Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: GraysonM on July 05, 2010, 08:05:39 pm
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Hey everyone! I regestired awhile back and posted a question about a stave that had split when i was thinning it, and kinda let the thread die. Some other stuff came up, and at a recent trip to the lumber yard to pick up wood for planter boxes, I grabbed an oak board i thought would make a good bow. Now that schools out for the summer, I have a little more time to work on things and wanna get at least a couple board bows done. ;) I have a question about roughing it out though. Im following Sam Harper's guide over on Poor Folk Bows, and have finished the tapers on the limbs, and I'm about to move onto roughing out the belly. On page four of the guide, he talks about taking it down to 3/8 at the tip, sloping up to the handle. When i do this, should I draw a line from the end of the riser to the tip on the side of the limb, or just do it by eye to the 3/8 mark. How do you guys do it? Thanks for the help everyone!!!
The whole guide:
poorfolkbows.com/oak.htm
The page of the guide where I've worked up to:
poorfolkbows.com/oak4.htm
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I draw a line from point to point. But then, I have trifocals. And a short attention span. And a terminally receding hairline. :D
Frode
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Short attention span!? You're talking to a sixteen year old! :D Alrighty. Ill draw a line and get hopping. Thanks! ;D
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EPS0Xs_Tw
this is a video build along i did. 19 short parts all together. little diffferent design than sams.
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Construction lines are your friends. They can eliminate a lot of SNAFU...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EPS0Xs_Tw
this is a video build along i did. 19 short parts all together. little diffferent design than sams.
I saw your build along Sulphur! When i founds Sam's i went, hey, I can do that! And then found your build along and found it quite inspiring. Definitely going to be using it as well.
Construction lines are your friends. They can eliminate a lot of SNAFU...
Words of wisdom! I'll be penciling things out from here on out!
Thanks everyone.
P.S.
Is it okay with the moderators/admins if i post all my questions for this build in this thread instead of creating a new one each time?
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Sure Grayson, it's OK for you to post all the questions you want here(related to this subject! ;D). If you would like to share some pics too you will have the makings of a good build along. ;)
Drawing guide lines along the sides will help to prevent twist as you tiller the limbs. I use them on stave and board bows.
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Okay guys, Another question....
I backed the bow with the fiberglass drywall tape as the guide said to, but there's a small problem. :'( The glue from the backing keeps dripping down the sides and on to the bow itself. Ive just been checking on it every now and then and scraping the glues off, but im sure theres a better way to take care of this. Suggestions? Could I lay down some wax paper, and then flip the bow over and lay it on that? If it stuck and got glued on, I could jut sand it couldn't I? Or would that screw with the backing too much? ??? Thats another question I had, because the texture is kind of ugly, could I throw on a mask and sand it smooth? Thanks everyone!
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Maybe you used to much glue. I usually just wipe it off while it is wet, but if it dries on you just sand it off.
The wax paper is a good idea, but it might add weight to the bow, but not enough to change performance significantly.
And sanding it down might mess it up, and if you used 2 or 3 layers (like you should) you will probably just sand down to the next layer, which has the same texture. Just my thoughts on it.
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It was probably too much glue. I was able to keep an eye on it and wipe most of it off, so ill just sand what doesn't come off when i trim the material. I had considered adding another layer, so that the backing wasn't weakened, but if its just going to have the same texture there isn't much point. I don't know if it would sand to the next layer, and keep the same texture, as sanding would take the most of the raised areas which are what creates texture, but it would leave a face of mostly glue. That doesn't seem like that great of an option either. I may do a test piece. Ill try and post some pictures of the progress tonight. Thanks everyone. :)
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Hey there Grayson M, I would mask tape the back of the bow before I glue up the the backing. It could still be done now. Hang the bow up in a vertical position to dry once tacky, and the glue will run down hill . you can sand or file excess off later. good kuck Denny
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Yea, definitely going to be masking it off next time 'round. I survived the night and waiting for the glues to cure, so the excess backing material has been trimmed, and I cut some string nocks. I'll post a picture of the bow up to where it is later tonight, in the mean time, I have all the pictures of the build up until now in an album in my Facebook. I know we're not supposed to post links, but i figured since I wasn't selling anything or promoting my work. If its a problem, I'll edit the post and take the link out. I'm off to class for now, see ya. Thanks everyone!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2069252&id=1252310129&l=5b7c87c593
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Looks like you have a handle on making a bow. Hope she bends for you . Denny
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Wow thanks denny! I really have no idea what im doing though! :o :) I hope she bends too, floor tillered is where she bends just pushing on the handle while braced on the floor right? And for anyone interested, there's a pic in the album of the backing trimmed and what i think is floor tillered.
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Is it okay if I tiller using a length paracord? I dont have a string or string jig yet. It should be fine right?
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That Sam Harper has a lot to answer for!!! He's the reason I'm here too :D
Looking forward to seeing your finished bow :)
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I'd be interested in knowing how many people on here got there start by browsing through Sam and Jawge's website ??? ;) Google pulled be to Sam's website. Anyone know if he is a member on here?
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Okay guys, I need some serious help. Im tillering, and as far as i can tell, everything looks good, and the next step in the guide is to brace it a few inches, and then tiller. I cant for the life of me get it to brace. :( my string always seems too short or the knot's too small. >:( What do i do!?
Thanks everyone!
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Oh, heres a picture of the tiller, since then I've gotten the right limb pretty much dead even with the left. (http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs018.ash2/34268_1511646711765_1252310129_31449827_200702_n.jpg)
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only one suggestion. Your long string is way to long. it should hang from the middle just an inch or so. looking good so far.
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Thin your tips to mid limb , then check your till, after you shorten the string a little. Don't take too much off at a time as you will loose weight faster than you realize. Some fellow prefer to triangle the edges and till from the edges, before they work the flat part of the limb. There again take it easy, just alittle bit at a time. I like to sand a little along the way. By hand that is, just to keep sharp edges down.keep putting on the tree and checking the till.I take a 4or5 inch thin board and screw one screw in the middle. Just screw thru a litlle just to tik the wood you are going over. Now run this gig up and down each limb as you have the bow strung , mark the high area with a pencil and remove a little material. do this till both limbs are the same then move the string on the tillering stick one more inch and do the same . contniue till your at brace height. Then full till can continue the same way till you achieve full draw length. I make a small tiller stick about 18 inches with 1 inch increaments cut out . I use this to spread the string as I work the bow limbs to brace height. Hope this helped . Denny
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So keep tillering with the long string?
Hows this sound:
Tiller with long string as per Denny, removing more from mid to end limb.
Move brace height up, maybe to about three fingers from the riser, and keep tillering.
Move it a little more, maybe not full brace, but to the height of the string equal to the height of my fist at the riser and tiller.
Move it to full brace?
TBB Vol. 1 is ordered. I really don't want to wait too long to keep going, but maybe I should wait for it to arrive and read the section on tillering? Also, do I need to make a string at this point? I think the paracord stretches to the point where its no longer convenient.
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Sam Harper got me into this mess as well. =)
I don't know if he's on here, but he's on another site I hit; I'll shoot him a msg asking if he's on here.
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I think you're getting pretty close to being ready to make a regular string. When I'm making a new bow, I tiller with a long string, (for me, I use the bow stringer I made), until I get the limbs moving about 8 or 10 inches . Then I switch to a shorter regular bow string. I put a loop on one end, and use a timber hitch on the other end, so I can adjust the string length while I finish tillering.
re: "Has Sam Harper been here?", I just got a pm back from him:
"I've lurked on primitivearcher.com, but I haven't signed up or participated in the discussions there."
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Alrighty. Better build a string jig. ::)
Wheres the best place to pick up string making materials? Would an archery store have them, or can I only find them online?
Thanks everyone!
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Got mine from 3Rivers
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Grayson , I will send you a string if you tell me how long. You can use drapery chord, temporarly. I will send you a pic of one you can make. And you would pay about 20.00 for one, wood.And your string will cost 8.00 a 1/4 lb spool . Will need directions on how to build. they are free on the net.
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Denny, sorry, I'm a little consfused, are you selling me a string? Because I'd rather send you twenty for the stave when I can and build a string. ;) I have found directions, that Sam Harper makes it easy for us! Almost too easy!
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No the string is free the info is for your interest. I will post a pic of a string making gig for you and the string you can buy from lost nations or rudder bows or kustom king or three rivers.The pic was for if you chose to make one.I will post later, Denny
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I'd love to have the string for reference when I make one, and for the finished bow. As of now, the bows at a stand still, since I need a string, and dont have any money to buy a string or materials.
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i did the same thing only i didnt follow sam harpers build along the whole time i used it just as a guide line i shortened the limbs and really shaped it differently was a little dissapointed when it only came out at 25 pounds at 26 inches but i learnt alot oh well though great for small game