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Author Topic: hickory bow  (Read 3191 times)

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Offline DevilPig13

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hickory bow
« on: April 28, 2014, 03:13:06 pm »
I'm building my first bow out of a hickory stave that i got on eBay. any tips for working with hickory?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2014, 03:23:45 pm »
long, wide and temper the belly. ;)
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 06:01:14 pm by Pat B »
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Bogaman

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2014, 03:23:55 pm »
First thing I'd  do with hickory is check the moisture content. It likes to hang on to the wet stuff.
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Offline PAHunter

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2014, 03:52:22 pm »
After removing any bark you can use the first sap wood ring as your back.  Easy peasy!  2'' wide out of the fades would work nicely.  good luck!
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Offline dbb

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2014, 04:38:48 pm »
If you dont know when it was cut its a good idea to weigh it say every other day for a while.
If it loses weight just continue to weigh it until it stops...then make bow out of it ;)
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Offline DevilPig13

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2014, 05:02:38 pm »
Wide and temper? i'm brand new to building bows, sorry.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 06:02:11 pm by Pat B »
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Offline Hrothgar

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2014, 05:09:18 pm »
I think Pat meant 'wide'. Temper is to toast or heat the belly until it turns slightly brown in order to strengthen the belly in compression. Toast it slow, 20-30 minutes per limbs.
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Offline DevilPig13

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2014, 05:22:22 pm »
do you temper it after you tiller?
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Offline DarkSoul

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2014, 05:46:12 pm »
Buy or borrow the first volume of the book The Traditional Bowyer's Bible and read it entirely. Everything will be crystal clear after that. The unorganized and overwhelming nature of a discussion board like Primitive Archer is not the best place to do the very first research. It is best used for specific questions.
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Offline DevilPig13

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2014, 06:00:22 pm »
Is there anybody around Central Ky, interested in mentoring a beginning bow maker?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2014, 06:07:39 pm »
Temper it after floor tiller stage, before you get it bending too much. Its the bending stresses that can cause set.
 If you can get down to the Clarkesville Tenn. area this weekend join us at the Tenn. Classic. There will be lots of us bow builders there to help you through the process.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline horatio1226

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2014, 09:28:45 pm »
Can I temper the belly of a sinew backed hickory bow ?
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Offline mullet

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2014, 09:35:22 pm »
Quote from: DevilPig13 on April 28, 2014, 05:22:22 pm
do you temper it after you tiller?

If you've never tempered a bow before and have nobody to walk you through it I wouldn't advise doing it.  You can burnish it and get almost the same results with hickory.
Quote from: horatio1226 on April 28, 2014, 09:28:45 pm
Can I temper the belly of a sinew backed hickory bow ?

No, not after you put the sinew on.

Hickory is a moisture sponge. If you work on it outside I would bring it inside if you have AC going, put it in the attic, or inside a car or truck with the windows rolled up till you are ready to work on it some more. When you get it finished seal it real good.
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Offline horatio1226

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2014, 09:52:55 pm »
Thanks!
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: hickory bow
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2014, 12:08:56 am »
Any chance you can sneak away this weekend and drive up to Clarksville, Tennessee?  About 400+ crazed maniacs running around with sharp objects and dull minds making dangerous projectile weapons out of innocent trees.  It's called the Tennessee Classic!  Bring your tools and your wood, they'll send you home with a bow and a bad addiction!
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