Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:33:38 pm

Title: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:33:38 pm

Woods often get disparaged for good reasons, but I believe in first, using what ya got, and second giving every decent stave a chance.  I've also been going though a phase where i am trying to tiller more by feel, what I know should be right, and instinct, Paleo-style, rather than using the tree and measuring as much. 

So this was made from a 4" + yellow locust volunteer sapling growing near a road in a fence.  The little tree had no visible heartwood and pretty thick rings.  It was pretty dense for the specie, and had a natural set back handle, so I roughed it out, strapped it down and..........left it too long.  The powderpost beetles got to it when they went though my wood about 3 years ago.  I cut around the damage and got this front profile from it.  The front shape is basically what the beetles let me have.  One tip needed an overlay, but the bug holes run up alongside the limb edges, and one digs right into the face of the limb. It will get a wrap, but survives because it is not deep and not on the highest part of the crown.   I started with heat straightened limbs, the slight set back on the handle, not reflex, and slightly reflexed tips, about 10"  and 1.5" foreward.  Didn't want to overdo it.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:40:07 pm

F/D.  The top limb has a long, stiff section due to a knot and the reinforcing overlay, which I have learNed not to overbend where it runs out.

The thing here is that this bow gave me 62# draw weight.  It's faster than I expected, and it only has the tips about an inch behind the furthest forward part of the limb off the handle.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:44:47 pm

Braced...

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:45:33 pm

Worm holes.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 10:48:16 pm

The nice toasted belly.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Julian on February 20, 2018, 11:00:43 pm

Nice work!

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 20, 2018, 11:20:57 pm

Thanks.  I likely didn't do it justice in the finish work, which I have little patience for.  I also made this one mostly with a machete and one rasp.  I just brushed natural stain on, and a quick poly spray finish. 

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: barebo on February 21, 2018, 04:56:06 am

Looks like you showed those powder post beetles whose boss! The tiller and full draw look great. Pretty nice for one that almost got away!

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: simk on February 21, 2018, 06:37:37 am

Hi Springbuck

Nice Bow! You turned firewood into a bow - i usually do it the other way round  :-D :-D

Cheers

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Pat B on February 21, 2018, 06:59:58 am

So it ain't so crappy wood. Well done.   :OK

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: M2A on February 21, 2018, 07:27:38 am

Crappy wood or not, I really like that unbraced profile look and full draw pic looks very nice. I hope she holds up for you.

Regardless, I like you philosophy of using what you got/have to and making something so nice from it.
Mike 

 

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: ohma2 on February 21, 2018, 08:53:17 am

You got a shooter with what you had. :BB

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: redhillwoods on February 21, 2018, 05:35:11 pm

very impressive Springbuck

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Yard Dog on February 21, 2018, 09:10:50 pm

Nice save !!!! Bow looks great !!!

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: tattoo dave on February 22, 2018, 08:01:30 am

Looks like a darn nice bow to me. Nice work, and nice save on that one!

Tattoo Dave

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Sidewinder on February 22, 2018, 08:08:17 am

Amen to all the above comments. Way to go. That one should make some meat. I bet the bug holes gives it some real character too.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 22, 2018, 12:28:07 pm

Very nice. You did well.
Often times being a bowyer involves "fixes". :)
Jawge

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: BowEd on February 22, 2018, 04:54:15 pm

That's a sweet design and dandy job of tillering Springbuck.Eliptical with stiff outer levers.My style of bow.I bet she shoots sweet.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 22, 2018, 04:59:46 pm

 "I bet the bug holes gives it some real character too."

  Definitely a different KIND of character than usual.

  To be honest, I will confess, I have a secret weapon.  I was worried that there might have been some bore holes I couldn't see, so I took it to work and x-ray'd the stave.   ;D ;D  But, it looks like the bugs just came in from the sides of the untrimmed stave, leaving me JUST enough to work with.  \

Thanks everyone, for the kind words.  I've made a decision to post more of my stuff.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Hrothgar on February 22, 2018, 05:38:49 pm

That turned out good, I discarded a lot of locust that looked like that. Nice bow.

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 22, 2018, 05:46:35 pm

I love the bend on that one SB.  ;)

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: selfbow joe on February 23, 2018, 04:00:18 pm

Bow looks good

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Sidewinder on February 23, 2018, 04:51:20 pm

I thought I was the ONLY one with X ray vision..... >:D

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Hans H on February 24, 2018, 02:29:45 pm

well done,
Hans

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Philipp A on February 24, 2018, 06:42:33 pm

Great looking bow, nice tiller with good draw weight! What is the length of it?

Title: Re: An OK bow from crappy wood.
Post by: Springbuck on February 26, 2018, 05:40:53 pm

Phillip:  68" NTN.