My intervention is over - first bow in a while

[H Rhodes]

Some of y'all may remember that I made myself take a six month break from bow building.  I got caught up on some things around the farm and I finally got back in the shop last week.  Doggone it was great to be back.  Since I hadn't tillered anything in a while, I went with a pretty conservative design.  I also wanted a lighter weight, accurate shooter to take to the Classic with me in a few weeks.  This bow is pecan.  71 inches nock to nock.  I left the limbs just under two inches wide for about two/thirds of their length.  Cut a rest in it and the handle is wrapped with leather lace from the craft isle at Wallyworld.  45# @ 28".  Still holds about a half inch of reflex after a couple hundred shots.  No heat treating.  Self nocks.  Just a sweet shooting long bow.  Full draw will have to come later. Great to be back at it - I will never really be cured.  Once an addict, always an addict.

[burchett.donald]

  Howard,
               Good to see ya back at it again...Thought I might see White Oak but the Pecan is nice...Brace looks balanced and so does your pattern... Nice one
                                                                                                                                        Don

[H Rhodes]

Thanks Don.  I know there has been a world of discussion over it, but to me, a six foot bow is forgiving.  This bow shoots right where you look, it's quiet, and is really giving me exactly what I was trying to accomplish.  It is just a little too long for me to want to hunt with it, but for plastic critters, it will be just the ticket.

[JW_Halverson]

Welcome back "Dusty" Rhodes!  Looks like you didn't lose too many skills.

[H Rhodes]

Thanks JW!  I have proven to myself that I have some measure of self-control, but I won't take that much time away again.  I have really missed it.  My wife asked me if I realized that I was grinning the whole time I was scraping on this bow.

[Buckeye Guy]

Good to have you back
Glad you got caught up
I love me a long Hickory stick!
Good job!

[osage outlaw]

Glad you are back on the wagon Howard.  That Pecan bow looks great. 

[bradsmith2010]

looks like a smooth shooter,, 

[Badger]

  Looks great Howard, those 71" are smooth shooters. Great bow for a 3 D shoot.

[Badly Bent]

Well I for one cannot believe you stayed away from the shop for that long, thats some willpower brother.
Really looking forward to flinging some arrows with you and your new creation in a few short weeks Howard. That bow looks like a good one so you should have no problem making me look bad on the range.

[H Rhodes]

Thanks guys. 

  Clint, I can't wait to see what you come up with on the pecan stave I traded to you.

  Thank you Steve.  I gravitate toward hunting bows so much, I almost forgot how sweet a longer bow is to shoot.  By the way, I am about to cut some staves before long and I am on the lookout for some decent elm for you.

 I really had to will myself not to go in there!  I did get a lot done in the last few months.  I have been casting an eye toward getting back to it the whole time.  I installed more electrical outlets and mounted a big vice on sturdy post at the barn.  Lisa looked at me with that dubious expression and asked me "what is that for?"  I tried to tell her some bull s.... about sharpening bush hog blades or something.  She wasn't buying it.    Looking forward to seeing y'all at the Classic.  Greg, you have seen me shoot enough to realize that I need all the help I can get!   

[George Tsoukalas]

Mighty fine! Nice bow. Jawge

[H Rhodes]

Thank you Jawge!  It is some better than that first pecan bow that you talked me through years ago.

[Danzn Bar]

Super sweet looking bow ...................
DBar

[GB]

Good looking bow!