Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on November 15, 2009, 08:08:05 pm

Title: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 15, 2009, 08:08:05 pm

I started work on this bow a couple years ago.  Initially it was Elm backed Yew but after I had tillered it to about 20" the Elm backing pulled a splinter, not the first time Elm has done that to me.  I took the backing off then shelved the bow.  A few couple weeks ago I pulled it down, cleaned up the back up and straightened the slight sideways bend it took while sitting on my shelf.  I then backed it with a plain sawn backing of White Ash, the White Ash does not disappoint me often.  The bow is 60" N to N and pulls 55# @ 28".  The limbs are 1 1/4" wide and taper to 3/8" nocks which have Bloodwood overlays.  I put a decorative backing of White Birch bark on the limbs.  Here's a few pictures

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/BackandBellyLimbs.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/Handle.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/LimbTip.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/BackandBellyProfile.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/Braced.jpg)

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Barrage on November 15, 2009, 08:17:07 pm

Very nice bow Marc.  That backing worked out well, looks good!

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: mullet on November 15, 2009, 08:17:43 pm

 SWEET!, Marc. That looks fast, and I see you got fancy with your signature. ;)

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: radius on November 15, 2009, 08:45:11 pm

good one as always, Marc...how thick is that yew through the handle?

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: ricktrojanowski on November 15, 2009, 08:48:42 pm

Mark
That is stunning!!!  If it shoots half as well as it looks, it must be a world class shooter.  What kind of glue did you glue the elm backing on with?  And how did you get the backing off?

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Keenan on November 15, 2009, 09:08:25 pm

Mark, as always, a very fine weapon ,and I am continually impressed with your work.  You seem to consistently build very efficiently designed bows, with little or no wood that is non working. Those limbs just scream speed. Nice touch on the tip overlays.

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Jmilbrandt on November 15, 2009, 09:25:22 pm

Awesome! I love the look of the birch bark, very nice!

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 15, 2009, 09:50:20 pm

Thanks guys.

Yes very fancy Eddie.

The Yew core is just over 1/2" thick.

I shot the bow a few times and it is fast.  I had glued the Elm backing on with TB3, pretty well the only glue I use these days.  I took most of the backing off with my bandsaw and then cleaned it up with my belt sander.  It was a heck of a job but worth the effort.

This particular bow was not spliced at the handle.  The deflex was in part dry heat bent in.  The Birch bark backing is one strip per limb.

This is a full draw of the bow as I was tillering it, I am actually pulling it to 29"

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Marc-St-Louis/Yew%20Composite%20Bows/White%20Ash%20Backed%20Yew%20RD/FullDraw.jpg)

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: RyanY on November 15, 2009, 10:16:49 pm

Awesome. I just put some blood wood overlays on a bow I made this weekend. It's really cool wood.

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: medicinewheel on November 16, 2009, 02:52:42 am

Very nice bow Mark!

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: dragonman on November 16, 2009, 05:52:44 am

very nice looking bow,( I must try out this heat treating)

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Pappy on November 16, 2009, 05:56:18 am

Beautiful work Marc, very nice looking bow in all aspects.. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: AndrewS on November 16, 2009, 07:00:04 am

You worked out really nice bows. I'm impressed, what you do with wood.

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Josh on November 16, 2009, 02:59:28 pm

nice one Marc.  Love that fulldraw profile.   :)  -josh

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: bcbull on November 16, 2009, 03:10:42 pm

man thats pretty marc i relley like the bark with that one  brock

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: zeNBowyer on November 16, 2009, 03:13:13 pm

Mna  that  is  one  sleek  looking  bow  @ 60"

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: Marc St Louis on November 16, 2009, 06:04:11 pm

Thanks guys.  It should be a good hunting bow

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: mox1968 on November 17, 2009, 05:26:13 am

great looking bow ,well done mark

Title: Re: Ash Backed R/D Yew
Post by: OldBow on November 17, 2009, 11:45:45 am

Typical classy craftsmanship from Marc. Bookmarked too for Nov Lam BOM