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Author Topic: First hickory stave build! Went "BOOM" lots of pics.  (Read 10075 times)

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Offline lebhuntfish

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First hickory stave build! Went "BOOM" lots of pics.
« on: January 13, 2015, 09:23:54 am »
As the title says, this is my first shot at a hickory build. I got a good bit accomplished this weekend. I got it from a very ruffed out stave to a stave that looks like a bow with a fair start on floor tiller. I done a little straightening and bent the tips back a bit. Also straightened out a bit of deflex in one limb. While doing that I added a bit of reflex to the whole thing.

What do you all think so far? By the way I used a heat gun to do all the Bending. No cracks and it held the bend, all but about 1/2 on the  tip.

« Last Edit: January 14, 2015, 10:30:03 pm by lebhuntfish »
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Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2015, 09:24:37 am »
Sorry for the double photos. Patrick
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Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Pat B

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2015, 09:34:49 am »
Patrick, it looks good so far. How much reflex is in it? Hickory handles minor adjustments with dry heat but generally steam gives you better results. Once you get down the tiller road a bit you might consider tempering the belly. Hickory does react well to tempering.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2015, 10:56:12 am »
Pat, if I turn it over on the tips and measure from the back to the table it's 5 " of reflex. Some of that is natural. I do plan on heat tempering it once I get the tiller lined out a bit.

I thought about the steam but I've had bad results Bending other wood with it. Thanks Pat for the info, I have another stave and may try stream when I get to that one. Patrick
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Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2015, 10:59:53 am »
Another question Pat. It's never been clear to me, but do you use oil or not when heat treating? I think not because your trying to slowly toast the belly. Patrick
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Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Pat B

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2015, 11:10:52 am »
Patrick, no oil for tempering. You want to toast the wood to a nice chocolate brown. I use oil for making adjustments but no oil for tempering.
 With that much reflex you generally have a tendency to overstrain the bow just getting to brace. This can cause more set. I like to put in about 3" to 4"  and end up with a flat profile or a slight bit of reflex when all is said and done, except for the reflexed tips.
 I have had problems with reflexed tips pulling out when using just dry heat to bend them.  If you leave the tips thick then narrow the width after first brace I think you'll have a better chance of the reflexed tips holding better.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2015, 11:18:43 am »
Keep an eye on your fade length Patrick, getting a little steep bud. Pat has you steered straight.
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Offline DavidV

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2015, 12:12:09 pm »
Good luck Pat, I'll be watching this one.
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Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2015, 01:29:36 pm »
Thanks guy's it's still fairly heavy. I think the actual reflex minus the bend I done for the static tips is probably like 2.5 inches or so.
Pat the tips are still a little wide as well as thick. I'll remember what you said about thinning them after brace.
Thanks Pearl, I was a little unsure about that myself. The handle is still really thick so I'll have some room to work them out.
Thanks David, I appreciate it bud.
I hope to get some work done on this one this week. I'm kinda excited about this one it's a new adventure to me. Thanks for all the replies and advice. Patrick
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Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Pat B

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2015, 02:14:33 pm »
Don't thin the tips(thickness) but narrow them(width) after you see how the string tracks.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2015, 02:19:27 pm »
Ok Pat, thanks will do! Patrick
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Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Pat B

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2015, 02:22:34 pm »
Wood is 8 times stronger in thickness than in width. Think of a 2x4. O it's side it will bend easily. On edge it won't. You can reduce lots of physical weight without loosing strength by making your tips thick but narrow.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Aaron H

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2015, 03:32:09 pm »
Do you have a front profile picture?
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Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2015, 05:27:43 pm »
Your absolutely right Pat!
I think so Falcon but it's before I cleaned it all up. In the pic the tips are only tapered about 6" I since have changed that to a 10" taper. The handle is also not as bulbous now. Patrick

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Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Danzn Bar

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Re: First hickory stave build!
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2015, 07:01:16 pm »
Lookin good Patrick!
Listen to that old bearded guy, his knows what he's talking about.  :)
DBar
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