ERC Long Bow

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Well, last week there was some talk about ERC.  It inspired me to do my first build along.  So I will be posting pictures that I took over the last week while making this bow.  I will be posting it to the Build along section.  I do have to say that I rushed this a little, cause I wanted to get it posted during while the debate.  It ended up 6 lbs under weight. The twist also threw me off and sanding will also take off a lot. 
The lessons I learned with this wood is back it and then treat it like a typical white wood.  Don't have the preconceived idea that it is going to go BOOM.  If you have that idea in your head you will probably end up under weight.   I wrote this brutal honest truth cause I want us all to learn from each other.   I am not posting this bow to show someone up.  I did it for those out there who have an ERC stave and are scared to even try. 

It is  66" NTN. 
39@27" 
linen fabric back
poly coat
purple heart overlays


I skipped a couple steps, because I already had this blank floor tillered.   We will pick it up from from there.     

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 In these pics I'm just showing some specs.  1.5 in wide at fades and .5 at the tips.  Typical pyramid design. 

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In these pics I am getting it more floor tillered, and I show some of the tip overlays.

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In this series I show how I cut and sand the overlays,  i probably shouldent have burned them like that, its just that i have been making knives for Christmas and i need to replace the paper.

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Notice the gap in the first pic, that cant happen.  You need to make both surfaces completely flat before gluing. 

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I used superglue in the glue up.  I have had great results with it and it only took 15 min to do the tip overlays.  Ive used epoxy before but it takes to long.

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In the process of letting the glue dry, I sanded the back to get it ready for a backing.

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In this next series I show my process for shaping the overlays.

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Finally the backing   In all the debate about ERC, there seems to be some who think is sucks all together, some who think that you need a backing(me included), and some that think it does'nt need a backing.   What ever you feel ERC is proven to be "Good Bow Wood", at least to many people it is.  The only way you will ever know is if you build one. 

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In the last series of pics i used linen fabric, and braced the bow in reflex for glue up. I also wet the fabric before gluing.  Its not as sticky that way.  I didnt wrap it with anything cause the blue is seaping out of threads. I would have just glued the wrapping to the bow.  In the mean time I cleaned up the shop a little.

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in the next pictures I start by taking the fabric down to dimensions, using a file.  then i begin the long string tillering process.  I found the scraper to be a great tool to use.   I will skip some of the many pictures that i took during tillering.  the process is the same as always.  Take wood off where it need to come off.

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in this series i show some pics of the trouble i was having with the tiller.  I was getting tripped out by the limb twist.  I should have slowed down and taken my time.  Its just that i was all amped up about my first build along.   I finished the tiller now its time for finish work.

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Typical sanding job followed by some steel wool.  I also used a metal file to take the fabric fibers down a little more.

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I stained the bow, painted the bow(acrylic), then I put a couple coats of poly.

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Finally a little leather, stitching ( i did it twice because i messed up on first one), and some turkey feathers and done.