Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sleek on April 14, 2020, 05:11:20 pm
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This one has a natural Z handle where a vine or adjacent tree had choked it. Unfortunately it also has rings so thin I can't see them, so it will be sapwood backed, which means it has some checks that will stay in the bow. Not certain what I'm going to do with it but, I'm pretty certain it has a bow in it.
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Here it is roughed out a bit.
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It'll definitely have some character. I'm interested to see the bow you get from it.
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It'll definitely have some character. I'm interested to see the bow you get from it.
You and me both!
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what wood is it?
if the checks get worse or you decide that you don't trust the sapwood for some reason you could always de-crown and rawhide/sinew back it, but you probably know that anyway :D
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Its Osage. Good advice too by the way.
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Just putting a scratch on this thread so I can follow along as you go. Good luck, brother.
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Woo cool stave, challenging but way cool
Del
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I had an osage stave like that a few years ago that I made a bow from. Looks kinda like Harry Potter's scar... ;)
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I had an osage stave like that a few years ago that I made a bow from. Looks kinda like Harry Potter's scar... ;)
Thats encouraging, do you have a picture you can post?
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neat i have a skinny split of osage i'm working that has a little wiggle at the handle but nothing like that!
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wow that's a cool stave. I remember the one from druid and I´m looking forward seeing this one.
Nice found! not a lot wood grows like that!
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I had an osage stave like that a few years ago that I made a bow from. Looks kinda like Harry Potter's scar... ;)
Thats encouraging, do you have a picture you can post?
I'll see what I can do Kevin.
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Progress has slowed on this one. I'm back on the road, back to living in my truck, so, i won't be knocking this one out in a day or anything. I will however spend a bit of time on it often as I can. I'm going to buy a good rasp tonight to reduce it. If things get desperate, I did pack my generator and belt sander, so I still can run that.
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wow that's a cool stave. I remember the one from druid and I´m looking forward seeing this one.
Nice found! not a lot wood grows like that!
Druid is one in my list of favorite bowyers. I sure wish he posted more.
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neat i have a skinny split of osage i'm working that has a little wiggle at the handle but nothing like that!
I've never seen one like this before either. I have had this stave for 4 years now, waiting to get up the testicular fortitude to attempt it.
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That one's a good challenge.Love to see you pull it off.
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That one's a good challenge.Love to see you pull it off.
Me too! Its got some wild sharp grain at the fades I haven't figured out how to not violate and still keep the fades from being 5 inches wide. But, if O cut through the grain too badly there, because the sharp turns, it may open right up there, darn near 90° turn in a spot.
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I love a challenge sometimes as I know you do, and that one should do it for you. ;) Cool stave.
Pappy
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I'd try my best to utilize that to make a center shot bow.. I did an osage like that and that bow drives nails... killed a 143 6/8 8 point with that bow, rivercane shaft obsidian head I knapped... gut
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A friend of mine has a walking stick a bit like that, I think he said it had a wild grape vine growing around it. Good luck with it!
Hawkdancer
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Post that one when it is finished.
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Here's a couple shots from the fade areas so yall can see whats going on there. I have an unfortunate check right there, so I plan on pushing the fade out further to take stress off that area.
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Its a deep check, and I will HAVE to elongate the hands and fade to strengthen it.
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She's nasty!
Good luck :)
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Yeah she is. I have an 8ft boa skin rawhide I'm thinking of backing this one with if I can get it shooting well enough. Its so thick its like rawhide. This bow will be wide enough to justify the usage of such a pattern, and it has plenty character.
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I got some more work done on it. I don't usually work the handle until after the bow is a shooter, but, considering how difficult this handle was to lay out around the checks, dead wood, and grain, i figured I'd do it first. I also got the limbs thinned down to the point they floor bend now. I think they are too wide, and am trying to figure out how to narrow them. One limb ks no problem to narrow down, the other is riddled with checks of unknown depth. I got to keep those checks from running out the edge. Biggest reason for narrowing it is that the rings are so small i can't see them, add that to the character on the back and i can't remove the sapwood. Thats making it challenging to keep any heartwood on the belly unless i narrow the bow.
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This darn thing has so many checks in it, ( 16, one goes from fade to nock ) I'm thinking about naming it Stimulus.
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It bit me. Got a splinter cleat to hallf way up my thumbnail
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Just a reminder to keep your edges rounded when working them, they will splinter and bite :)
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Well this bow has it all. Sapwood backed, lots of checks, propeller twist, a deflexed outer third on one limb, center shot Z handle, a ribbon like limb with lots of character, and a hole in one limb. But, here it is, at first brace. I cant go further until I make a tiller tree tomorrow.
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Pretty good sleek.I'm sure people wonder,just what exactly is that fella doing in the parking lot.You do well with minimum amount of resources.I think you can get away with reducing the handle a bit later too.
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Pretty good sleek.I'm sure people wonder,just what exactly is that fella doing in the parking lot.You do well with minimum amount of resources.I think you can get away with reducing the handle a bit later too.
I do my best to avoid high traffic areas, and working outside during daylight. I clean up my shavings outside when I'm done so there is no trace of me. I do my best to be unnoticed.
Minimum resources. I do well to make certain I only bring the bare minimum. Over packing is easy and a hassle the entire time you have all that unnecessary gear. This life style is a lesson in how little you really need to get by.
I really hope I can drop some meat off the handle, it is rather beefy. If I can't, I may use it as a canvas and do some carvings.
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Where is the arrow pass? Red or blue?
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Blue, and its a smack dead center shot there.
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Gonna get a good side profile shot to compare after I'm done tillering to check my set. I normally trace the outline on a wall or board, heck, you could lay it in the dirt, but I don't have that ability when I'm on contract. So, pics it is.
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I'm wishing I could take pics as I tiller, but I'm not equipped for that. This bow however may have gone from floor tiller to close to full draw without much tillering needed. I'm at 35#@18" gaining 5 pounds per 2 inches steady, and my tiller looks good so far. I usually get a good first brace at floor tiller, but never have I done this good, especially on such a wonky bow! Thats kind of a personal best and exciting.
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Here is the brace after some tillering. Got it down to 45@24... I'm thinking 45@26 will be good, but will take it to 27 just for added security, considering the issues this bow has had.
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Here it is at 47@ 26. I think the left ( lower ) limb is bending a bit too much in the inner fade. I need to think about that one for awhile.
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I think that with that wood going every direction the tiller around the fade area is going to be a compromise at best.
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I think I will remove material off the upper limb, to get it to come around more. That should take some stress off the left limb, and not let that fade bend so much.
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I dropped 2 pounds off the entire right limb. Its better but not quite where I want it.
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Maybe sanding it down will help bring it around a bit better.
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Here is the side by side comparison of freshly unbraced after tillering for 4 hours (? ) to the unbraced before tillering it for a set comparison.
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Studying this, I'd guess I have anywhere between 1.5 to 2 inches of set. Its mostly distributed evenly through the limbs so I know i didn't overstess it anywhere. I was hoping for half that much, but this wood was weird. I'm happy to have a bow from it honestly. Usually I'd heat treat the set out now and get some more performance, but with all the super glue inside of it, I'd best not risk it. Now, to finish sand, skinny the tips, do overlays, and shoot it.
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Any thoughts or criticism on this one? I'd say the set is from just being too narrow, the quality of wood is low and I just couldn't really bring myself to leave it wider and loose the heartwood on the belly.
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Going by the width of your truck is it 66-68" long?
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I just measured it at 68 inches.
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Would flipping the tips make up for the deflex?
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Would flipping the tips make up for the deflex?
I'm sure it would. But for now I'm letting it sit a few days to dry out. My camper roof sprung a leak last night, and it ran down the insulation onto this bow. I shrugged my shoulders, hey its osage, and built it anyways but I'm noticing the soaked limb took more set by far than the one that as dry. So, im clamping it down a few days to dry, hopefully that helps.
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I think it's a cool win/win.Nice work.Good use of wood making a pistol grip style of handle too.
Do you think the super glue is holding it together?
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I think it's a cool win/win.Nice work.Good use of wood making a pistol grip style of handle too.
Do you think the super glue is holding it together?
The checks don't go to the belly, and I was able to lay them out so they don't run off. In short, I hope not.
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Cool.I dare bet you could heat treat it then.It's gotta be dry though of course as you know.
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Superglue can't handle the heat!
Sleek that is a super cool bow. Very well done especially with your limited resources. do you live out of the truck all the time? Respect due :)
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i'd leave it be personally.
no heat, no flipping tips, you say it took some set and i can see that from your pics but i'd still be happy with that unstrung profile if it were my bow.
particularly with it being a challenging stave i would either call it done or let it sit in the corner while i think about it and work on another project while i'm thinking, but that's just how my head works ::) i'll start something hit a sticking point and set it aside for a week or five while i work it out in my head.
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I like what you did with this exceptional stave.
beautiful bow full of character
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So, I'm clamping it down a few days to dry, hopefully that helps.
Don't rush it now. You don't want to mess that up. It's going to be a beaut. :D :D :D
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Cool.I dare bet you could heat treat it then.It's gotta be dry though of course as you know.
Luckily the area I may reflex towards the tips are check free so no glue there to worry about. I don't think I will heat treat anything else though.
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Superglue can't handle the heat!
Sleek that is a super cool bow. Very well done especially with your limited resources. do you live out of the truck all the time? Respect due :)
Thanks, I'm happy with it so far, we will see how it shoots next week. I do live out of my truck quite frequently. I travel for work and just can't justify the cost of a hotel or apartment. I'm usually gone 6-8 months of the year. Been doing this since 2014.
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i'd leave it be personally.
no heat, no flipping tips, you say it took some set and i can see that from your pics but i'd still be happy with that unstrung profile if it were my bow.
particularly with it being a challenging stave i would either call it done or let it sit in the corner while i think about it and work on another project while i'm thinking, but that's just how my head works ::) i'll start something hit a sticking point and set it aside for a week or five while i work it out in my head.
Its put away for a week, and right now, I'm making another, this time one of my short recurves from a blank given to me by my friend JonW at Mojam last year. I did the hooks there, so I am able to do the rest out my truck, sure helps to keep the mind off the last project.
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I like what you did with this exceptional stave.
beautiful bow full of character
Thanks Dylan, its certainly made me scratch my head, had the stave 4 years before I finally cracked it open. If it shoots well, I have a special snake skin just waiting for it, if I can't get it shooting well, I will just toss it. Pretty or not, if it don't perform, its useless.
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So, I'm clamping it down a few days to dry, hopefully that helps.
Don't rush it now. You don't want to mess that up. It's going to be a beaut. :D :D :D
Heck NO I don't wanna mess this one up, I had to start another project to stop looking at it.
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Enjoyed following along, and I think you did a great job with a challenging stave. Can't wait to see the finished bow.
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You did good coaxing a shooter out of that stave.From the side it looks like any other bow.How's it shooting?
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Looks really good...I like it
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I saw a unique walking stick in that stave and you managed a bow from it. Excellent job Sleek.
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That came out very nice. Hope to find such a piece one day. I already like the closer to center with s shaped bows. A z handle must be fun to shot also I guess...
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Nice bow Sleek. I like it. Gotta be good therapy while your living on the road to. Well done sir
Bjrogg
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Whelp, I'm at home today, have a couple off days so, thats nice. Just launched a few moonlight arrows with my son. Better time is rarely spent. So the bow was throwing every spine and weight of arrow waaaay left. I raised the brace and now I'm as bad a shot as I always am
I even hit bullseye on accident once. This bow shoots fantastic. It got a touch of shock, but i never can iron it all out with a character bow.
The part im second most excited about ( first is i got the accuracy fixed ) is the set. I had it drying out on a form and got the set out. I traced the profile before stringing it up, and after about 30 arrows with a higher brace, its taken 1/4 inch set. Its also plenty fast enough. I'm happy. Id guess 160s. So now, its just time to doll her up. I'm looking at my entire snake skin collection right now....
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I cant bring myself to do it. The back on this bow is just too character laden, and I want to show it all off. I'm not going to skin it. I will just sand it down nice and smooth, then do a finish coat on it. I will do so.e tips of some kind, not certain if they will be overlays, or just shape the natural nocks.
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Love when I get those ones that are just to cool to put any skins on.
Don’t sand the back to much.
Bjrogg
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Well done Sleek ! Nice character bow. Arvin
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Cool bow and cool camper!
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Thanks folks. I'm gonna tweek that bottom limb just a touch, and work on the fit of the handle a bit more, then finish it up.