 06, 2017, 02:34:14 pm
Looks good to me
Hans
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 06, 2017, 05:27:30 pm
Wow, thanks everyone. DC, I think I must have hit that video where the guy does it wrong. That's always been my fate... to come to the right way only after doing it every conceivable wrong way!  ;D ;D For me making strings is such a pain in the, well you know. It's a good exercise in patience though.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: PatM on February 06, 2017, 05:37:01 pm
Take a couple of pics of your idea of how it's supposed to be done and people will help out.

 Just beware the "bundles must match when blended" comments.  ;)
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: DC on February 06, 2017, 06:40:23 pm
When I first started making double loop Flemish twist strings I just made them around 65". I made a bunch of them. I made the tag ends the same size, I made the loops the same size and I twisted everything the same amount(within reason). I stretched the finished strings as hard as I could and then measured it and marked that spot on my jig as whatever length it turned out to be. The next one I tried to make 1" longer and marked what it turned out to be. After a half dozen strings I found I could get a string close enough so twisting it would get it to the right length. I now have about 6 or 7 random length strings hanging on a nail and I now make bows to fit the strings. At the rate you make bows you will run out of strings at the end of the week ;). Do a google search for Flemish twist bowstring jigs. Some of them come with the length marked on them but the actual length you;ll get depend on the loop size, tail length etc. You can also look up continuous strings. Easier to get the length right but IMHO they don't look as nice. A Flemish jig is smaller so you can make strings in your recliner.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 06, 2017, 07:53:03 pm
When I first started making double loop Flemish twist strings I just made them around 65". I made a bunch of them. I made the tag ends the same size, I made the loops the same size and I twisted everything the same amount(within reason). I stretched the finished strings as hard as I could and then measured it and marked that spot on my jig as whatever length it turned out to be. The next one I tried to make 1" longer and marked what it turned out to be. After a half dozen strings I found I could get a string close enough so twisting it would get it to the right length. I now have about 6 or 7 random length strings hanging on a nail and I now make bows to fit the strings. At the rate you make bows you will run out of strings at the end of the week ;). Do a google search for Flemish twist bowstring jigs. Some of them come with the length marked on them but the actual length you;ll get depend on the loop size, tail length etc. You can also look up continuous strings. Easier to get the length right but IMHO they don't look as nice. A Flemish jig is smaller so you can make strings in your recliner.

Making strings in my recliner sounds good. I'll take the suggestions.  :) Thanks Pat and DC!
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: rps3 on February 06, 2017, 09:38:26 pm
Nice one.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: ty_in_ND on February 07, 2017, 11:28:14 am
If you're going to be making Flemish twist strings, the video I always end up going back to this one: https://youtu.be/C07evRZT_PQ
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: DC on February 07, 2017, 11:54:57 am
That's a good one.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: Springbuck on February 07, 2017, 12:24:18 pm
Gosh, you are churning them out, lately.  And all of them seem really good.  Nice.

Oh, and you can get away with more recurve, if some deflex already exists.  If I have a deflexed stave, it sometimes works to put in a parabolic recurve where the curve starts slow, then the curve tightens up as you move toward the tips.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: gfugal on February 07, 2017, 06:13:33 pm
How large is the reflex on that? it seems like its a really sharp bend. If so I want to know how you did it? do you know the radius of the form you used?
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 07, 2017, 07:42:40 pm
ty_in_ND, I'll definitely go to that video for my next string. Thanks!

Springbuck, the parabolic reflex sounds like a great idea w/ a deflexed stave. Know of any caul build-alongs for such a bend?

gfugal, they are sharp bends. I did them with steam and used the top end of a pint glass for the curve. Don't know how others feel but I've found that steam is the only way I can get Yew to hold a bend. I've had little to no luck with dry heat.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: PatM on February 07, 2017, 07:55:03 pm
An involute curve seems to describe that  curve better than a parabolic curve regarding Springbuck's post.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 07, 2017, 08:04:03 pm
An involute curve seems to describe that  curve better than a parabolic curve regarding Springbuck's post.

Anyone got a pic of a bow with such a curve?
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: ty_in_ND on February 07, 2017, 09:45:10 pm
I couldn't find a bow that has this specific curve, but here's an illustration that shows the shape of an involute curve: 

https://goo.gl/images/st7lpV

Although, to my eye, that curve looks like a great shape for the reflex in the outer portion of a hybrid longbow.
Title: Re: Yew Recurve- lots of pics
Post by: PatM on February 07, 2017, 10:21:58 pm
An involute curve seems to describe that  curve better than a parabolic curve regarding Springbuck's post.

Anyone got a pic of a bow with such a curve?

 Talon bows were designed on this shape but on a less condensed scale. Google involute and you'll see it clearly in the way Springbuck describes.