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Author Topic: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles  (Read 6993 times)

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Offline TheDeltaFactor

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Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« on: March 19, 2016, 10:06:47 pm »
This is my 3rd bow, the first in several years. Nothing fancy, but I wanted to post it since I got great help from browsing the forum, and directly from you all here http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,56292.0.html

Here it is http://imgur.com/a/dpfsn

68" ntn, 45-50# at 28"
Hickory sledge hammer handles spliced together. Rawhide backed. I'm sure it didn't need it, but I had some rawhide and wanted to try applying it with homemade hide glue. Fiebings black then dark brown dye applied in alternating coats until it looked nice. The mottled look on the rawhide was a surprise, but I like it.

The tiller in the picture looks off to me, and now I'm second guessing myself  :)

I steamed in about 3" of reflex early on, put it away for a couple days, came back and it had straightened out completely  :o  It's been very humid here lately, I wonder if that affected it. It's taken about 1-1.5" of set which I gather isn't bad. I doubt it's very fast but it's fun to shoot. Thanks again for the help. 
« Last Edit: March 19, 2016, 10:14:48 pm by TheDeltaFactor »
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Offline ajooter

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2016, 10:10:17 pm »
That bow looks great man.  I've noticed those axe handles a time or two.   There are some nice bows in them.  I think you did a fine job.
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Offline TheDeltaFactor

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2016, 10:31:23 pm »
Quote from: ajooter on March 19, 2016, 10:10:17 pm
That bow looks great man.  I've noticed those axe handles a time or two.   There are some nice bows in them.  I think you did a fine job.
Thank you. I found much more suitable wood in the sledges and pickaxes than I ever did in the lumber. 1 bow out of a dozen or two handles, compared to hundreds of boards. The design choices would be limited I guess, but at least you can make a bow out of them.
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Offline arachnid

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2016, 01:01:28 am »
Very nice bowman. I really like the rounded back look. Congratulations
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Offline GB

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2016, 02:32:12 am »
Turned out really nice... Congrats!  I'm certainly no expert, but the tiller looks good to me.  Good looking bow!
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Offline phyankord

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2016, 02:58:10 am »
im honestly shocked you managed to do that with handles  xD awesome!
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Offline sieddy

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2016, 03:32:37 am »
Really good job man it looks to be a great bow! Kudos to Sleek tor recommending Axe handles!  :)
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Offline joachimM

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2016, 04:10:37 am »
Good job on those handles!
Hickory likes to be toasted so you'd probably be able to get rid of some of that set
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Offline make-n-break

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2016, 07:00:06 am »
Don't second guess the tiller. Looks great. The rawhide looks cool too. Nice work.
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Offline Mac43560

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2016, 07:41:33 am »
I am inspired to try that now.   Those handles are $10 bucks a piece at the hardware store.   I'd pay that in just shipping on most billets.  More importantly,  that's a good looking bow!  Congrats.
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Offline TheDeltaFactor

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2016, 12:45:13 pm »
Quote from: joachimM on March 20, 2016, 04:10:37 am
Good job on those handles!
Hickory likes to be toasted so you'd probably be able to get rid of some of that set
I think I'm going to try that on my next one. Can't on this one because of the hide glue, but the set isn't too bad so far. Here's hoping it stays that way.
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Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2016, 01:35:26 pm »
nice job,, congrats
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Offline TimothyR

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2016, 02:07:13 pm »
Very nice. A bow from hickory handles is on my bucket list. Not to mention I can't buy hickory boards where you live. But I can buy hickory axe handles!m congrats man
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2016, 02:45:37 pm »
Awesome! Very impressive. Jawge
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Offline Stixnstones

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Re: Just finished bow from sledge hammer handles
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2016, 07:52:59 pm »
Nice work, have always wanted to try that.
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