Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BigWapiti on August 03, 2008, 02:16:48 am

Title: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: BigWapiti on August 03, 2008, 02:16:48 am

Ok, first, I apologize for the retarded picture...  I can't find our digital since last fishing trip... shhh, I haven't told my wife yet.   So here's what I have - A vine maple stave - 68" long and I plan to make a D bow at 60#.  Not really important at this point, I don't think, but there ya go anyway.   I love the gnarly look of this stave and so have been putting it up on the tillering tree just to stare at it and contemplating over it for about a year now.  I'm just not sure what to do - usually these VM staves look like a U up on the tree.  I want to make a bow out of it badly.

So, here's my goob hand drawing since I can't take a picture.... but picture it sitting up on a tillering tree.  This is kind of its profile.  What should I do with this?  The left limb is the one I am concerned over - not knowing what might be best.

Ask any questions - and if that camera shows up I'll take a better pic.

Thanks, -Mike



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Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: BigWapiti on August 03, 2008, 02:18:22 am

I guess I might add - my concern is the amount of deflex in the limb pushing out toward the end.

Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: Gordon on August 03, 2008, 03:03:22 am

I would steam bend the deflex out of the left limb to make it more or less match the right limb.

Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: D. Tiller on August 03, 2008, 04:06:03 am

Got a heat gun? If so get it to the floor tillering stage then use the heat gun technique to bend the wood to the shape you want it.

Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: The Burnt Hill Archer on August 03, 2008, 09:10:18 am

ive never worked with vine maple, but Gordon is the VM master, so i second his opinion, you deffinately need to get the tips to match.

Phil

Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: BigWapiti on August 03, 2008, 12:59:57 pm

Quote from: Gordon on August 03, 2008, 03:03:22 am

I would steam bend the deflex out of the left limb to make it more or less match the right limb.

That I'll do then - thanks Gordon.   I thought I had recalled you saying that VM didn't take to a bend very well, that it always seemed to revert back on you after time.  Maybe that was jiust left and right bends?

Title: Re: Ideas for me to get a start on this stave (VM) ??
Post by: BigWapiti on August 03, 2008, 01:24:43 pm

I just measured and the left limb needs to be reflexed about 4.5" to match the other - that is 1.5" to level, then another 3" to match the right limbs existing reflex.