Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress

[Andrea S]

So, here's a pickle. I'm going hunting with this bow on Saturday. There's a good chance it's going to rain in the afternoon, plus I'll be splashing through rivers and creeks to get to the gobblers. I want to protect it, but I don't want it to check on me because I sealed it too fast. Should I just wax it instead? This article asserts that wax is vapor permeable, so it will still be able to breathe, but splashes will bead up and can be wiped away. Thinking the same with the arrows I just made, and experimenting with ground pigments in the wax.

http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/air-drying-wood.html

If you think this is a good idea, what wax would you use? I've heard beeswax/oil combo, and Johnsons paste wax suggested before.

[Buckeye Guy]

Personaly I would not even look at it for two weeks or more after skining it  but others don't  think it needs that long to dry out, its not checking that worries me  but the amount of set that could  occur  from bending and stressing  wet wood
I forget what kind of glue you used if it was a wood glue ? Like tightbond
the rain and splashing  won't  get it nearly as wet as the glue under them skins did !
It's  your bow and you made it to hunt with so go for it and get the next one started
Post pics  of  your kill here with the bow cause  we  know your gona get him !

[bow101]

I clear coat my stuff.  I understand your use of natural products.  At any rate good luck on your hunt     I have never been there/dun that as of yet;  let us know how the hunt goes............

[bubby]

Andrea put a coat or two of spray varnish on the bow the skins should be dry, then if you want after the hunt scrape the varnish off the belly varnish scrapes off easy but personally i think it's prolly good to go i only wait a day or two before i seal mine, good luck witn them gobblers make sure you post the kill

[TimBo]

I have never skinned anything except knees, so I don't know if this is a good idea or not...but could you weigh the bow every day to see if it is losing weight, as you would to check moisture content of a stave or bow blank?  Maybe the amount of moisture from the glue would be too small to make a noticeable difference. 

[Andrea S]

Haven't sealed anything yet, but got to shoot my first rounds of arrows through it - red osier dogwood shafts I cut last week. I love, love, love this bow. And an unlucky tom or jake will find his way to my dinner table this weekend.

[wizardgoat]

nice even bend on that bow, good work. its cool to see a woman bowyer on here, keep them comin

[hedgeapple]

Andrea, while we can get emotionally attached to the bows we build, remember we built them to be tools to use for our pleasure.  You built this bow to hunt with, as it seems, for this turkey season.  Enjoy your bow and enjoy your hunt.  What's the worst that could happen--it absorbs moisture like hickory tends to do and bow take some set.  It that risk worth giving up a "hunt of lifetime"?  You've got skills.  You can build another bow.  But, you can't bring back this turkey season. 

[Badly Bent]

You could spray on about 4 or more coats of shellac and have it dry in one day, follow up with a coat of paste wax and your good to go. After the hunt take the wax off gently with acetone and follow with a little alcohol to remove the shellac, then you can put any permanent finish you prefer on it.
Good luck on your hunt, your bow looks top notch Andrea.

[paco664]

you sure killed the heck out of that turkey in the photo!

good luck on your hunt and great job on the bow..

[bubby]

Great job and it looks like the turkeys are in deep trouble, like i said earlier put some shellac on it don't give hickory a chance to absorb moisture on the hunt

[IdahoMatt]

That thing is looking sweet.  Nice job.  I agree with Wizzard.  It's super cool to see a woman bowyer on here.  Can't wait to see it dolled up

[lebhuntfish]

Andrea, while we can get emotionally attached to the bows we build, remember we built them to be tools to use for our pleasure.  You built this bow to hunt with, as it seems, for this turkey season.  Enjoy your bow and enjoy your hunt.  What's the worst that could happen--it absorbs moisture like hickory tends to do and bow take some set.  It that risk worth giving up a "hunt of lifetime"?  You've got skills.  You can build another bow.  But, you can't bring back this turkey season.

+1, enjoy your hunt!

Your arrows look like they performed well to! Patrick

[GB]

Your bow and arrows look great.  Neat to see someone who wanted to make a bow dive right in and get it done.  Good luck with the gobblers.

[Stixnstones]

Can't wait to see that bow layin on top of a thunder chicken. Great work all around.\,,/