Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 03:03:55 am

Title: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 03:03:55 am

 Broke my first ever,made it myself selfbow a couple of days ago.Red oak board lots of grain runoff.shot it some,bought some linen to back it with but did'nt put it on yet,was bracing it the other day without the stringer(Treating it like a laminated bow) SNAP ! ......D#$@"""*&%+  Anywho...chopped out a stave today with my gerber hatchet from a piece of black locust I cut down years ago in Washington state.(The year 1999)  See what you guys think.

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 03:55:42 am

The stave

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Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 03:58:16 am

 End grain

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Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 04:00:54 am

Down the length of the stave

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Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Joe M on May 03, 2008, 04:22:39 am

Lines look good.  Did you take a moisture content reading?

The very first bow I ever made I broke.  It was redoak backed with ash...  I learned from it however and made 6 or 7 bows after that that didn't brake (made them out of maple and birch), then thought I'd try ash, one worked one didn't...  Went back to the birch and maple and been living the dream ever since.  Oh an occassional hickory backed with maple I've made also.

Thing is, we learn from each bow we make! :)

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: El Destructo on May 03, 2008, 06:29:24 am

               You get Her down to one of them Big Rings.....and you  are going to have yourself a Nice Shooter there!!!

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: tom sawyer on May 03, 2008, 10:38:38 am

That is one fine black locust stave you have there.  One of the best I've seen in fact, and better than the few I've harvested.  Ought to make an excellent bow.

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Eric Garza on May 03, 2008, 11:34:52 am

Actually that's the crappiest locust stave I've seen.  You probably shouldn't waste your time on it.  You can send it to me and I'll waste my time on it  >:D

But seriously, yeah it'll make a nice bow.  What style are you thinking about?

-Eric

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: Sparrow on May 03, 2008, 02:15:22 pm

 I'm not sure what style yet,I am going to check the threads and see what I come up with.I would like it to be 66 to 68 inches and around 60lbs. @ 28"
Any suggestions ?   Frank

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second
Post by: El Destructo on May 03, 2008, 02:24:41 pm

                                                                Wampanoag

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second (Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 04, 2008, 06:10:47 pm

 Hey Destructo   I am not familiar with that style. Do there be a picture of one of them somewhere ?

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second (Pictures !)
Post by: El Destructo on May 04, 2008, 07:25:26 pm

Quote from: Fishoonah on May 04, 2008, 06:10:47 pm

Hey Destructo   I am not familiar with that style. Do there be a picture of one of them somewhere ?

                                      Page 34 of The Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows & Quivers

                                        also look at my Post on my Rawhide and Snake Backed Sycamore Bow

                                          http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5135.0.html

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 05, 2008, 03:33:46 am

 Hey that is a good looking design/Bow,how was that as a shooter ? I'm tossing around a couple of Ideas and now I am adding that to the stew. Thanks !  Frank

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: El Destructo on May 05, 2008, 09:16:44 am

I have always been partial to these and Paddle Bows....so my opinion would be Biased!!! I like them ....for a Hunting Bow ...to me it's the way to go.....they don't mind being Strung for 12 hours a Day.....and they shoot very consistent....nuff said....just build one and you will find out!! :o

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 05, 2008, 04:29:05 pm

 Copy That ! Frank

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: kayakfisher on May 05, 2008, 06:54:22 pm

good lookin piece of wood take it down to one growth ring and it will be ready to go
                                                                                                Dennis

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 06, 2008, 03:49:49 am

 Went through the first ring,then the spring summer wood,looking at the second ring,think I'll go down one more.Its good and thick and has a bunch of skinny ones under it.This is a bunch of fun.  Frank

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: Sparrow on May 09, 2008, 01:40:33 am

 I am down to one nice ring on the back of my stave.I am favoring destructo's suggestion of a modified Wampanoag type bow.Any other suggestions before I commence,anything that really shines for Black Locust ?   Frank

Title: Re: Broke first bow,working on second(Pictures !)
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 09, 2008, 02:22:11 am

If I am going to back a bow I do it after long string tillering before i string it with the short string. Nice BL stave. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/archer.html