Congratulations to Eppo Wolgen of Essex, Ontario, Canada
His Unique Hornbow Won Honors for September
Backed Bow of the Month
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Eppo has quite a story about this bow as written by his son. Read on:Here's a hornbow my Dad finished recently. He doesn't post but he "lurks" here. He's made a handful of backed boardbows, but he's always had a thing for horn and sinew bows of this design. Water Buff horn, deer sinew, ash, and hide glue. After alot of trial/error he's got one completed and took it for a stroll in the backyard. These are the pics he sent me so far. He layed down a little more sinew than he wanted, which made the poundage higher. Hence, he's not drawing fully (yet! )in this pic with thumb ring. He hasn't put it on the bow scale yet, but says it feels similar to his 60#@28" Browning Safari 'curve. The bow is going through some tweeking/adjusting as it reveals areas needing attention. That sinew stuff amazes me how it allows for changes and repairs after the bow is complete. For being on the cusp of his 70th b'day, I've gotta hand it to Dad for being able to build and haul back a bow like that. Pretty ferocious still. Thanks for the comments guys.Kviljo,the reflex continued after that last pic so that the siyahs were side by side . I t didn't need a string to hold it in place. Kept on tightening the string while the sinew was contracting.After curing used a spreader after first warming the bow , then let it sit for a few days.It was opened up far enough to put the what they call tepeliks .You tie them in the position where the hinges go that will determine the shape and that the limbs will bend mainly in these areas.They will also bend in the area just in front of the siyahs .After all that it goes on the tillering board and goes to the first pegs.A couple of days later to the next and so on.Each time it needs to be warmed up.Tillering is not the same as with a selfbow.If you were careful and made all the components equal, It should come in halfway decent .If one limb is a bit stiff then it needs some heat applied and over bent in the stiff area.Eventually it will come in.If you keep the bow in a warming box,much of the reflex will come back.More pic on the way to explain some of this stuff.The next bow will be more fully documented.Cut my teeth on this one.
He's starting another hornbow now and will document the process better from beginning to end. Not to enter and try winning the contest.
He's noticed a very positive and humble attitude amongst the PA folks. So he'd like to begin another fresh post making a new bow, simply to show how it all happens and to encourage others to try. He says it doesn't take a genius, and that anyone capable of making a wood bow can make a hornbow. He wants them to not feel intimidated by the prospect.
Check out the following comments:"All I can say is awesome, heck of a bow by a heck of a guy. Tell pops not to lurk as it is apparent he has some skills to pass on to us young uns" -DanaM
"I'm fascinated by those bows, the lines are really nice. Your Dad did a great job. - venisonburger
"now T H A T is a hornbow! very nice! it's turkish style, right?!
congrats to your dad for bow and birthday, " -medicinewheel
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