well, this was originally meant to be my trade bow.
but once that crack developed, finally decided against this stave and started from scratch on the trade bow.
so this one got set aside, but not forgotten.
last week, finally put the first 100 or so arrows thru it.
yup, i think it's a bow.
it aint pretty, but shoots well and hits hard
there's likely a dozen things i did wrong or some of you guys woulda done different, but here it is nonetheless.
still some finish work to be done.
ok first off the stave a pal gave me had been sealed with paint from end to end front and back.
for about 4 yrs.
got all the paint off so we could see what was up with grain etc
it was a huge stave and at first i figured we could get at least two bows outta it, maybe three.
but, man, that thing had a twist
ended up splitting just this one right outta the middle, sorta...
if you can picture this piece of wood down the center but diagonal in the stave. thats how the grain ran, so be it.
only cupla small knots. this one is three or four itty bitty pin knots together
got down to a ring, drew out the bow, and started getting the basic shape down.
got it roughly shaped out, went home for the nite.
when i returned the next morning this had developed
continued to work and shape for another few days before finally deciding that,
even tho i may be able to pull it off, didnt want a bow with a crack to be the one i sent for the bow trade.
before giving up at that point, i had filled with super glue and clamped.
the glue ran all the way thru and dripped on the floor.
the next day the crack was twice as long....well crap
off to the corner it went.
(this crack developed before applying heat to get that twist out-had no clue what would happen straightening this thing out-the end with the crack had lots of twist)
(to be continued)
