Author Topic: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress  (Read 32321 times)

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Offline Andrea S

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #75 on: April 05, 2015, 01:50:25 am »
Got a little crazy with trout skins today!  Funny story, I had enough in the freezer to get er almost done, but I was just shy on the section near the handle. My guy comes home from rifle shooting and says, "Let's go have a beer at the brewery!" I'm all in, of course, but with one caveat - "You have to let me throw ten drifts at my spot on the East Gallatin." I have to limit my number of casts because I have a real problem with last cast syndrome; I'll keep fishing until it's so dark I can't see, if you let me.

Well, drift number five or six, and it's fish on! Nice gorgeous hen rainbow, plenty big enough to get the wide spot at the fades. Now, I've had a lot of people make negative comments about using trout skin (it loses all its color, blah blah) but not much else to back it up. From what I can see, rainbow trout works awesome. The plan is to do a red/gray silk thread wrap at each overlap to reinforce and dress them up a bit. Handle will be gray leather.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abe Lincoln

Offline simson

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #76 on: April 05, 2015, 02:26:20 am »
Just came over your thread here, Andrea.
That's great to have not only old bearded guys here, Hahaha. Not much girls here ...

But all my respect you done a great job on this bow. Can't wait to see it done completely dressed up.
Good luck!
Simon
Bavaria, Germany

Offline bubby

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #77 on: April 05, 2015, 12:38:23 pm »
looks great and the silk thread is a great choice, i'm interested to see how the trout holds up
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #78 on: April 05, 2015, 06:58:51 pm »
Sweet !
Good on ya for getting the story to go with it too
No end to what you can do with that kind of go to it attitude
Guy Dasher
The Marshall Primitive Archery Rendezvous
Primitive Archery Society
Having  fun
To God be the glory !

Offline Peacebow_Coos

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #79 on: April 05, 2015, 10:00:51 pm »
Looks great I hope that color does stay the skins are awesome.

Offline GlisGlis

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #80 on: April 06, 2015, 01:22:20 pm »
Are those fresh skins? not dried? not salted? not tanned?

Offline Andrea S

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #81 on: April 06, 2015, 01:42:16 pm »
Those skins were fresh.  All of them had been frozen, with the exception of the one nearest to the handle that I caught about two hours before I glued it on. Sneaky trick from my taxidermist fiance, if you catch and eat fish and save the skins up until you need them, take the skin and flesh it and fill a plastic baggie with water and drop them in and freeze them that way - then they can't get freezer-burnt.

I stained the wood with steel wool and vinegar mix yesterday, so tonight she should be ready to seal. I want to get some shooting in before Saturday (I have a bunch of arrows to tune and finish) so I need a sealant that will work over fish skins, and dry fast. I'm seriously considering the armor all/tru oil combo, but other suggestions would be appreciated.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abe Lincoln

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #82 on: April 06, 2015, 01:58:46 pm »
Andrea,
Be sure they are dry before sealing. Don't rush it.

The moisture has to go somewhere. Probably out the belly making it check.

Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline Parnell

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #83 on: April 06, 2015, 04:04:48 pm »
Very cool - you sound like a lot of fun, your guy is lucky to have you.  Look forward to seeing it all done.
1’—>1’

Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #84 on: April 06, 2015, 04:18:45 pm »
Andrea,
Be sure they are dry before sealing. Don't rush it.

The moisture has to go somewhere. Probably out the belly making it check.

Jawge

Yes please wait till you have your arrows are done and a few other chores before you seal that moister in and , well just not good , been there done that!
Guy Dasher
The Marshall Primitive Archery Rendezvous
Primitive Archery Society
Having  fun
To God be the glory !

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #85 on: April 06, 2015, 09:01:05 pm »
Do not....repeat...DO NOT use silk to blend in the skin butt joints. 

That is, unless it is fly tying silk!   >:D
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Andrea S

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #86 on: April 06, 2015, 09:06:31 pm »
One step ahead of you!   ;)
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -Abe Lincoln

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #87 on: April 06, 2015, 09:37:03 pm »
Oh pish posh, stop the modesty.  You are a woman, you are miles ahead of me!
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #88 on: April 07, 2015, 11:50:37 am »
Those skins look great! I hope for your sake they don't loose their color when they dry out.  It will take a good week to dry after your glue up. Maybe even more than that. Like said before, don't rush it after the glue up. Good luck and keep posting pics, this has been a fun thread so far. Patrick
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

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 Jodocus

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Re: Hickory Board Bow - first solo bow building attempt, work in progress
« Reply #89 on: April 07, 2015, 03:09:15 pm »
You're doing great on that project. You seem really inspired by it. Nothing better than that.
Don't shoot!