Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Allyn T on March 03, 2021, 04:06:55 pm

Title: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 03, 2021, 04:06:55 pm

Hello all, I'm thrilled to announce I have my first finished bow(second attempted). I thoroughly enjoyed making this bow and can't wait to start on the next one. I know it isn't perfect and I'm looking to improve so criticisms are welcome, but so are compliments ; ) I don't have a full draw yet but I'll add that whenever I can get my wife to take a pic. Ok specs

Hickory self bow 72" ttt, 71" ntn
1 3/4" wide at the fades, parallel limb for 3/4 length tapering to 1/4" tips.
Handle is 1 1/4 deep and 7/8 wide where the fades start.
Resting it has 1 7/8" string follow on the lower limb and 1 1/2" on the upper.
Stain is homemade iron acetate (vinegar and steel wool)
Sealed with spray on helmsman spar varnish
String is 12 strand B55
Pulls 44@29.25"
Thanks for looking


(https://i.imgur.com/1Iii6Nw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JwzlLO1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JG6JETD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f9aVBqM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6Jw2RUv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pv3grOb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Lo2pV0l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0DsGUYz.jpg)

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: WhistlingBadger on March 03, 2021, 05:09:39 pm

Yep, it still looks cool!  That's a devil of a kink in the right limb!  Looking forward to seeing the full draw.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Hamish on March 03, 2021, 05:56:26 pm

Significantly better than my first bow. A fine effort, you can sit back and bask in that feeling of success and achievement.

The only thing I would suggest for the next bow, is to shape the handle and fades a bit more for a less blocky look and feel.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Digital Caveman on March 03, 2021, 07:01:59 pm

Nice, is this the one you built for the beginner challenge?  Handle and fades are probably the elements most open to personalization, so don't worry. :)

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 03, 2021, 09:02:56 pm

Thank you guys : ) and yes tradecraft this is the newbie challenge bow. I got full draws but my wife didn't want to quit laying on the couch so the angle isn't great lol



(https://i.imgur.com/smnSz6q.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zMI0ZlI.jpg)

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Kidder on March 03, 2021, 09:43:42 pm

Fantastic! Very nice work! To jump right in with a wavy stave like that and make it bend is impressive to say the least!

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: scp on March 03, 2021, 10:51:08 pm

Well done. Appears to be quite over-built. What is the mass weight?

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Hawkdancer on March 04, 2021, 02:14:35 am

Nice!  Hope it shoots as good as it looks!  I agree with Hamish on the handle critique.  A leather wrap would dress it up nicely!  Maybe a bit of stain to darken the back, if you are going to hunt with it.  Good job, that will be hard to beat!
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 04, 2021, 05:22:38 am

Thanks kidder, I feel like the wavy isn't the hard part, learning the basics is what kills me like tillering without over stressing the wood. Scp it finished at 26 oz I wanted it overbuilt to reduce set but it took a bunch anyway I'm assuming a lot of factors contributed to that. Thanks hawk it is def a transition shooting a traditional bow vs a compound, my fingers are sore : )

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Dances with squirrels on March 04, 2021, 07:45:45 am

Good job and congratulations. I like how your stain took to it. Especially the cambium camo on the back. Well done.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Will B on March 04, 2021, 07:54:21 am

Congrats on your first successful bow!  You did a great job on it. Hickory makes a great selfbow. Hope it gives you many years of enjoyment.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Pappy on March 04, 2021, 08:11:46 am

Nice job on your first,tiller looks good. I am sure you will have many more, love the finish, You might want to round off the edges of the handle a bit, looks kind of square, it will hold up just fine but I found it to be a little hard on the hand when shooting a lot.  :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: bjrogg on March 04, 2021, 08:20:01 am

Congrats sir. That should make you proud and happy.
Bjrogg

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: HH~ on March 04, 2021, 08:50:45 am

That'll work. Looks pretty nice I like it. Nice job.

Shawn~

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 04, 2021, 10:32:52 am

Thank you much guys it was such a fun experience, I'm glad I can share it with you because no one else in real life understands anything I tell them about bows lol.
Pappy I will def try that next time, I was afraid to take too much off

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: bradsmith2010 on March 04, 2021, 12:51:14 pm

congrats on your bow,,  :)

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 04, 2021, 01:15:03 pm

Thank you Brad : ) and thank you for all your advice and encouragement

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Fox on March 04, 2021, 01:36:06 pm

Well done allyn.... my first bow exploded... and my second.... and my third,..but not the forth !

I love the stain, really looks nice, especially with the cambium  :OK

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: bownarra on March 04, 2021, 02:27:49 pm

Well done :) The first one is always special :)
Instead of rounding the handle you can glue on some leather and shape that to blend into what is already there. Then do a handle over the top. A simple wrap with hemp twine or similar, laid down over some watered down pva glue works well and is easy enough.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Selfbowman on March 04, 2021, 04:54:27 pm

Looking good !

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 04, 2021, 05:08:18 pm

Thank you bownarra and Arvin : ) Fox I'm glad your 4th stayed together for you and your still at it, I'm sure once I step away from hickory I'll have a blow up lol

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Zugul on March 04, 2021, 07:27:26 pm

Well well... You did it! And it's a lot better then my first bow! LOL. Well done mate ;)

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: organic_archer on March 04, 2021, 08:22:30 pm

Uh oh.... the first finished bow... you’re hooked now  ;D

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 04, 2021, 08:49:53 pm

Thank you zugul I'm ready to see yours all finished and polished up. Yes Correy it's gonna be a long dark rabbit hole I'm falling into : )

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: M2A on March 05, 2021, 11:28:06 pm

Congrats! Stain looks great! Wish my 1st bow looked that good.
Mike

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 06, 2021, 10:06:54 am

Wow! Congratulations on  a very fine bow. That's wonderful.

For the next one, my eyes were immediately drawn to the sharp edges on the limb.
It is a good idea to round that area off with sandpaper.

Jawge

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 06, 2021, 11:34:51 am

Thank you m2a
George I did round them with sandpaper do you think I didn't do it enough?

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 06, 2021, 01:19:37 pm

Yes, I do, Allyn. But tough to tell from the photos. Let's put it this way I round mine more than what I saw in your picture. Jawge

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 06, 2021, 01:58:07 pm

Rounding the corners is to prevent splinters from lifting on the edges correct? So how round do you make them I was just winging it

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: gifford on March 06, 2021, 02:30:18 pm

Nice looking bow, good ol' hickory flat bow. You did a good job.

Your build takes me back 25 years or so. That design and wood was what I chose for my second bow, which I still have and shoot occasionally.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 06, 2021, 03:28:34 pm

Thanks gifford I basically just tried to make a paul comstock bow

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 06, 2021, 03:35:50 pm

Yes, Allyn, you are correct. Jawge

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Woody roberts on March 06, 2021, 06:15:21 pm

Well done. Even though some of my first 4 bows held up for a few hundred shots it was my 5th that actually held together. Even it took a lot of set. I still break one once in a while but it’s getting rarer. As soon as I finish one I’m thinking about my next one. Still looking for what suits me best.

You know the old sayings.
It’s a slippery slope
Heading down a rabbit hole
The camels nose is in the tent, etc

The main thing is to enjoy the trip!

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Digital Caveman on March 06, 2021, 07:50:55 pm

Quote

As soon as I finish one I’m thinking about my next one. Still looking for what suits me best.

As soon as I start one I'm thinking about my next  (lol)
I have no less than three in the works now, not counting the one getting finishing touches tomorrow.

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Black Moshannon on March 06, 2021, 08:24:24 pm

Looks really good Allyn congrats hope it keeps shooting arrows for years to come

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 06, 2021, 10:17:39 pm

Thank you woody and kenneth. Tradecraft Im always thinking about the next one as well

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Bryce on March 06, 2021, 10:21:38 pm

for a first bow i would call that a success :D

  Bryce

Title: Re: My first finished bow!
Post by: Allyn T on March 06, 2021, 10:29:57 pm

Thank you bryce I had fun bringing it to life