Author Topic: Sister Staves (Read 5121 times)

tom sawyer · « **on:** July 26, 2012, 11:41:04 pm »

I cut this wood myself about four years ago, got a real nice stave and bandsawed it in half to get two bows. Turned them into nearly identical blanks at last year's MOJAM, 64" t/t and 1.5" wide to midlimb with bulbous handle. Then let them sit in the basement for a year, looked at them almost daily but never got the urge. Tillered both to 60@28 at this year's MOJAM. Now I'm trying to finish them up to give to two friends before hunting season. One guy hates snakes so I backed his with rawhide I got from Pine Hollow. Great stuff, thinned and almost clear. The other guy got prairie rattlers, also from Pine Hollow. Both backings were applied with watered down Titebond III. I haven't finished the bows yet, I'm going to use Formby's tung oil finish. Gotta get them good and dry first. I'll post the finished version when they're done but I wanted to show them off bad. Haven't been bowyering much and I think I got the bug back.

tom sawyer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:43:03 pm »

They couldn't be any more similar even after tillering. They both shoot nicely with no hand shock.

gstoneberg · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:43:19 pm »

They look more like twins than just sisters. I like them.

George

danlaw · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2012, 11:57:23 pm »

Tell me about the Titebond III. Does it dry yellow when watered down? It's a great glue, but I have been shying away from it due to the color. I'd love to see a close up shot of the backing. It's too wet where I live to hunt with hide glue backing so I've been looking around for something else. Nice bows btw!

tom sawyer · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2012, 12:02:56 am »

I'm gluing these backings onto osage so I can't say how yellow it dries. Its thinned a fair amount (something like 1:1) and I think it dries fairly clear. I used this because I had it on hand, and its a little more waterproof than hide glue. I cut the backing strips to near dimension, applied glue to both surfaces and then wrapped them with Ace bandages. Did the snakes last night, the rawhide this morning.

Pappy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2012, 06:56:34 am »

Very nice, sweet set. I have wondered where you have been,it has been a while,great to see you back posting,missed ya.

Still talk about you at the Classic with the little girls in the Barbi tent.

Pappy

tom sawyer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2012, 09:20:14 am »

Unfortunately those girls have outgrown the Barbie tent. They'll still occasionally pick up a bow though. We still talk about our adventure to the Classic too, will be returning one of these times.

While I haven't been bowyering so much, I haven't stopped collecting supplies and the workshop is well stocked.

TRACY · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2012, 09:27:45 am »

Been a long while man! I agree with George, identical twins. Those are beautiful and I'm sure well crafted. Good to see your work again, always enjoyed it.

Tracy

lesken2011 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2012, 10:45:04 am »

Nice!!

coaster500 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2012, 10:52:53 am »

Well done!!

You're going to have some happy hunters

tom sawyer · « **Reply #10 on:** July 27, 2012, 11:55:09 am »

I think they'll like the bows. Both guys are serious hunters so I am hopeful that they'll get a deer with them this fall.

Of course I told them I was making these bows a year ago so they've been waiting a LONG time. I'm giving these away but they have strict orders to tell everyone they paid big money for them.

I just ordered a couple more rawhide backings from Mike Yancey, and some timber rattler skins. My next project is going to be a similar style bow for the Ducks Unlimited auction next Feb.