Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on November 24, 2008, 10:50:09 pm
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Here are some pictures of a semi-bendy handle flatbow that I fashioned out of a hawthorne sapling. The bow is 60” ntn and pulls 60# @ 27”. It has a Strunk style handle wrap with no arrow rest. The limbs were stained with leather dye and then finished with Tru-Oil. The limbs are about 1 3/8” near the handle tapering to ½” at the tips. I encountered some difficulties tillering this bow as the crown was very high and the high point tended to wander from one side of the limb to the other. I learned the hard way that you must compensate when the crown is off center by removing more belly wood on the side of the limb where the crown is highest. If you do not, the opposite edge will be overstressed and may develop frets. That’s what happened to me and I had to cover the unsightly frets with wrapping after I had corrected the problem with proper tillering. If you look at the top limb carefully you will notice that it appears to be bending a bit much mid-limb. It’s actually bending correctly because the mid-limb is naturally deflexed and the handle area and tips are reflexed somewhat – but it does look a little funky.
Overall I’m happy with the bow because it launches an arrow very quietly and with authority. I think I could easily bring down an elk with this bow if I hunted with it. I hope you enjoy the pictures. The quiver/bow case in the first picture is made by my friend Ron York.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Hawthorne/hawthorne_101.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Hawthorne/Hawthorne_102.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Hawthorne/Hawthorne_103.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Hawthorne/Hawthorne_104.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/Hawthorne/Hawthorne_105.jpg)
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Wow Gordon have you ever made a bad bow? This is a masterpeice as always. Joel
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Outstanding work!! Tiller looks great to me - the stain and paint work very nice - a work of art
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Nice one Gordon, those bows are more difficult than they look. Steve
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So what do you think of hawthorne as a bow wood ? Looks pretty similar to some of the vine maple bows you've posted in the past.
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Joel, I have - I just don't post pictures of them ;D
Thank you Matt, I know it looks like paint, but those are actually thread wraps.
They are indeed more difficult than they look Steve. Thank you.
Ryan, hawthorne seems similar in density to vine maple. Hawthorne doesn't have as many grain swirls as VM which makes working it with a scrapper somewhat easier, but it has a lot more pin knots. Performance wise, they seem to be very similar.
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Wow Gordon that turned out really nice. I like the charactor bumps and the color scheme is awesome. Even in your problem solving you tied in the thread wraps to look very nice. Those little sapling bows can be challenging but sometimes well worth it. Another master piece. Congratulations. Keenan
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Another beauty Gordon. I like the character in that piece of wood. Is it necessary to remove a little more wood where the thread wraps are? Or do they have no effect on the final tiller of bow?
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Nice one Gordon as always your artistic abilities and eye for detail are superb.
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Absolutely fantastic!
Tracy
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Another beautiful bow Gordon! You are an artist. Great job. :)
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Beautiful bow Gordon. So even after the wood frets, you think it will hold up fine, otherwise you wouldn't have finisher her out. Interesting. The wood is black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) I assume? Any trouble drying it?
Dave
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Another nice bow, Gordon. I tried a sapling bow from ash once... a total disaster.
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Gordon, that's fantastic work. Jawge
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The string wraps are a nice touch - what material do you use for the wrap??
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Gordon you have done it again with another beautiful bow and one to be proud of. The colour and the wraps really set it off.
Robb
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holy crap gordon..that is a master peice...that is great work...i really think you should give up the day job and make bows. ;D...so,what is hawthorne...i will have to look that one up...thanks for sharing. john
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Beautiful bow. The dye job really sets it off.
John
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Gorgeous! Glad to see hawthorn being used. I'm working on one right now and am impressed with this piece of hawthorn.
Great candidate for BOM.
Pay attention, everybody, to how Gordon takes great pictures. Closeup, good light, and no messy workshops and laundry in the background.
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Now that is a pretty bow. I have never seen hawthorne used before, but than again I am pretty new at this game.
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Keenan, I firmly believe that the fixing of problems is a important as the building. I’ve examined a few bows that John Strunk has “reconditioned” and you cannot even tell that they have been repaired – that’s what we should strive for IMO.
Thank you Rick. It is not necessary to remove wood under the wraps. The wraps have no effect at all on the tiller.
Thank you Dana. I’m not sure I have much in the way of artisitc ability, but I do pay attention to the details. I got a little of that from my father who was a master woodworker.
Thank you Tracy and BH for the compliments.
David, the frets are localized on the edges and do not extend across the limbs so I think I’m okay after I fixed the tiller. But to be safe I reinforced the areas where the frets occurred with rawhide. I don’t know what species of hawthorne it is, but it grows in abundance along rural roads in Oregon’s Willamete Valley. I did not have any trouble drying it at all – I just split the wood and removed the bark immediately after harvest. No problem with checking.
Thank adb, these sapling bows can be harder than they look to bring to tiller. Don’t give up.
Thank you George, that’s a fine compliment coming from someone as knowledgeable as you.
Mattco, I used bowstring serving as the wrapping material.
Thank you Robb for the nice compliment.
Thank you John. There is hawthorne all over the place near where you live. You will find it growing along almost any rural road. You can distinguish hawthorne by all the sharp spines on the branches – be careful when you cut it!
Thank you John, hawthorne does take a dye nicely.
Thank you Don. I am a little particular about how I photograph my bows. I believe that after pouring your heart and soul into a piece of work you owe it to yourself and the community to present it in the best possible light you can. And with modern cameras and software it’s not really that hard to take a decent picture.
Thank you JBL. Hawthorne is not as commonly used as some of the other white woods – but I’ve seen a few others make very nice bows from it.
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Another incredible bow Gordon. I like everything about it. 8) Pat
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Wow, Great bow Gordon. It looks like a shooter. If you still have that bow when I get down there I would like to shoot it and any others you have laying around. Greg
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Beautiful bow Gordon! You definitely have the touch of an artist in you! ;)
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That's a beauty! All around nice job!
Jason
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That bow is beautiful, in a rugged, primitive way. Outstanding job, Gordon with a challenging piece of wood.
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Outstanding!! Pictures are excellent. Thanks for posting your bows, can't get enough of them.
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Thank you Pat, I appreciate the compliment.
Greg, you’re always welcome to shoot any bow in my collection. I’m looking forward to having you down here again. Let’s see if we can find some time to make some shavings soon.
Thank you GregB and Jason.
Thank you Eddie, these sapling bows can really grow on you.
Thank you Justin. It’s good to see you posting again.
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I gotta say, that is one nice lookin bow. I never built a saplin bow before, but that sure makes me want ta try, fer sure. The tiller looks good to me. I must admit I was suprised at the poundage that saplin gave ya.
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Oly smoke Gordon thats spectacular I'm Impressed.Great photos Also.Phillip :)
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Man that's a beauty! Love it.
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Gordon, I can come down after the new year. I still have that elk back strap and I have added some deer back strap. I got a nice big spike last week. Greg
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Dang Greg, you killed a deer also. I need to hang out with you more!
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Gordon sure would like a DVD on your technique.
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now i remember what i missed about not coming on for a while These bows are insaaaane.
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Gordon-
That bow really turned out great.
I'm really glad that a poor day chasing turkeys turned in to a great day to collect bow wood.
Now you just have to kill a turkey in that valley to complete the circle. Too bad you have to watch that silly football game on Saturday. I'll be chasing turkeys just down the road from where that bow was born.
Bryan
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Gordon,
What type of paint did you use? You said you used leather dye but I assume you died the bow then painted over it?
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Ranger, I didn't paint the bow but wrapped the limb areas with small diameter string serving and applyed 6 coats of tru-oil to the wrappings.
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Great bow with a challenging piece of wood.I like it. God Bless
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Gordon.. between you and Ryan...bom is gonna be really tuff for me to decide :D....Brian
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There are several great bows this month. Ryan's and Keenan's bows are two that really stand out for me.
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I was shooting the bow this evening and after I unstrung it I noticed a splinter beginning to lift on the back. Oh well, sometimes it's just not meant to be. :(
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Great looking bow thanks for sharing.Ron
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I was shooting the bow this evening and after I unstrung it I noticed a splinter beginning to lift on the back. Oh well, sometimes it's just not meant to be. :(
Gordon thats terrible news :( we all know how much effort you put into your work
but I guess it happens to everyone from time to time, one of the things I like best about
building bows is that you never know what to expect.
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Thanks Dana. I'm pretty sure I know what happened. The bow failed in slightly relfexed area that was adjacent to an area of deflex. I left too much wood on the deflex area and overstrained the adjacent areas. It wasn't much and I thought I could get away with it. Lesson learned.
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Sorry about this, Gordon. Do you think you can make a successful repair? Pat
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Holy smoke Gordon that is a stunning bow. I am going to have to buy a computer with more memory to store all of your bow pictures. ::)
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Pat it could be repaired. Some of the wrappings would need to be removed, the bow retillered, and a sinew patch applied over the splinter. That will have to be a job for later.
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Man I really hate to hear that Gordon. >:( Been there done that! Hope it will repair ok.
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real nice bow gordon,as usual just love it, real sorry to hear about the splinter :'(
i guess it goes to show even those with lots of talent for bowmaking,also make bad ones time to time.
it sure makes those of us that arent at your level feel a little better knowing that this is normal ;)
peace,
tim
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Sorry to hear that Gordon, Maybe a winter restoration project? If anyone can save it I would place my bet on you Gordon. Sure a nice looking bow and at the very least would be a great display bow ;)