Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: radius on May 12, 2008, 03:51:42 am
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Been at work last couple days on a pyramid osage/hickory bow, which began with about 2" reflex. It started off with limbs about 5/8 thick, which are now about 5/16 for most of the length, only 3/8 or 7/16 at the fades. The handle is formed of layered pieces of cherry and walnut. I'm finding that the grain run out makes for trouble in tillering: hinges and dips which are a pain in the ass to deal with. I sharpened and rolled my scraper today, and it is awesome for wood removal, but creates a dip at every place the grain runs out, and i have to go over it again with the orbital sander to flatten it out...this ruins the beautiful finish that the scraper leaves...ah well, can't win 'em all.
First are a couple pictures of the stave in reflex, untouched. This is actually a sister stave, an almost exact copy...because i forgot to take pictures of this one before i started work on it.
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture025.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture027.jpg)
An example of the grain runout i have to deal with. I tried to capture the dips, but i don't think they came out well in the picture.
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture002.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture005.jpg)
The nocks and tip overlays
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture006.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture007.jpg)
I ended up adjusting these after these pics were taken, filing the grooves into more of a 45...
First brace...yikes!!!
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture008.jpg)
Chasing down the tiller...
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture011.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture012.jpg)
Always increasing the brace height when i can, improving the tiller as much as i am able...
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture019.jpg)
This picture is for my buddy El Destructo...
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture023.jpg)
A few shots of the handle's progress...
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture010.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture013.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture014.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture016.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture017.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Reflexed%20Pyramid/Picture018.jpg)
Going to put in some more time on it tomorrow; should be able to get it into final shape and sand it down before the day is through...
I also have 2 setback/recurve bows which are fully tillered and require only accentuations and final treatment...get those up by the end of the week, i guess.
Thanks
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(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Picture035-4.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Picture032-3.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm102/radius-01/Picture030-4.jpg)
Few more shots...i'll get a full draw up here some day soon...
This bow pulls around 45# at 28"...and yet its limbs are only about 1/4 inch thick along their length...maybe 5/16...it's light as a feather...
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very nice i will be aiming for something like that
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How do you cut out and radius the arrow shelf?
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Gordon, I just sketch it in with a pencil, and then hit it with a fine-toothed pullcut saw. Takes 10 seconds for the initial cut. Then i make a series of cut about 1/8 " apart, stopping them just short of my sketch line. break those out with a chisel, clean it up with a chisel. I use a cabinetmaker's rasp (with a safe edge) for the radius, and when i have the shape i want, i smooth it all out with a combination file (1/2 round).
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Is your initial cut parallel to the riser or perpendicular like the rest of the cuts?
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Gordon, none of the cuts are parallel to the riser...they are all "parallel" to the arrow...that is, perpendicular to the riser lams. The first cut is the deepest cut. I work my way up the line, cutting roughly every 1/4" or so...random...then the last bit i leave alone and hit with the rasp, file, chisel, sander, sandpaper...