Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on December 19, 2017, 08:11:04 pm
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I tried making one of these with Buckthorn a few months ago and it failed in a spectacular way
(https://i.imgur.com/oqZiehZ.jpg)
I liked the looks of the bow, before it exploded on me, and decided I wanted to make one out of something that wouldn't explode, like Elm. The Elm I used is not top quality but it is decent, it's wood I cut a couple years ago. I bent the curves with steam, setting them in place with dry-heat after, and reflexed and heat-treated the belly into about 6" of reflex. The bow is 65" long with limbs 1 5/8" wide tapering to 3/8" wide nocks. I tillered the bow to 28" where it pulls 55#. Here's a few pics
(https://i.imgur.com/BBOiAIG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cqRRHfx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4G72VHr.jpg)
I shot it a few times and it shoots quite well. Performance is not spectacular but decent. My shooting range is in the shop as there's too much snow outside so I only have a 30" range
(https://i.imgur.com/liXclwF.jpg)
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Nice looking recurve Marc. Your buckthorn bow looks almost grey in that picture. Was it dead before it was cut? I've got a couple of pieces of BT and it has a much brighter color than what you posted.
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That sure is a beautiful bend Marc. To bad about the buckthorn.
Bjrogg
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No the Buckthorn was live but seasoned with the bark on
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I really like the shape! And the tiller is sweet!
Patrick
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You are the king of the bend Marc. The undisputed king. )P(
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Nice elm recurve, Marc. :OK
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That's a pretty bend and nice looking bow.
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everytime I see you posted a new bow I can't wait to see it, and you never disappoint me.
That's a sweet bow!
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Very nice bow Marc, I am working on am Elm now, hope it turns out half as nice.
Pappy
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Thanks guys. Been awhile since I made a plain simple recurve like this. I actually started this bow several months ago but shelved it for awhile because other things came up.
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I like the simplicity and elegance in that bow - she is a beauty!
On the buckthorn I had the same idea like Clint.
Here in Germany that wood is rare, I found some but had lot of failures because of the low quality wood. I had similar tension breaks.
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Lovely bow, simple and elegant taken to perfection, just the way I like them!
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Something to be said about a nice, plain recurve. Very nic, Marc. Looks like you're slacking on your target shooting. ::) ;)
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All the Buckthorn I have cut, all were live trees, developed that discoloration on the back even with the bark partially removed.
I haven't shot a bow in several months Eddie
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Nice looking bow
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Once again, you've set the bench mark for an all wood recurve. I'd like to watch you tiller a bow to hopefully learn how to achieve that final draw that seems like mirror images on all of your recurves. Some say nice, plain recurve, but to my eyes those bows are the pinnacle of the bowyers art.
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Very nice work Marc
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Thanks guys.
I wish I could find some top quality Elm again. This wood is really good but there's a level of Elm above this that is outstanding when heat-treated
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Thanks guys.
I wish I could find some top quality Elm again. This wood is really good but there's a level of Elm above this that is outstanding when heat-treated
Mark, I don't know if Chinese elm grows in your parts or not. It is very common in So Cal but I seldom can get a hold on any that is small enough for me to handle. Excellent bow wood and very consistent. The city offered me about 7 pipe straight trunks about 8 feet long last year but they weighed over 1,000# each and I couldn't process them. Almost impossible to split. I won't fool with anything over about 10". It cares less about grain violations. One time I sawed out a cupid style recurve just for fun with massive violations and I still have that bow shooting.
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Very pretty bend Marc. I swear one of these days I'm going to give your style of arrow shelf/pass a go. Next bow...
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Thanks guys.
I wish I could find some top quality Elm again. This wood is really good but there's a level of Elm above this that is outstanding when heat-treated
Very nice elm recurve Marc.To me that elm does have a sweet drawing type feel.Good for my aggravated rotater cuff tendon....lol.I personally think as known by many who like elm that there is just so many kinds.Others on here really like the stuff too.The best I have worked on with regularity was winged elm out of south carolina but I suspect florida would have as good of quality.Got some now out of southern arkansas that is pretty decent but not like previous states stated.The red elm locally here is farther down the scale yet though.Hav'nt tried the local chinese or american type yet which most times does'nt have the light brown heartwood that red elm does.In fact I'd rather make bows out of hackberry than red elm.
Main difference in quality is it's density to me.Just an observation.It all seems to take heat treating really well with the denser holding heated profiles better than the lighter density and can be made with narrower limbs.
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I agree with you Ed, I don't consider red elm to be a true bow wood. Chinese elm I use the same dimensions that I use with osage. It seems to be the most consistently dense of all the elms I have worked with.
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Real nice looking bow, Marc! Your indoor range seems a bit (30")short, though >:D! Bow shoots good, in any case.
Hawkdancer
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That's a classic "Marc" elm bow, love seeing your bows every time. Elm is certainly my favorite, and I need to find myself some more high quality stuff as well.
Also, thanks for sharing that you still break bows now an again, makes me feel like less of a loser ;D
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Real nice looking bow, Marc! Your indoor range seems a bit (30")short, though >:D! Bow shoots good, in any case.
Hawkdancer
Can't miss at that distance ;D
Not likely Chinese Elm grows up here Steve, too far north
Density has no value if the wood chrysals and I have seen dense Elm chrysal. I value elasticity over everything else
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I agree with you Ed, I don't consider red elm to be a true bow wood. Chinese elm I use the same dimensions that I use with osage. It seems to be the most consistently dense of all the elms I have worked with.
I'll have to try that chinese or possibly american elm here then for self bows.I know there's fellas here who use the red elm as cores on FG bows without any failures.
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I like this back to basics style.
Chinese Elm would probably grow fine up there. It would need to be planted first though.
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I agree with you Ed, I don't consider red elm to be a true bow wood. Chinese elm I use the same dimensions that I use with osage. It seems to be the most consistently dense of all the elms I have worked with.
I'll have to try that chinese or possibly american elm here then for self bows.I know there's fellas here who use the red elm as cores on FG bows without any failures.
Ed, it is a great core wood because it is light, you can use any wood for a core because it doesn't do anything. Just a spacer.
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Hi Marc,
I like that bow a lot, what a beautiful tiller you have on it as well!
To Badger in regards to the splitting of Elm, why don't you use a chainsaw instead? I never split my HHB either because it doesn't seem to work for me. I use a chainsaw and then when I quartered it use the band saw.
Christmas Greetings,
Phil
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I agree with you Ed, I don't consider red elm to be a true bow wood. Chinese elm I use the same dimensions that I use with osage. It seems to be the most consistently dense of all the elms I have worked with.
I'll have to try that chinese or possibly american elm here then for self bows.I know there's fellas here who use the red elm as cores on FG bows without any failures.
Ed, it is a great core wood because it is light, you can use any wood for a core because it doesn't do anything. Just a spacer.
Yes I've understood the working surface depth concept for quite some time.I usually gotta laugh though.The FG bows want to look like wood but not really yet.I've scored elm also with a chain saw for splitting to get staves later.
The chinese or american elm here usually has a shorter trunk then the elm.That can be determined by growing locations some but in general that's the way it is here.
Elm is a very prolific propogater here if given a chance.It was used in the past here as wind breaks for farm yards.A fairly fast grower to develope that.Disease[what they call the chinese elm diseease] has gotten many but it still is around.
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Great looking bow. Love the tiller on this one. Great to see you on here. always look forward in seeing your work.
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Real nice looking bow, Marc! Your indoor range seems a bit (30")short, though >:D! Bow shoots good, in any case.
Hawkdancer
Can't miss at that distance
Must have that arrow tuned pretty good to straighten out in 30"s Marc.
Thanks again for sharing I do just love your bends.
Bjrogg
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It's a beauty, Marc! Congratulations! Jawge