Author Topic: My first finished bow!  (Read 4035 times)

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Offline Allyn T

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My first finished bow!
« on: March 03, 2021, 04:06:55 pm »
Hello all, I'm thrilled to announce I have my first finished bow(second attempted). I thoroughly enjoyed making this bow and can't wait to start on the next one. I know it isn't perfect and I'm looking to improve so criticisms are welcome, but so are compliments ; ) I don't have a full draw yet but I'll add that whenever I can get my wife to take a pic. Ok specs

Hickory self bow 72" ttt, 71" ntn
1 3/4" wide at the fades, parallel limb for 3/4 length tapering to 1/4" tips.
Handle is 1 1/4 deep and 7/8 wide where the fades start.
Resting it has 1 7/8" string follow on the lower limb and 1 1/2" on the upper.
Stain is homemade iron acetate (vinegar and steel wool)
Sealed with spray on helmsman spar varnish
String is 12 strand B55
Pulls 44@29.25"
Thanks for looking











« Last Edit: March 06, 2021, 08:52:25 am by Allyn T »
In the woods I find my peace

Online WhistlingBadger

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2021, 05:09:39 pm »
Yep, it still looks cool!  That's a devil of a kink in the right limb!  Looking forward to seeing the full draw.
Thomas
Lander, Wyoming
"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.
Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for."
~Louis L'Amour

Offline Hamish

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2021, 05:56:26 pm »
Significantly better than my first bow. A fine effort, you can sit back and bask in that feeling of success and achievement.

The only thing I would suggest for the next bow, is to shape the handle and fades a bit more for a less blocky look and feel.

Offline Digital Caveman

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2021, 07:01:59 pm »
Nice, is this the one you built for the beginner challenge?  Handle and fades are probably the elements most open to personalization, so don't worry. :)
God Bless America

Offline Allyn T

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2021, 09:02:56 pm »
Thank you guys : ) and yes tradecraft this is the newbie challenge bow. I got full draws but my wife didn't want to quit laying on the couch so the angle isn't great lol




In the woods I find my peace

Offline Kidder

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2021, 09:43:42 pm »
Fantastic! Very nice work! To jump right in with a wavy stave like that and make it bend is impressive to say the least!

Offline scp

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2021, 10:51:08 pm »
Well done. Appears to be quite over-built. What is the mass weight?

Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2021, 02:14:35 am »
Nice!  Hope it shoots as good as it looks!  I agree with Hamish on the handle critique.  A leather wrap would dress it up nicely!  Maybe a bit of stain to darken the back, if you are going to hunt with it.  Good job, that will be hard to beat!
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline Allyn T

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2021, 05:22:38 am »
Thanks kidder, I feel like the wavy isn't the hard part, learning the basics is what kills me like tillering without over stressing the wood. Scp it finished at 26 oz I wanted it overbuilt to reduce set but it took a bunch anyway I'm assuming a lot of factors contributed to that. Thanks hawk it is def a transition shooting a traditional bow vs a compound, my fingers are sore : )
In the woods I find my peace

Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2021, 07:45:45 am »
Good job and congratulations. I like how your stain took to it. Especially the cambium camo on the back. Well done.
Straight wood may make a better bow, but crooked wood makes a better bowyer

Offline Will B

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2021, 07:54:21 am »
Congrats on your first successful bow!  You did a great job on it. Hickory makes a great selfbow. Hope it gives you many years of enjoyment.

Offline Pappy

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2021, 08:11:46 am »
Nice job on your first,tiller looks good. I am sure you will have many more, love the finish, You might want to round off the edges of the handle a bit, looks kind of square, it will hold up just fine but I found it to be a little hard on the hand when shooting a lot.  :)
 Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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Offline bjrogg

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2021, 08:20:01 am »
Congrats sir. That should make you proud and happy.
Bjrogg
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Offline HH~

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2021, 08:50:45 am »
That'll work. Looks pretty nice I like it. Nice job.

Shawn~
MAFA: Makin America Free Again

Long is the road, Hard is the way.

Mother Gue never raised such a foolish child. . . .

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight onto the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor. RLTW

Offline Allyn T

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Re: My first finished bow!
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2021, 10:32:52 am »
Thank you much guys it was such a fun experience, I'm glad I can share it with you because no one else in real life understands anything I tell them about bows lol.
Pappy I will def try that next time, I was afraid to take too much off
In the woods I find my peace