Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Et_tu_brute on June 11, 2010, 05:58:27 pm
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Hi All,
Well I've got a lovely stave of Hackberry sitting here which I've now gotten round to setting to work on, and I fancy doing something a bit different to what I have in the past. First of all the stave, pipe straight, no twist, 72" long and 2" wide. I'll be going for a draw-weight of around 60#@30".
I want to recurve the bow, but along with this I was also thinking of steaming the stave and putting in 3 or 4" of reflex and perhaps heat treating the belly. With regard to putting in the reflex would steaming be OK to do or would dry heat be more advisable? As I understand it Hackberry steams well.
Any suggestions/opinions appreciated :)
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Yeah that's what I have heard (steam) also, there are a bunch of these trees around here and I keep meaning to try one out. From what I have read though it's really similar to elm in most of it's properties, I think there was a PA issue with this wood in it a ways back.
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I love working with hackberry, even more then osage (I can hear all the people crying "HERETIC" already).
If the wood is a little bit damp, go ahead and steam away. If it has had plenty of time to cure out, try the dry heat. With your 30" draw length, I would recommend going a little over the usual double the draw length plus 10%. That would give you a 66 inch bow (30 + 30 + 6). Go to 69", that gives you another 15% over the double your draw length. I bet if you get this thing tillered carefully and the m,oisture content down below 8% you will get virtually no string follow.
If you are using a draw knife or spokeshave on the belly, make sure it is razor sharp. Then sharpen it better. Once it is better than razor sharp, take it to a professional and get it sharp enough to etch your initials in glass. Hackberry can have some mean hidden grain reversal. A dull tool will cause tear-outs that a really sharp tool can sometimes avoid.
Hackberry doesn't take stain really well for me, but the wood looks great with just an oil finish rubbed in. I back mine with rawhide that I have pre-died or stained. The dark rawhide really sets off the creamy pale yellow color of the wood. Take lotsa pictures and post often.
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is this inspiration enough? 64" 52# @ 28". don't know about the 30" draw you got. maybe make it a smidge longer.
(http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww279/sulphur7/CIMG2217-1.jpg)
(http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww279/sulphur7/CIMG2219.jpg)
(http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww279/sulphur7/CIMG2145.jpg)
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Oh, dat's fine
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I like Hackberry also,haven't made one in a while but it is fine bow wood.Very light in the hand.Just has been said,keep it dry. If the picture of Sulphur bow don't inspire you nothing will,great looking bow.
Pappy
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Sulphur, that's definitely inspiration enough ;D Stunning bow there, very similar to what I had in mind (may go for a bendy handle), as you say I'll make mine a little longer to handle the 30" drawlength. Thanks very much for the advice everyone, I'll be getting started on this one later on this week, so I'll post photos as I do so :)
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Sulphur:"is this inspiration enough?"
Yup.
:)
Jawge
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Sulphur, How wide did you make the limbs? Thats inspiration alright now I got to make one. Living in Kansas hackberry is abundant so here goes.
Joe
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woods the limbs are 2" then start tapering about 8" out to .5 tips. I always go wide with hackberry as its not even as dense as ash. However i think rangerb has had great success with narrower designs. its a remarkable wood given its specs versus denser woods. the best part is the bark that just falls off and then theres your back. Just love it.