Short bow build

[Aaron1726]

Tiller looks great. Good save.
Handles add ons pop because handles are bending.
Jawge

Thanks.  Yeah I'm going to keep that in mind if I ever try another glue on handle .

[George Tsoukalas]

Put the add-on at the start and let extend into the fades a  bit.
I have to admit I have not done many of those. I do like handles that bend a little in a board bow particularly.

 Jawge

[Aaron1726]

Got to work on this one a little bit today.  I got it to a little over 22in and it's pulling just shy of 31 lbs.  Thanks for the encouragement guys!  I'll shoot it a bit and then try to get it finished up. 

[bjrogg]

Turned out nice Aaron. I like the tiller. Nice even bend.

Bjrogg

[bentstick54]

Very nice bow. Good save.

[Aaron1726]

Thanks yall, hopefully this incarnation will fare better than the original.

[Pat B]

Nice bend.   

[Aaron1726]

Nice bend.   

Thanks Pat

[Ken]

Very interesting bow I'm very interested in short does and dogbane, of which I was unaware. How is the backing  holding up?

[Aaron1726]

Thanks Ken.  As for the backing, so far it's held up really good.  I've probably put 500 or so arrows through it so far and it's been fine.  Honestly I feel like the dogbane will outlast the oak on this one.  I made a dogbane string for it as well, just seemed right. 

Dogbane is tricky, though.  I like the thin fibers, they lay really clean and even, but it's also a pain to get all the outer bark off ( I can never get it all off) so those little chunks are a challenge to deal with, but it also gives it a cool natural camo.  I think you ought to try it, I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I couldn't find much on backing with it but figured I'd give it a shot.  Overall I'm happy with the results.  If nothing else, its kept the bow in one piece. I have some eastern red cedar that I want to tackle at some point and it might just get a dogbane backing as well 

[superdav95]

Cool little bow.   

[Aaron1726]

Cool little bow.

Thanks, it was a fun build.  Glad I was able to save it from the burn pile 

[StickMark]

I bet people who usually do not shoot stick bows will find that enjoyable.
My family shoots bows once a year, maybe two times, and one bow they enjoying shooting is just like that one you built.

[WhistlingBadger]

Thanks Ken.  As for the backing, so far it's held up really good.  I've probably put 500 or so arrows through it so far and it's been fine.  Honestly I feel like the dogbane will outlast the oak on this one.  I made a dogbane string for it as well, just seemed right. 

Dogbane is tricky, though.  I like the thin fibers, they lay really clean and even, but it's also a pain to get all the outer bark off ( I can never get it all off) so those little chunks are a challenge to deal with, but it also gives it a cool natural camo.  I think you ought to try it, I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I couldn't find much on backing with it but figured I'd give it a shot.  Overall I'm happy with the results.  If nothing else, its kept the bow in one piece. I have some eastern red cedar that I want to tackle at some point and it might just get a dogbane backing as well 

Cool bow, Aaron!  I have been working some dogbane for a chokecherry bow I hope to build if it ever warms up enough to get out and find some wood.  I find that, as I see-saw the fibers between my fingers to get the pith out of the stalks, most of the outer bark breaks off too.  It's a tedious job--I work it while watching TV with the family or listening to music--but not too hard.  Has that been your experience too?  A lot of primitive-skills people on youtube mention scraping the bark off or otherwise struggling with it as you've said; other people echo my experience the most of the bark comes off fairly easily as you work the fibers.  I suspect this has something to do with regional differences or different subspecies of the plant.  I find it a lot easier than working sinew.

Whatever the case, it's cool to see somebody actually doing this.  Does the db add draw weight/snap to the bow, do you think?

[Aaron1726]

Cool bow, Aaron!  I have been working some dogbane for a chokecherry bow I hope to build if it ever warms up enough to get out and find some wood.  I find that, as I see-saw the fibers between my fingers to get the pith out of the stalks, most of the outer bark breaks off too.  It's a tedious job--I work it while watching TV with the family or listening to music--but not too hard.  Has that been your experience too?  A lot of primitive-skills people on youtube mention scraping the bark off or otherwise struggling with it as you've said; other people echo my experience the most of the bark comes off fairly easily as you work the fibers.  I suspect this has something to do with regional differences or different subspecies of the plant.  I find it a lot easier than working sinew.

Whatever the case, it's cool to see somebody actually doing this.  Does the db add draw weight/snap to the bow, do you think?

Thanks.  The db added about 3lbs to this one, but I didn't have it in reflex when I glued it on.  I'd like to try and see if that would work, might add a bit more that way.

I do like you with getting the pith out, but most of mine the outer bark wants to hang on.  I get a few stalks worth and rub the bundle between my hands and most falls off that way, but you get little pieces all through the stack.  When I twist cord it tends to all come out as I twist, but for the bow it was just mixed in with the fibers.  I've tried combing, but I feel like I loose too many fibers, so I quit doing that.

Good luck with your bow, I'll be excited to see your experience with db.