I've had a string of bad luck with a few bows I've started, and really have only made two or three in the last year. So a while back I bought a few boards and figured I'd do a board bow or two to get myself back into it. Board bows are simple, (comparably) easy, but can still turn out nice.
First one I decided to do was a 1.5" hickory board, and I'm pretty happy with how it came out. First time doing a board bow on the form I've been using for heat treating/reflexing, and it's nice to see how clean of a curve it can take coming off the form. I'm happy with the unbraced, braced, and full draw shapes.
The bow is 68", 35#@28". Full width (1.5") to about a third of the way down the limbs, then a (more or less) even taper to the tips. Fully rested the bow retains some reflex, about 1.5" in front of the handle -- but freshly unbraced the tips rest about even with the handle, or a bit behind. Glued on handle gave me a bit of trouble, as they often do, but it's staying put for now and doesn't seem to be bending.
On a handful of bows now I've used this, uh, "staining" method, and I actually really like it. I take some charcoal from a fire pit, mash it up, mix it with rubbing alcohol, and smear it all over the bow. Dulls the brightness of white woods, can act as a low-key "camo," and gives the wood a weathered, aged look. I like it. Next time I do it I might do a post about it. It's easy and the result is pretty nice.
A simple handle wrap with some black leather. Not a full shelf, but a little bump (two pieces of leather glued to the bow) to indicate arrow and hand placement. String is 12 strands of Dynaflight 97.
Just now started making proper two-loop, two-color Flemish twist strings. Four years into bow making.... Some little yarn puff balls that I just put on last night, so they aren't fully fluffed out yet. But they silenced the very mild twang it had before.
Living in northern Michigan with humid summers I know hickory is not the best wood for this area, but I think it did OK. Pretty much as expected for the width and length. From my limited experience with hickory and from what I know/have read, it seems that the bit-of-string-follow after unstringing, then returning to reflex after resting is normal for the wood. I won't be surprised if it stiffens up and gains several pounds over the winter when it's really dry.
This will probably be my main shooter for a little while, until I can come up with something better. I like 40-45# for target shooting, so I would like something a little heavier -- but this is what I expected for this particular bow. The arrows I have set up are flying nicely, and it has acceptable speed for shooting heavy arrows (around 15gpp...). With some nice, light arrows (<400gr) I think it'd shoot awesome. Compares favorably with the other bow I've been shooting in the same weight range (which I never posted -- maybe I will).
And now, of course, pics!
Top limb could maybe work a touch more in the inner limb, but I think that's nit-picking.
A quick video shooting it.
Fully rested unbraced profile, holding a touch more reflex.
One more full draw photo.
Freshly unbraced. As you can see, not holding all of the reflex after unstringing, but not with a ton of string follow either. The limb tips have done a nice job of holding onto reflex.
Now I have to figure out what the next project is going to be! On the list are: (1) a long-term target bow, 40-45#; (2) finally turn one of the osage staves I've bought/traded for/been gifted into a bow instead of continually messing with new white woods and boards, of all things; (3) a 50-55# deer hunting bow to use this fall. Beyond that they're all just fun and will be good for giving away (this one might end up being gifted eventually), trading pieces, maybe even sell one here or there.
