Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Josh on February 12, 2010, 01:59:56 pm
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I cut this log last summer and this is the first bow I have made from it.. It is Winged Elm, 63" NtN 48# @ 28" It has matching knots in both tips, it is kinda cool how the bow laid out in the stave, but the knots give it a little handshock. This bow took less than an inch of follow and I started with around an inch of reflex. I accidentally scarred it in the lower fade with my table saw roughing out the belly but it is in a non-bending portion so I guess it will be ok. (Don't ask...I don't know WHY I would ever use a table saw on a stave in the first place!) I could have sanded it out but decided to leave it as a reminder to slow down sometimes... I always tend to get impatient and get in a hurry. :) It has 7 coats of tru oil on it and red oak tip overlays and arrow rest... I also left the cambium on so far no problems... I chose to keep this one simple for my first elm but I think it came out beautiful just to spite me. Thanks for looking! :) -josh
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/elm%20bow/01.jpg)
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That looks great Josh. Tiller is real nice. I just started on a winged elm stave. just drying it a bit more. How was it to work with? Did you use any heat on it?
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I think thats a fine looking bow. congrats on it. tiller looks pretty darn nice - Ryan
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good work, Josh. I like the knots. I wonder if they'd file down and leave no problems, the way they seem to do with yew. Elm has a great reputation. I haven't worked any yet, but i'm gonna when i get back to Vancouver. There's a hardwood dealer there that seller elm boards, so i can get it knot-free.
So, other than with the table saw, what tools did you use with it, and what did you think of the wood?
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Really nice job. Tiller looks swell!( Shelf is on the wrong side though):) No worries on the saw mark, as you said, a constant reminder. ;)
I've made a couple bows from winged elm. (nuthin straight yet). :'( Keeping the wood dry throughout the building process makes a huge difference with it. Lots of hot box time on those I have made. A pleasure to work and some perty fast wood. I give it a couple thumbs.
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thanks Jesse, Elm is a pleasure to work. I really floor tillered it too much so I came in a little under weight. It will fool you if you are used to working osage or ipe as it ends up being alot thicker. It shaves great though, real easy to work for me.
Thank you twisted limbs!
Thanks Scott! I am not gonna chance filing down the knots, the hand shock is very light and I think the knots add to the character. The tools I used from start to finish are: bow saw to cut it down, sledgehammer and wedges to split it, draw knife to get the bark off, pencil to draw the bow the bow out, table saw to get it CLOSE to the lines for the front view, table saw again to remove belly wood, that's where it incurred its injury... belt sander to taper the fades/handle, belt sander to taper from mid-limb to tips, 2 ton epoxy for tip overlays,edit: round chainsaw file for string grooves, draw knife at 90 degrees for tillering, 60 grit, 120 grit, 220 grit, 320 grit sandpapers, 7 coats of tru oil, leather, tan B-50 dacron and curved needle to sew on the handle wrap. Brown and tan B-50 for the string (14 strand double loop flemish twist) Rabbit fur for the string silencers. I think I covered everything... :D ;D ;D ;)
Thanks Timo! the shelf is on the correct side for us Southpaws! If a righty wants to shoot it I guess it'll have to be off the knuckle! ;)
-josh
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Looks really nice, Josh. For a 28'' draw over that length, looks like you getting every ounce - very nice tiller on that bow.
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yeah i guess you covered it all...even mentioning the pencil! you are very thorough in your explanation :-\
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yeah i guess you covered it all...even mentioning the pencil! you are very thorough in your explanation :-\
;D ;)
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Gorgeous Bow Josh!! Tiller looks beautiful. And the slight imperfection of the saw scar adds character ;) I'd love to work with some elm but it's a wood I can't get in these parts. Might have to trade some skins for some.
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Nice bow, tiller looks great!
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Really nice Elm Bow Josh....keep em coming!
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very nice bow josh , tiller looks great
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Looks great! Next time I would suggest adding a round file to the tool chest.. makes string nocks a lot easier ;)
That's what I used! :) ...I forgot to put that in my list of tools... I am going to go add it now to my list of "tools used" reply to Radius' post.
Thanks Scott!
Thanks Ken!
Thanks NTD!
Thanks Brownhillboy!
Thanks Mike!
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Nice work Josh. That is a fine looking bow. I like your improvisation of free handing on a table saw. I never though of that, I think I'll give it a try sometime. ;)
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Nice work Josh. That is a fine looking bow. I like your improvisation of free handing on a table saw. I never though of that, I think I'll give it a try sometime. ;)
The only reason I did is because my little joke of a bandsaw couldn't bear the strain, LOL. :) Just be careful and go slow and remember to tilt the stave AWAY from the blade... make a pass down each side of the limb with the part resting on the table kicked out away from the blade... It will leave a crown on the belly side down the middle of your limb you can then remove with your scrapers, rasps, belt sander etc. That's what I did and it worked pretty good... Who needs one of those fancy schmancy bandsaws anyhow, LOL :) -josh
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The first bow I roughed out on a bandsaw, I tilted the wrong way ;D and sliced through the back. Lesson learned. I like your idea, this way I can rough out some staves at work. ;)
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Great lookin bow Josh!
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Thanks Mike!
[/quote
No Problem Josh...but aint the Window cut on the Wrong Side of the Bow.................. >:D.............. ;D]
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Thanks Mike!
No Problem Josh...but aint the Window cut on the Wrong Side of that Bow.................. >:D.............. ;D
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Very nice! I love the unstrung profile. Were you proactive in obtaining that, or was it all natural? Sorry if you explained that earlier, I didn't read all the posts.
Scrub
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Thanks Mike!
No Problem Josh...but aint the Window cut on the Wrong Side of that Bow.................. >:D.............. ;D
Hardee Harr Harr!!! Mike ;D ...got something against us lefties? :) :)
Thanks Scrub buck! I originally heated around an inch of reflex into the bow, the top limb tip was a little deflexed I tried to get rid of it but it came back... I got scared heating this one I wanted it to stay together. On my next one I will probably add more reflex and really torch the belly. Seems every other elm I see here the belly is toasted to a crispy dark brown... :)
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Nothing against South Paws....both My Boys are Lefties...you know what they Say...Lefties are the Only Ones to think with the Right Side of Their Brain........ :P
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Nothing against South Paws....both My Boys are Lefties...you know what they Say...Lefties are the Only Ones to think with the Right Side of Their Brain........ :P
>LOL that's the truth.. It just kinda stinks that everything is set up for right handed people... I have a hard time making bows for other people. I am making one now for the guy who owns the deer processing place up the road, he saved me like 100 deer legs this year so i am making him a bow.. (good trade, right?) I should be finishing up the tiller on it tomorrow and I am gonna have to shoot it in and then set it up for right handed and let my buddy Snakeman shoot it and tell me how it shoots from the other side of the bow... I tried learnin to shoot right handed but really can't get a feel for it... ;D -josh
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Josh, have you made a little heat-tempering jig? Like the one Marc St Louis shows in his chapter in the Bilble? (there's a few pics of it in the oak bows' posts i made last summer) that way you can heat temper wood at a safe distance, hands-free. I think he uses elm almost exclusively, says he lives in a forest of the stuff. From what i can tell, elm is a premier wood for heat-treating and you don't have to worry about burning it.
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Nice job on that elm!! Bookmarked, too, for BOM
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Josh, have you made a little heat-tempering jig? Like the one Marc St Louis shows in his chapter in the Bilble? (there's a few pics of it in the oak bows' posts i made last summer) that way you can heat temper wood at a safe distance, hands-free. I think he uses elm almost exclusively, says he lives in a forest of the stuff. From what i can tell, elm is a premier wood for heat-treating and you don't have to worry about burning it.
I haven't made one yet, Scott but I am in the process of making a deflex recurve outta red oak and I plan on making one to reflex the limbs on that one after I glue the deflex into the handle. Thanks for the info! :)
Thanks Don, I know I don't ever stand a chance with all these wonderful bows that are posted each month..but hey it's all in fun anyways! -josh :)
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Real nice lookin bow Josh great tiller elm is my favorite wood for bows.Hammertime
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Very nice bow,tiller looks great,should be a keeper for sure.I have heard that stuff is really tough.Need to give it a try. :)
Pappy
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Tough looking bow you made. My next one will be Elm, as the Pecan I was building for my Grandson cracked at a knot.
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Thanks Hammertime, Pappy, and Lombard! :) -josh