Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: gfugal on March 23, 2017, 01:00:21 pm
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Here's some pictures of my first thumb ring. Now I can work on my thumb draw and not rely on a mechanical release (It didn't make me feel very traditional let alone primitive). I made it from pine and stained it with dark stain, then finished with polyurethane. I didn't want to use bone, horn, etc for my first since I never made one before. I wanted something I could more easily work and less sad if it broke. I was a little worried about its strength but tried to make it so the weight bearing portion's grain was perpendicular to the load. I also left the walls of the actual ring thick for more support as I could see them being the most likely to break. Turns out it's strong enough. I haven't had any problems and loosed 50 arrows so far. Works like a charm. The angle is a little too steep for my liking but is easily enough accounted for. I actually like the look of the wood. When I make another I want to make it from a real hard exotic wood like ipe, bulletwood, ebony, bloodwood, or what have you.
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Here's some pictures with the thumb
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Pretty good.
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I'll give that a big thumbs up (groan) :)
I keep meaning to have a go with a thumb ring... but you know how it is... ::)
Del
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Very nice. Want to try that myself.
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As a thumb ring archer myself, it looks great.
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I imagine using it is acid test if it's made correctly.Custom made you have one to copy for others now too then.
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Looks pretty cool. Does it lock on your thumb?
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I imagine using it is acid test if it's made correctly.Custom made you have one to copy for others now too then.
Do you mean that you simply use it to test it? If so yes. For example, it originally wasn't working too well because the angle was too steep and I couldn't get it flat enough to keep the string from slipping without hurting my thumb. This was because the wood would have to dig into my thumb in order to get the right angle. I resolved this by removing wood where it was digging into my thumb (the bottom of the belly side and top of back side, pictured bellow). After I did that, it was much more comfortable and I didn't have any problems since it allows the ring to move into the proper place. I was able to shoot 50 arrows straight without pain, that's even better than what I could do with a the traditional grip.
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Shooting with pain is no fun.Glad you resolved your issue.
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Nice
Here's some pics. I think a ring without a guard (i.e. Ottoman) might have a bit of a crisper release, although it can pinch your skin if your form and the fit of the ring aren't perfect.
https://imgur.com/a/nblsW
Do you mean that you simply use it to test it? If so yes. For example, it originally wasn't working too well because the angle was too steep and I couldn't get it flat enough to keep the string from slipping without hurting my thumb. This was because the wood would have to dig into my thumb in order to get the right angle.
Yeah, it looked like it'd do that on the earlier pics. Glad you got it working nicely, it looks better in the last pic.
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It took me 10 rings to get near to making an Ottoman one just right....Now you have got one that is the correct shape for yourself it would be a good idea to make another from a harder material. Pine won't last long and is easy to break.
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Nice
Here's some pics. I think a ring without a guard (i.e. Ottoman) might have a bit of a crisper release, although it can pinch your skin if your form and the fit of the ring aren't perfect.
https://imgur.com/a/nblsW
what's the purpose of the grove, clearly there is one that I'm not grasping? Also out of curiosity, why would no ring guard lead to a crisper release? Yeah, I don't like the idea of it accidentally pinching me, but I've only used this one so I don't really know if it would.
It took me 10 rings to get near to making an Ottoman one just right....Now you have got one that is the correct shape for yourself it would be a good idea to make another from a harder material. Pine won't last long and is easy to break.
I thought it was going to break, but it has shown no signs of doing so yet. I plan on using it until it does or until I get bored with it. We'll see how it holds up. If it is going to break I don't think it will be in a shot but accidentally stepping on it, sitting on it, or banging my hand against something like a rock by accident. the pad its self is pretty strong. I'm only worried about the ring. I've always wondered why there aren't a lot of wooden thumb rings. Time will tell if I'll find out why. I personally like the look.
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There is not a lot of wooden thumb rings because thumb rings in general are rare. ;) But really it's because better materials are pretty readily available. Even the strongest wood could likely be popped apart by just flexing your thumb.
You will see the odd prototype made by guys just to get the feel for making and using one as you have done.
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With no guard (or a prong), the string can rest in a way that allows you to bend the thumb a bit less, and it'll kind of 'pop off the edge' when you release..
By the grove, you mean the V-like thing? Or groove? It's for the string to rest on.. helps to prevent the string from pinching the skin too much.
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With no guard (or a prong), the string can rest in a way that allows you to bend the thumb a bit less, and it'll kind of 'pop off the edge' when you release..
But wouldn't it be resting on the skin then? At first it seems to me that it will defeat the purpose if it is, but the ring is probably still bearing most of the load with just a little being asked of the thumb that the string is in contact with. I'm imagining something similar to what's shown in image 1.
By the grove, you mean the V-like thing? Or groove? It's for the string to rest on.. helps to prevent the string from pinching the skin too much.
Both really. I'm still a little confused. so what I'm getting is that the v allows room for the thumb, kind of like how I removed wood in a similar spot to keep it from digging into my thumb? I still don't quite understand the grove. I'm assuming its due to the metallic nature of the material, since denting it inward like that may be the easiest way to provide a flatter surface for the string to rest stably on.
There is not a lot of wooden thumb rings because thumb rings in general are rare. ;) But really it's because better materials are pretty readily available. Even the strongest wood could likely be popped apart by just flexing your thumb.
You will see the odd prototype made by guys just to get the feel for making and using one as you have done.
That makes sense. I think it also depends on how thick you leave the wood. if you do something real thin like the what I believe is a bone ring in image 2, then sure you could snap it easily. If you leave it thick then it should be fairly sturdy. The third image is a thick wood ring made of probably some sort of exotic hardwood. I think I'm going to try and do something more like this for my next one.
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It's kind of like taking (https://i.imgur.com/KlaQe1sm.jpg) but then filing a notch on the center, but... I dunno. This is the description:
The Victory also has a pinch-free, two-pronged guard, which gives your thumb joint more room to bend and provides a more stable hold on the string (the string rests across the dimple, which mitigates unintentional up/down rolling).
Another grooved ring
(https://i.imgur.com/TgdDthtl.jpg)
The description:
Our string groove is a subtle aid in string positioning, and does not allow crimping of the string nor is disruptive of the release. This strikes a good balance, allowing those who prefer the help to have it, while reinforcing good form.
Their description of the tongued ring:
The tongue ring is another historical oddity out of China which, up until now, wasn't really accessible to most archers. The string actually rests on top of, as opposed to in front of, the protruding tongue. In use this presents as being somewhat like a lipped[guarded] ring, in that rearward string travel is limited so the string does not dig into the soft part of the thumb, however upon release the string abruptly drops like a hammer off the end of the shelf resulting in a distinct and snappy release. Until partial draw is achieved, the archer must either slightly angle their wrist or have the skill to balance the string on the tongue, before the natural step of the ring kicks in keeping the string off the thumb.
If the string is balanced on the ring as such, I suppose more of the force would go into the ring, and the joint of the thumb. Then the string wouldn't dig into the thumb because the force's against the edge of the ring. or 'tongue', in the case of the tongued ring.
So it's kind of like in pic 1, but the thumb is more bent, but angled such that the force goes into the ring and not pinching the skin.
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I aslo have another question for you thumb archers. When I was looking up how to make a thumb ring I came across the primitive ways website. according to Mike the thumb draw may twist the string in an opposite direction than the traditional draw. To counter-act this he said you can either 1) make a loop so the string won't twist, or 2) put the arrow on the right side of the handle if your shooting right handed mimicking what Asiatic archers did. However, when I tried putting it on the right side with my ring I feel it made it shoot worse and felt like I still had more stability on the left with a cleaner shot. What's going on here. should I try to shoot on the right anyway, or does it not really matter.
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Loon, that makes sense about the V and grooves and stuff. But what's a tongue ring? is that just a normal ring without a guard, grove or v? Bytheway how do you insert the pictures like that?
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I upload them on imgur and put the direct link between
[img] tags. Or using the "insert image" button that does it for you, right below the B bold button.
Tongued rings. Google "King of Rui's Thumb Ring" for info about the first one. I think they call the tongue a "wedge"...
(https://i.imgur.com/tU7ywJB.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fhhFdzn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/tOnQpb5.png)
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I shoot with a grooved ring personally. I can also shoot just fine with a plain ungrooved ring like the last one posted.
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I currently have this ring in brass (Alibow Painless) and also a plastic vermil victory with some leather padding. I think I like the Victory better.. with the padding, but the painless is better without. Maybe the painless would be better with padding..
But I wanna make simple unlipped ones like the Ottoman. As soon as I get time, I'm gonna buy a nice Mora scandi grind hook knife and get some balsa wood.. then I'll move into deer antler.
(https://i.imgur.com/tOnQpb5.png)
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Check out this review by my friend. At around 2:20 he explains what I meant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTV3qJBcDdI#t=2m29s
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That makes sense. Do you also shoot on horse like your friend. That's pretty legit