Boiling the hickory recurve

[Academonicon]

Really excited to say, I've finally gotten around to doing a boiled recurve!  I'm still a little nervous about the width of the hickory board I'm working with (1.5"), but I'm looking forward to continuing through this project.  I've never used hickory, I've never made a bow of these dimensions before, I've never done a boiled recurve (or any kind of recurve successfully, though I did fail at dry heat a couple times), and I've never done a working handle before,* so this is a very experimental project, and I'm already having a bunch of fun with it!




If all goes well, this is going to be the first half of a matched Christmas gift set for my sister and her ladyfriend - an absurdly great couple who will be yet more badass if they can go shooting together.

*I've got a cool idea for the working handle that I'm pretty excited about, but I'll post about that again when I get there.

[JW_Halverson]

Did you marinade before boiling?  Or did you season the stock instead?  Did it become tender?  I bet it's even better as left-overs...the best soups always are.   

That is a seriously professional looking bending caul, looks also like you used a metal backing strip for the bend.  You've done this before, c'mon, 'fess up!  The recipients are blessed to have you as a brother.  Good on you!  Post pics as you go and make sure to show them with their bows...double full draw pic would be perfect!

[Pat B]

Boiling or steaming is always best for  hickory. Looks like you've got a handle on the process now.
 Speaking of handles  ...with a working handle bow I like to save the handle area for last. Get the rest of the limbs bending well then bring the bend back into the handle. I like to feel the handle give a little when I hit full draw or the last inch or so.
 Are building two bows, one for your sister and one for her lady friend?  Good for you!!! 

[Buckeye Guy]

This is going yo be fun !

[Academonicon]

Thanks, folks!  And this is really my first recurve, I swear!  I've just done an embarrassing amount of research beforehand.  Already looking forward to the next steps.  I'll keep posting as I go along.

[JW_Halverson]

There is the one percent that learns from what they are told, the two percent that learn from what they read....and the 97% that just gotta pee on the electric fence for themselves.

You are a 2 percenter!

[PEARL DRUMS]

If you cut yourself a wedge you can put it between the form and the tip of the bow. That way your tip will wrap all the way around. Basically its a spacer to fill in the depth of the tip.

[Academonicon]

Thanks for the tip, Pearl Drums!  I was thinking about doing something like that next time.

[PEARL DRUMS]

You'll be surprised how much hook you gain. That last inch of limb gains you 10-15 degrees in bend, at least. That's the point where the string ties it all together. Not saying your current bend isn't fine. Just letting you know how to sharpen it up if you want to.

[Academonicon]

I appreciate it!