Mountain Maple Bow

[Zion]

So i finally got a chance to take pics of this one. For only drying for a week i'm really surprised how well this one shoots! It seems like this kind of maple takes a really short time to dry, tho in the future i'll let em dry out longer. This bow was mostly an experiment.

Unfortunately by body's all beat up from wrestling (dont worry, nothings broken lol) so it's been hard to draw most of my bows. I didn't get the last bit of draw out of this in the pics, i usually draw it like another inch or so!! Maybe this means i need to make a lighter bow to shoot in these kinds of situations 

i think its 58" ntn (i could be wrong)
80# @ 25" (im drawing it less than 25 in the pics, sorry, if i can i'll post a better FD pic)
2.5" set (for this short of a drying time with the weight it has i think that's really good)
I'm surprised that it's getting like 12" of penetration on my frozen bales, sure is hard to pull the arrows out lol! Overall i'm really impressed with Mountain Maple. Definitely a great bow wood.

[bow101]

Nice character bow. Generally how high are you going to get your Mountain Maple.?
"only drying for a week" did you have it in a warm room or something.?

[Zion]

Thanks bow101!

As far as elevation goes you don't have to go very high to find this stuff, i found this stuff only a couple thousand feet up by a creek.

For the drying, i debarked and roughed the blank out, then let it dry for a day, then started floor tillering, then let it dry for another day, then went into tillering. By the time i was done tillering i heat treated it lightly, shot it some, then heat treated it again. I stored it in a semi-heated room during the making. It took longer for the darn stain to dry than it took to make the bow.

Compared to woods like OS or serviceberry it dries really quick and doesn't take much set. In the future, tho, i would let it dry for about a month.

[bow101]

Thanks for the heads up..

[Newindian]

how much set did it take?

[Del the cat]

Hamdsome bow
Del

[Trapper Rob]

Nice bow like the character.

[Zion]

Thanks guys!
took 2.5" set.

[randman]

Looks real nice Zion. I like all your bows. You got some tillering skills dude. You always seem to get perfect tiller.
You guys definitely got the winter thing goin on over there. Glad I'm on this side of the mountains.

[Badly Bent]

I like everything about that bow except the 80# draw weight, how am I gonna pull that back when you send it to me son?
Seriously though thats one cool bow and the tiller looks spot on to me, love it!
Greg

[Zion]

lol randy thanks, i try to get the limbs as even as i can. Funny cuz right after i took the pics the sun came out and started melting the snow 

Thanks alot Greg! i'm keeping this one tho, sorry 

[steve b.]

Great as usual, Zion.  I always know its going to be different, but good, when I see a new thread of yours!

[Jodocus]

nice one again, good looking finish 

[chamookman]

Another great looking bow Young Man - keep it up ! Bob

[Zion]

THanks Steve, Jodocus and chamookman. I really appreciate it!

Lol Jodocus when it comes to putting a finish on i have the worst patience, so with this one your lucky i didn't put any close ups. I had a few run-offs and stuff from not taking the time to apply the stain right but i just said screw it and started shooting it.