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Author Topic: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle  (Read 4731 times)

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Offline lenador

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My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« on: October 29, 2014, 01:07:08 am »
So I'm calling it done! Words can't describe how great it feels every time I release the arrow and it whizzes and cracks the target.  I really need to work on my accuracy but I'm able to hit a 24"x24" target from 30 yards consistently.
 Anyways..here she is. 62" NtN 43 lbs @27"










Finish was done with a light wipe down with hickory coal followed by darker smudges from the coal and opposite light sanding. Then tung oil over the whole thing.
 As far as the design as a whole I had d bow in mind when I started and then was inspired by the Cherokee style bows and in the end I ended up with this haha. Its flat on the back and on the belly. The handle is just over 1.25" and the tips are around a .5". The belly ring is a consistent half inch and the width is tapered out on the back.
 Not bad considering it was a piece of lumber that I chased a ring on. Its not perfect but its only my first.
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Offline arachnid

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2014, 01:17:26 am »
Very nice tiller man! I wish my first bow looked that good. Keep it up and congrats!
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Offline wizardgoat

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2014, 03:08:13 am »
nice work on your first! that tiller looks good man
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Offline Dalton63841

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2014, 04:06:26 am »
That is a BEAUTIFULLY made bow! I'm digging the simplicity of it. I literally just created a thread asking about the potential of building a bow 0.5" thick all the way. Well, mine was more of this but with a "proper" handle glued onto the 0.5" thick board. Still, this makes me feel pretty hopeful.

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Offline Scottski

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2014, 04:43:20 am »
Nice first bow. My first one went boom!
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Did the Native Americans think about all this that much or just do it?

Offline Pappy

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2014, 05:23:11 am »
Congrats ,nothing like your first. Nice job. :)
  Pappy
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2014, 09:43:24 am »
Enjoy and get started on another!
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Offline Parnell

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2014, 09:46:33 am »
A really fine job on a first bow!  Congratulations to you.
That bow looks healthy...great job on tillering, very impressive.
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Offline scp

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2014, 09:58:03 am »
Incredible first bow and impressive tillering. I also find it cheaper and easier to turn a stave I cut into a board than to try to find a decent board. In my case, I was usually forced to do it because of bug damage on staves. I'm not sure why most people are against flattening staves when it is highly recommended in TBB. For red oak, I would make the bow a little wider up to 1&3/4 inch and make the bendy hand a little narrower but thicker. Wonderful job!
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Offline Drewster

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2014, 10:21:59 am »
Impressive first bow indeed.  Look forward to seeing the next one.  Be careful with this bow building.....it can be highly addictive   ;)
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Drew - Boone, NC

Offline Comancheria

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2014, 12:47:20 pm »
Comgratulations, Lenador!  I am considering a board bow for my first, given that I probably will not cut any serious staves of my own until Summer.  Yesterday, by coincidence, I was looking at some red oak boards at Home Despot--nominally 1x4x 6 feet. 

A couple of questions:

1.  Are you saying that the WIDTH of the bow was 1.25" at the handle, tapering to 1/2" at the tips?

2.  If so, what would you say is the average THICKNESS to get the poundage?

3.  What did you use for a string?

Since I would prefer not to chase a string, I am considering overbuilding to closer to six feet and sinew backing the bow.  Seeing a first effort like this certainly gives me a good feeling!

Russ
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Offline lenador

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2014, 02:36:29 pm »
Thanks a lot everyone! I've shot.it about 100 times so far.

Yes the back is about 1/2" at the tips and 1-1/4" at the handle. The belly is basically 1/2" all the way through and the tips are a rectangular profile and the handle is trapezoidal if that makes sense.

I didnt pay much attention to the thickness. I chased my rings until I could start feeling like it needed to be tillered and went from there.

String is sisal and polyester string double counter twisted.
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Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2014, 02:52:27 pm »
Will done bud! I wish I would have tried something a little more on the simple side like yours. I'm now starting my first bendy and find myself over analyzing it. Good job and can't wait to see more from you! Patrick
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Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline mhof86

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2014, 03:05:13 pm »
Very nice lenador I followed along on your build and it came out great.
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Offline bushboy

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Re: My first finished bow. Red oak bendy handle
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2014, 06:30:08 pm »
Looks good len! It's a great feeling to sling an arrow with a self-made weapon!
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