Stone Age Witch Hazel (updated 1/18)

[salad days]

That thing is starting to look pretty cool. How do you get Kristin to let you work on it in the house? Dana got really mad at me when my wood shavings migrated to the laundry area. And I wasn't even bleeding on stuff

[ricktrojanowski]

Jackcrafty-  Not patient just stubborn
Dana- Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind, but it's fun in its own weird way.
Aaron-  It's actually the basement,  I finished the whole thing off a while ago,  back when all I used it for was riding the rollers for hours and hours watching cycling vids.  Man I wish I could get some of that time back.

[Bowbound]

Well at least you are marking the bow as your own...

[ricktrojanowski]

I did some heat bending tonight.  It was the first session.  I will have to do a little more tweaking when I get it working and bending.  Before the bending if I laid a string from tip to tip the string was about 2 1/2'' off center in the handle. After this session of bending it is about 5/8" off center.  I had to bend the handle area as well as both limb tips.  Although the outdoor fireplace is not that primitive  I think it was close enough.  Also I just happened to run out of bear grease today so I had to substitute "Crisco".   Basically I did the same as if I was using a heat gun.  Greased up the area to be bent.  Then heated it for about 20 mins.  Until it was too hot to hold.  Then stuck it in the crotch of a big oak and over-bent the area and held it until it felt cool. 

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[ricktrojanowski]

Befor and After.

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[DanaM]

Looks like it worked to me Rick Gotta admire your determination

[jamie]

yeah buddy !!!! if building bows with stone was work i wouldnt do it, i hate work. i find it relaxing and meditative

[ricktrojanowski]

It definitely has a different feel that working with steel tools.  I feel much less critical about what happens.  I'm already planning my next attempt.

[ricktrojanowski]

 Just a quick update.  I've been scraping the belly, tapering for thickness, and getting the bow bending.  I learned something very valuable tonight.  I was scraping with my "best" scraper and it broke.  I was pretty bummed out until I tried one of the broken halves .  WOW....Now I see what I should be looking for in a scraper.  It broke at a near 90 degree angle and shaves off wood so effortlessly.  This may be obvious to some but I'm pretty slow when it comes to these stone and obsidian tools.  Some of the original  lateral bend in the stave creeped back.  So I guess I will be doing more heat bending than I hoped to.  I figure I will get it bending easily and try to straighten it again.

[Bowbound]

Any more???

[ricktrojanowski]

Sorry it has been shelved for a bit.  Hunting season and I'm making some arrows for a change of pace.  I'll get going on it again as soon as season is over.  I think I should have it completed by the next stone age.

[Ghost]

   I would wear gloves but that would totally kill the primitive mojo.

Would it not be acceptable to hold the cutting tools in pieces of animal hide?  Stone age people must have known how to protect their hands.

Ghost

[ricktrojanowski]

I'm sure stone age man did know how to protect their hands, but I figure if I do every thing without gloves they will in turn become gloves.

[ricktrojanowski]

OK I finally got working on it again.  Maybey it will be done for turkey season. .  I'll post some pics when things start happening.

[Bonsai]

really cool Build-a-long