Red oak board bow (my first hunting weight bow)

[Aaron1726]

Newbie bowyer here, this is my 4th wood bow.  First one has too much set to be useful, Second and third were lightweights.  Wanted one I could take deer hunting and so started on this one.  I was cruising the local HW store one day and decided to dig through the pile of red oak 1x2s they had.  I found gold...  nice straight grain with almost no runout, and what did was at a very shallow angle.  Plus it was already cut to 6ft long, so it was meant to be.

I followed TBB vol 2 example for a board bow layout (pyramid).  All the shaping was hand tools, small plane, sureform, and sanding block.  I added a single layer of brown packing paper to the back with TB3 just for added insurance.
 Tip overlays are buffalo from a dog chew. 

I had the bow almost finished and remembered I had saved a black snake skin from one the neighbor ran over with his tractor this summer (cause I HAD to save a skin).  Layed the skin over the bow and it was just enough to cover most of the limbs.  Never tried putting a skin on, but I think it turned out well, just used TB3 like with the paper.

60in OAL
59in ntn
1.5 in wide at fades
0.5in wide at the tips
Pulls 54lbs at 24in (yep, I'm a short guy)

Anyway, here's the bow.  Just also want to thank everyone on here, what a vast knowledge base, I would never have attempted something like this until I started reading this forum, so thanks.

[Aaron1726]

Few more pics

Never noticed the pattern on the snake till it dried, but I love how it looks.

Last one is right after being unstrung, has about 1.5in of set

[paulsemp]

Congratulations! Don't worry about the set, in my eyes that's great for a short piece of red oak. Very few people understand the thrill of shooting an arrow from a bow you made out of a single piece of wood. Be careful it'll suck you in!

[bjrogg]

I agree with Paul. Nice bow. The set looks very even to so I would say the wood is telling you that you got everything you could from it.

Good luck with the hunting. Nothing like the thrill of taking a deer with a bow you made.


Bjrogg

[bradsmith2010]

congrats,, it will kill a deer,,

[willie]

nice job, and kudos on the arrows for primitive

[Aaron1726]

Thanks yall.  It's been a learning curve to finally make one I can take in the woods, but fun and worth it.  It's a blast to shoot, got all year to practice up for next deer season, so I'll let yall know how that turns out.

Paul, I think I'm already sucked in!

Willie, thanks about the arrows.  I find making those just as fun as making the rest of it.  Here's a shot with the bamboo quiver I made too.  Bit crude, but it's a fun setup.

[George Tsoukalas]

Congratulations on your first hunter. What a great feeling!

The set is likely because of the tiller style. In other words, pyramid bows need to do more of the bending near the handle area where there is more wood. The tiller should appear more circular.

Your tiller is elliptical. Excellent for a bow with parallel limbs close to the nocks.

Jawge

[Pappy]

Congrats, nothing like shooting your own bow.
 Pappy

[M2A]

Nice! Congrats. Nothing like putting all the skills together to be able to make your own set up. Fine looking tiller and nice use of those skins, they look good.
Mike   

[bentstick54]

Congratulations on a fine looking bow. Love the looks of the snake skin also.

[superdav95]

Plus one for what jawge said.  Little more bend near the fades.    Either way congrats on a hunting weight bow.  That’s quite an achievement really when you consider it’s your fourth bow!   Each one will get better and better.  Great looking bow and great attention to detail too.  Good attitude and you’ll learn quickly and start curing down your own trees in search for staves.  Cheers.

[Pat B]

Nice red oak hunting bow. You did a very good job with it and the rest of the kit.   
 The only thing I would change is to round over the edges. Especially with a board bow but with stave bows sharp edges can lift splinters along the edges.

[Aaron1726]

Thanks again yall.  Jawge, Pat, thanks for the insight and feedback, looks like I'm gonna have to build another one

[bjrogg]

Thanks again yall.  Jawge, Pat, thanks for the insight and feedback, looks like I'm gonna have to build another one

That’s the way to do it. Like Dave said. Pretty soon you will be looking at bows growing in trees everywhere. Get some staves put up. Maybe even make some cauls for bend recurves and straightening limbs.

There’s a lot of things you can do while you wait for staves to dry now that really help out later.

Look forward to seeing what comes next

Bjrogg