Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mark Anderson on November 29, 2010, 04:02:00 pm
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Here's one that almost wasn't. Redbud 54# @ 30". It's all sapwood. Rawhide backed. Horn tip overlays. Stained with light and dark brow rit dye cut with alcohol.
This wasn't going to be backed with anything but as I was heat treating the belly, a bunch of radial checks started, and I mean a bunch, like 100 or so. they went deep too. so after I saw that (might not have been dry enough when I heated it) I thought it was shot so I stick it up on the tree to see how much she could stand, unbacked with checks like that. I WAY over drew it to 35" not a sound. and after about an hour NO set! I set it aside and came back about a week later and tried it again, pulled it back to 35" and tried to break it, still nothing! So what the heck, filled the checks with superglue and backed with rawhide. finished tillering and it's a real shooter. It's a bit heavy for it's draw weight but I think it's because there is an entire ring on the back that isn't doing much. .
All in all I am REALLy impressed with redbud. Been looking for another suitable peice of it to cut.
Enjoy
Mark
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Oh the name "Ruagair" is Gaelic for "hunter". Both my wife and I are completely of Scottish descent.
Mark
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Great looking bow, very pretty. Why did you temper the back though?
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Great save and very nice bow. Love the full draw pic. Copngratulations
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Thanks Kennan and Kegan. (say that three times fast!).
Kegan I meant "belly". Typing without thinking is a problem of mine.
I corrected it.
Mark
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I like it....never thought of redbud being that tough. Gonna have to try it.
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cool story, that looks sweet!
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Hi,
This redbud can't be the same redbud out in my garden (here in SC) which has pinkish flowers in the Spring and long beans in the autumn?
Rand
(I think I even have some cut up for branch flutes)
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i like it..... have some redbud ive been waitin to try out , was wandering how it would do.
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Thanks for the comments guys.
Hi,
This redbud can't be the same redbud out in my garden (here in SC) which has pinkish flowers in the Spring and long beans in the autumn?
Rand
(I think I even have some cut up for branch flutes)
Yes I believe it is the same. It is supposedly related to BL so I thought I'd give it a try. I am impressed. this one is all sapwood and from the little heart wood I've messed with (not enough for a bow) I think this may be one of those species that is overlooked. It is tough stuff. I don't have any fears of overdrawing this one and having any real problems. And set is almost non existent.i like it..... have some redbud ive been waitin to try out , was wandering how it would do.
sa give it a go. I think you will be impressed.
Mark
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Very nicely done! I like it. Jawge
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Commadore, really nice bow, congratulations.
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Nice bow,well done.I have always heard in was in the BL family and need to give it a try,it almost always has some good character. :)
Pappy
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OK,
Do you start with a branch of a certain size or a split stave of a certain length? Also...know where I can learn more about heat treating? I have an ironwood stave I would like to shape a bit.
Rand
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man thats a sharp bow ,love the character,dye job and grip detail-Hammertime
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Well, the question has been asked several times here as to whether or not redbud will make a bow. I think you just answered it. I would love to see one made with a heartwood belly, it's so beautiful.
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I never heard of redbud, but I am impressed with what you did with it.
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Red bud grows wild here in Ill I haven't noticed many that had and good trunk for bow wood but I will look for some now. that is on strong looking manly bow.
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Nice bow!
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looks good to me. good pics. sounds like you gave it a chance to set and break, it didnt so have fun with it.
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Very nice looking bow!! Beefy, if you know what I mean? Solid in appearance and I'd say feels the same in person...
Lovely finish on it too!!
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This bow came a long-way from when I saw it last... Looks good ;)
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Handsome bow, nice dark brooding finish.
Del
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I'll just give you all some more info on how this redbud seems to work.
It bends VERY easily with dry heat, I flipped the tips in about three minutes and they have kept most of the bend.
It works real well with tools, but it tends to smell like broccoli (not my favorite smell) when you're scraping on it. When you heat it it smells like roasted peanuts! (crazy info I know but the bending made be want to grab a snack!)
This is a branch from a tree that was pruned about ten years ago. I was lucky and there were no knots or extreme twist in it. I did straighten on limb to get the string to line up.
I believe the heartwood will make a very fast bow but it does seem to be less tension safe than the sapwood. The heartwood is almost as yellow as Osage.
Easy to chase a ring. I just played around with the scraps of the heartwood and did a bend test with it vs. sapwood. heartwood is about 1/3 again as strong.
Ideally I think a small amount of sapwood as backing would be as tension safe as anything else.
Just some info for you guys thinking about using it.
Mark
P.S. thanks again for all the comments. I really tried to study this wood while I was making this one so if you have any more questions about it I will try to answer them!
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Is this the one you have been hunting with? I love the stain on it what color is it? :) Is this one going to up for BOM this month?
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That is a really cool looking bow. I love that dark wood.
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very nice