Winter project - Yew Recurve bow

[soy]

Great build along .....sometimes its ok to be in the middle and watch the carnage unfold best of luck to both of you

[snag]

How about a clout or wand?

[Keenan]

Maybe we could have a good old fashion dual at sunrise!     Rubber blunts, take twenty paces turn and fire    I get to be on the east side because I'm on the east team     No we can't do it at sunset.

[Carson (CMB)]

There is a reason it is always high noon!    Typical eastsiders. 

[Gordon]

Before applying the snake skins I dye the back using Medium Brown leather dye. I do this because it will help bring out the pattern on the skins. Some folks prefer that the skins have a more subdued look and that’s okay, but I like the pattern to pop out.



I’m going to wrap the tips with sinew, so before the skins go on I apply the length-wise strands of sinew.  I work the sinew down to fine strands, size the tips with warm hide glue and then apply the sinew to the tips on strand at a time. I make sure that I lay down several strands in the string groves to provide reinforcement.

[Gordon]

I let the sinew cure for a couple for a couple of days and then use a knife blade to even the surface out a bit.



Now I prepare the snake skins by soaking them in warm (not hot) water for about 15 minutes. After they are hydrated I lay them on a clean towel to blot any excess moisture.





In the meantime I apply a thin coat of liquid hide glue to the back. A lot of folks don’t think much of liquid hide glue, but in my opinion it is one of the best adhesives for applying snake skin and rawhide. It sticks to snake skin and rawhide like crazy and when it is dry you can fix air pockets using a pin and a warm iron – try doing that with white glue. 

[Gordon]

Before the glue has set I apply the skin to the limb and work out air pockets with a wooden dowel. It is very important to get out the air pockets because air pockets will result in unsightly cracks in the finish. Then I trim the skin using a razor blade. It is not necessary to wrap the limbs with an ace bandage because the hide glue firmly holds the skin to the back. I then repeat the process with the other limb.





After letting the glue cure for 24 hours, I remove the scales by gently running course steel wool over the surface in the direction of the scales. I’ve also used tape to remove the scales, but I think steel wool works much better.  After I’ve removed as many of the scales as I can with the steel wool, I use my finger nail to remove any lingering scale fragments.





After removing the scales, I trim the edges of the skin with 150 grit sandpaper and a block. To ensure you get a nice clean edge always sand toward the belly and in the direction of the scales.

[Gordon]

Now I finish wrapping the tips with sinew and let the wraps overlap the skins by a bit.





I set the bow aside in a warm room for a week to let any residual moisture from the skinning escape from the bow. I then sand the entire bow to remove any dried glue, remaining tool marks and scratches. I then “fix” the skins by applying two coats of super-glue. After than I apply a coat of shellac to the back, tips and belly as a primer. I use shellac as a primer because shellac is one of those wondrous materials that just about everything will stick to.

[Gordon]

I finish the tips by painting them with a black acrylic paint. The bow is now ready for the final finish to be applied.





Next up, building out the handle and applying a finish to the bow.

[Bryce]

Wonderful!

[Blacktail]

that is going to be a sweet shooter.i have one question...when you come to the gathering can i shoot it..john

[Gordon]

John, of course you can shoot it. I'm looking forward to seeing your family and you again.

[danny f]

that is one awesome looking bow. well done and also a fantastic build along.

[lesken2011]

I saw a movie, the other night. One of the characters in the movie was a distinguished gentlemen whose hobby was painting tiny statues under a microscope. He had the patience of Job. I couldn't help but think of Gordon and his slow, meticulous, deliberate, technique at putting together these pieces of art. Thanks, Gordon for the education I get from these build-alongs.

[Prarie Bowyer]

Oh man! 

I may have missed it but what is the length of this bow?