Author Topic: Yew billet bow build (Read 9717 times)

Selfbowman · « **Reply #30 on:** October 27, 2023, 10:22:57 am »

Looking real nice Dave! What is the final length going to be?

superdav95 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 27, 2023, 05:45:36 pm »

Quote from: Selfbowman on October 27, 2023, 10:22:57 am

Looking real nice Dave! What is the final length going to be?

I’m thinking 66” ntn. Hoping for 55lbs at 29”

Will B · « **Reply #32 on:** October 29, 2023, 10:07:21 am »

Beautiful work! Those recurves look really nice. Thanks for posting this build-along. Couple questions: what is the thickness of the sapwood, and do you have a thought on the optimal ratio of sapwood to heartwood? I’ve had more trouble with yew selfbows holding together more than any other wood. Might be how much sapwood i am leaving. Thanks

superdav95 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 29, 2023, 08:08:54 pm »

Thanks Will. Right now it’s about 1/8”-3/16” thick in spots. I’m going to play with my limb widths a little yet to keep a good ratio of 1/3rd sapwood and 2/3rds heartwood. I’ve had better luck with this ratio. Nothing I’ve come up with or anything on that ratio but just learned from guys on here. Sometimes we get lucky with less but it’s chancy. I’m backing all of mine now regardless of ratios. It looks great and protects the soft sapwood. I got this idea from Simk on pa here. It was at about 60lbs or just under at 20” on short string before the recurves. With adding the recurves and shortening it an inch on both ends the poundage will have gone up considerably. I’ll get back at it tomorrow and remove some weight.

Pat B · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2023, 12:50:46 pm »

Coming along great, Dave. Will this remain a selfbow or will you sinew back it?

Aksel · « **Reply #35 on:** October 30, 2023, 05:27:15 pm »

Nice and informative posts! How thick are the limbs where the recurves begin to bend and will you thin them much more? Bow looks really promising

superdav95 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 30, 2023, 07:23:07 pm »

Quote from: Pat B on October 30, 2023, 12:50:46 pm

Coming along great, Dave. Will this remain a selfbow or will you sinew back it?

Thanks Pat. I will keep it a self bow. I will rawhide back for protection of sapwood but that’s it.

superdav95 · « **Reply #37 on:** October 30, 2023, 07:28:04 pm »

Quote from: Aksel on October 30, 2023, 05:27:15 pm

Nice and informative posts! How thick are the limbs where the recurves begin to bend and will you thin them much more? Bow looks really promising

Thanks Aksel. The thickness is about 1/2”- 5/8”. The width of limb just before the recurves is just under 1”. I left lots of room for removal if needed

superdav95 · « **Reply #38 on:** October 30, 2023, 07:52:57 pm »

Here’s my set up for taking the little twist out of the one limb. The bottom limb. It helps to keep things inline. I added a tiny bit of setback at same time. About 1/2”- 1”. Or so. Not really expecting to keep any of it be we shall see. I really just hoping to see it straightened up more then Anything. Thanks for looking.

Dave

Selfbowman · « **Reply #39 on:** October 30, 2023, 10:08:16 pm »

Looks good Dave! That one will be fast I bet!

superdav95 · « **Reply #40 on:** January 10, 2024, 09:49:39 pm »

Well I had put this bow aside for a bit and decided to get back at it. I added some Buffalo horn overlays on the tips and the saddle strips on the handle area. I then rounded this a bit. It will be a ambidextrous bow around the 50lbs draw mark. I’ve still got more file work to do yet but getting basic Shape. I e got it tillered so far out to 20”. Will be getting to 28” and shooting for 50-55lbs. I’ll update with pics of the tiller here next few days. Anyway just a quick update on this yew billets build.

superdav95 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 10, 2024, 09:51:21 pm »

One more pic

superdav95 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 11, 2024, 01:31:35 am »

Finished up the handle and put good coat of tung oil and rubbed it in good. I am currently at 45lbs at 22” draw. No pics yet hopefully tomorrow. Gonna do a bit more pulling and fine tuning to get to 28” and hopefully hit 50-55lbs. Bend so for looks good. Reflex currently at 3.25” or so. Hoping to maintain 2” all said and done. We shall see. These billets had a very slight natural deflex to them but nothing to significant. I heated out most of it and then steamed in the recurves. You can still see the glue lines of the splice easily but still doesn’t bother me. I guess I could have clamped it little better. Seems to be holding which is the important thing. Thanks for looking.