Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Will H on May 13, 2011, 02:03:29 am
-
Hello again! Ive been itchin to get something going on some of the old osage fenceposts I recently got my hands on. I have a matched set 38"L and about 1" thick at the spice area. I'm thinking about using the natural deflex reflex to my advantage and trying something I haven't done. Heres some pics of where I'm at so far. I need some advice on what spice I should use. Also, should I go for a r/d style bow or a working recurve. Ive never built either but Ive really been wanting to try a recurve, Ive just been waiting for the right piece of wood. Any input would be greatly appreciated. :) :) :)
-
I believe I'd do it exactly the way you've laid it out on the floor there. I might glue in just a touch of reflex, but not very much. The reason I'd do an R/D is because heat bent working recurves sometimes loose their bend. Natural reflex like you have is likely to stay there. You can always heat bend a straight bow into a static recurve, but it may be awhile before you see that kind of natural matching reflex/deflex in billets again. But, at the end of the day it's your wood, you get to do what you want.
Love the staple, but I'm hoping it's under the bow limb since it is in the side of the stave. In the back it'd be no problem at all, but it in the side I'd be concerned about a split along that ring.
Good luck with it, that looks like really nice osage and I don't see the bug damage we get down here. Should make a great bow.
George
-
I vote leave as is as well with a slight reflex in the glued up splice. That's way too cool to find that profile natural. I wouldn't do a thing to it. Nice find.
-
Dang nice find there, its already aged nicely. How lucky can a guy get to find two posts with exact profiles? Im anxious to see this one.
-
Thanks for the input guys... George, that staple is on the side but it's low and won't effect the bow. I gathered these posts right on the Texas AR OK border. There's slot of bug damage on most of em, this one was just quite a bit larger. Actually I was able to get a belly split off it. That's how I ended up with matching profiles. :) what kind of glue do u recommend? I don't have any urac available. I was hoping I could use something I could pick up at lowes or something. Also, I've never spliced limbs before. What do u recommend? I want to make a stiff handle bow. Thanks again for the help y'all!
-
Will...the way you have it laid out is Great...but where the Splice is going to be...Deflex it a bit more....if anything (set it back more toward the String)..I myself would leave it be....and they are right..the Natural Reflex will stay ...where heated or steamed in may come out some...but not much with Osage...I think this is going to turn out great...and nice rings there too! Oh and for Glue...I would forgo the Lowes and Home Depot Glues...and get some Bow Grip...or Urac...much stronger...and either one is easily obtainable
-
Will,
I agree with El D. Lowe's does sell a slow dry epoxy, 8oz for $15. But, you can by a quarts worth of Smooth-on EA-40 from 3Rivers for $32 which ends up being half as expensive in the long run. Urac is even cheaper and also available from 3Rivers. These are great billets, I'd use a proven glue. Don't even think about 5min epoxy. I've never had EA-40 fail except once when my clamps failed and the wood wasn't touching. I bought a pint of EA-40 10 years ago and I'm still using it. Plan to try Urac here soon.
I use a Z-splice with 1 or 2 wood pins to join billets and then I always make a stiff handled bow. I'm about to leave for a hog hunt, but if you still need help I'd be happy to discuss splicing at length after I get back Sunday night. Too bad you're so far from Dallas.
George
-
That looks like a really fun project. I hope it works out well for you.
-
Well I ordered some Urac 185 after y'all suggested it...it came in today so I went ahead and cut the splice. I decided to go with a 2 1/2" tapered finger joint like Marc St Louis showed in his article "Splicing- The long and short of it" PA April/May 2009. I made a few practice runs to work out the kinks since I haven't done a splice before. Finally figured it out and got em together...Whew!...I'm gonna wait till tomorrow to mess with the glue. I was thinking about mixing it by weight with my digital grain scale. Any suggestions as to how and how much? Heres some new pics of the progress.
-
What a killer score! Nothing like built in character and age to boot...I think the layout in the last pic will make a great bow. Looking forward to seeing this one.
-
Duuuuude.....that is looking reaaallly good. :)
Can't wait to see this one all finished up.
-
Looks great, should be a wonderful bow.
George
-
Thanks for the encouraging words guys! Ive been working on it a bit more...glue up went pretty good. I put in 1 1/4" of reflex at the splice, and added a new osage riser to get the handle thick enough and to add color contrast. Then proceeded to tillering after the glue cured. I got it to a 5 1/2" brace right now. Heres some pics of the progress so far...
-
The lower limb (on the right) as you can see has a bit more curve to it than the other... Ive never tillered a bow like this and Im sorta having trouble judging the bend. Ive just been treating it like a charecter bow by just really focusing on an even thickness taper. But that lower limb has got me puzzled. ??? Im not sure if I should keep scraping that reflexed area near the outer mid limb to get its profile more like the top limb or what?? Also, when I narrowed my tips down to around 3/8" I went to one side a little to help center the string a little better with the handle. Now when I try to string it the string comes off. I think it might have to do with string angle with the almost recurved bottom limb but Im not sure...? Any suggestions? I really dont want to mess this one up. :)
-
I'd remove a little of the reflex in that one limb. As far as the string trying to come off...you might not want to, but you're probably gonna have to do a little straightening with heat to stop that.
Looks Awesome so far!
-
Thanks Saw Filer. Ill get the heat gun out tomorrow and see if I can get it right. :) :)
-
I'm lovin this!! A nature-made r/d bow from a fencepost?!?!?! Unbelievable!! Rootn fer ya to maker a shooter!! ;D ;D
-
WOW!! Such a super neat bow 8) Im cheering for ya!
-
Looks Awesome. Nice boots too. ;D
-
Does indeed look pretty damn good!!
You've done a great job in just getting this far, considering they were fence posts and it's your first splice an' all.
I'm another one looking forward to seeing how it turns out :D
-
Well you'll have to fix the twist to keep the string on....but...IMHO I might leave her as is. Sometimes folks get caught up in a picture perfect fiberglass mentality look with there bows. As you know we don't work with perfect straight line material. Your braced profile looks great for the unbraced profile. You can tiller as is and tiller carefully to where both limbs are bending in time with each other equally sharing the load. It might not look "right" to our minds eye and it'll look like mismatched limbs at full draw,but it wood be right if tillered well. I have an Osage I left a kink in one limb and just tillered it accordingly,even tho yours is Lil more tricky. But its up to you and you can use heat to try and match them too.
-
Looks like you're coming along nicely. I personally don't care too much what the brace configuration looks like on a character bow and focus more on the full draw profile. On a "straight" bow (like I'd ever see and work one of those...) I do try to make the brace profile look good as part of the tillering process. Sometimes limbs that appear to be out of sync seem to even themselves out as they're shot in. I agree that you have to deal with keeping the string on. Even there though, recurved/reflexed bows are tricky to get strung at first when the draw weight/string tension is high at brace. That shouldn't be as bad as you near your target draw weight and the string tension at brace goes down. I keep my tips wide at first so I can have deep string nocks if things are a little crooked. Then, if there's twist you can narrow the limb tip from the weak side to help that. Sometimes a little heat makes everything a lot better. A picture from tip to tip while strung might help us.
Having said all that, just keep tillering and take it slow. You're doing great.
George
-
I'm with Hatcha, pretty impressive first splice. that is too cool as a natural r/d profile. keep it coming it should be a sweet looking bow.
-
Thanks for advice guys! Ive got it on the caul coolin down right know...I heated the top limb and moved the tip in the direction I needed the string to go. I'm still on the fence about the extra reflex in the bottom limb. Ill probably just leave it be. Ive never really been much on the "fiberglass mentality" My first bow was from a vine maple stave full of huge knots and rollercoaster dips and dives...since then its been Osage...Anyway, thanks again for the input guys! I really appreciate it!! ;D
-
Sure appreciate you posting this...it is fun to watch something special take shape especially knowing you can't personally screw it up ;D
Lane
-
Well it seems heat did the trick! :D No problems keeping the string on anymore...Thanks guys! Its at a 4 1/2" brace and pulled to 40#@15" I'm shootin for 60#@27"... As you can see in the pics, the top limb (left) is bending a little farther than the bottom limb (right) by the lines on my tiller tree. How does it look? Judging by the lines I think I should keep scraping the bottom limb until it bends as far as the other but I'm not really sure since that limb has more reflex... Any thoughts?
-
I don't think there's a huge disparity in the limbs, not enough to worry about yet. I think the bow is on there with the left limb a little low. I believe your next step is to even the bend out in the limbs. Looks to me like both limbs are a little stiff from midlimb out. I'd work both limbs in the outer half to get some bend mid-limb and outboard. My trade bow is a little like this one and as it got closer to full draw the disparity in the limb tips faded and finally disappeared, even though unbraced it is very evident. I think you will experience something similar.
Looking good, keep at it.
George
-
Thanks George, I tried what you suggested. I think I got em bending a little better...I think Im gonna miss target weight a lil but thats ok. Here she is 50#@22" Any thoughts?
-
Stay away from the fades and the tips, work on the mid limb areas. Go slow and check it on the tiller tree often cause when it goes, it goes quick. About 8 scrapes or so and check it again, or if your using a palm sander just about 4-5 passes back and forth on the mid limb then recheck. I had kinda a rough time with my first R/D bow myself and it just seems like the mid limbs don't wanna bend and don't wanna bend........then boom they go all at once so you gotta be careful or you'll lose all your R/D and miss target wt.
I think this is the first time I've ever seen anybody build a bow out of recycled fence posts? Who woulda thunk it. ;)
-
I build fence post bows all the time. I had a spectacular failure with one last year that's posted on here. Found it: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,22983 That one had insect damage. Old osage corner posts are the most seasoned wood you'll ever use.
I agree that you need to avoid the area where the greatest bend is now and work outboard of that to get it bending. You might still make weight, but only if you're careful and exercise the bow a lot so you don't take any more wood off than you need.
It's still looking good.
George
-
Thanks for the help to guys! I got it tillered to 27", shaped the handle and tips and put close to 100 shots through her this afternoon!! Man this bow shoots awesome!! I was originally thinking about puttin copperhead skins on but the color of this wood is to beautiful to cover up! Ill post some pics when I get her all slicked up...Thank you guys for all the help! I almost cant believe I got this 100yr old wood to shoot!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Bugs and worms are the worst enemy to Hedge (osage) or any wood for that matter. I've found worms in some red oak and white oak rough cut boards that I've used as handle blocks.
I've left osage logs lay out on the ground for 6-8 months went back and picked them up, carried them home and cut the end off with a chainsaw and they still had sap in them!
Osage will last more than our lifetime without rotting away as long as the bugs don't get it. That's why so many old timers made fence posts out of it cause they knew they would never need to set another fence post in their lifetime. The wire will rust completely away before the post rots.
I'm anxious to see the finished pics of your bow Will, your a more determined fellar than I am I'll give ya that!
-
Will,
That's a great build. It it too purty to cover up.
-
;D Well I got her just about finished up! I ran close to 1000 arrows through it after sanding then burnished the whole bow with an antler the other day. Since then Ive put two coats of Tru-Oil on and MAN is she lookin purty! I still have to do the lettering and handle but I couldnt help takin a couple pics today...Its amazing to me that those old rotten lookin fenceposts I pulled out of the ground finished out with such incredible grain! BURIED GOLD I TELL YA!!!!
-
Heres a couple more...Ill post again when I get done. ;D ;D ;D Thanks for lookin! ;D ;D ;D
-
Oh man...
OH MAN!!!!!!!
You were DEAD RIGHT to add the "new" Osage strip to bulk up the riser/handle area... The contrast is beautiful!!
Very good choice of background for the pic's - next to playing, it's about the best use of a guitar that I've ever seen!!
Looking forward to seeing the finished pic's ;)
-
Thanks HatchA! I thought it would be a good example of how osage reacts to sunlight. Turned out better than I had hoped!
-
Nice teaser....now I can't wait to see the rest of her all finished up :)
-
A real beauty...no need to say anything else.
/Mikael
-
How did you sand the limbs and not have it turn back to yellow? I've built many fencepost bows and never had one stay that color? I agree it is stunning, but I'm baffled how it would do that. Never has for me. Anyway, it is lovely, you did a great job.
George
-
Very nice there Will, can't believe a piece of osage that old made a bow that sweet. good job
-
Will that is about as good as it gets. You did good,man, real good.
Good eye there Hatch.
Lane
-
WOW!!! Truly amazing :o
-
That's a fine looking bow. Waiting for the money shot. :)
-
Very nice Will, very nice indeed! I love that yellow handle section, that adds just the right amount of flair to it along with the tip overlays. She's all perty and ready to go to the big dance now! 8)
I love the story behind it also and the pic of a lonely old fence post in the woods just off the edge of a field. Patiently waiting for the day that the right young man would come along and pluck it from the ground and take it home.
If only objects could talk, what a story that old hedge post would have to tell. ;)
-
Thanks for all the kind words! I know what you mean SEMO...That ol post has seen alot I'm sure. It sat right on the Texas/AR border on the old river bed not 250yds from the red river with Oklahoma a stones throw away. The place was run over with deer and pigs! Apparently the land has been in the farmers family for generations and they were avid hunters. I plan on making another and taking it back to him as a thanks. :)
George: I gathered 13 posts from that place. Some are darker than others... The one I chose for this bow was real dark all the way through. When I cut the ends off the rings almost looked black. I was thinking this post must have sat in the open and was therefore exposed to much more UV's. It also showed signs of charring around the base a little bit as though it had seen a grass fire or two.
Anyway, Thanks again guys. Wouldn't have turned out as well I don't think if it weren't for all the support I received from you guys here on PA! I cant believe its taken me so long to stop just reading PA and start participating here online! ;D I'm totally addicted! ;D ;D ;D
-
Well here she is! 55#@27", 64"NTN, 1 1/2"W to midlimb then tapering to 3/8" nocks. The tips were about 1 1/4" in front of the handle when I spliced the billetts together. After shooting in the bow they stand dead even with the handle. I finshed her out with a beavertail handle and strike plate and some red lettering... This has got to be the best shooting bows Ive made! This thing really puts arrows where I want and FAST too!! :o Ill have to wait till my wife gets home to post full draw but heres what I got so far...Thanks for lookin :)
-
Will...no words~
(http://daledentalblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/bowing.jpg)
-
Wow. That's the only thing that comes to mind when I see that bow. Wow
-
Amazing... I want to say more but am having trouble talking. That wood looks incredible finished and the new osage just puts it over the top. Great work!
-
Awesome!!! And nice guitar too!
Mark
-
Bravo!!!the wrap hides the contrast but what a stunning bow,great job
-
WOW! Thanks Guys!! I really appreciate it! I worked real hard on this one...it feels good to hear so many nice comments! ;D ;D ;D Heres some more pics! Enjoy!!
-
Spectacular!!I'm sure if old Bill Shakesphere were still around, he would write a sonnet about that bow!!!
And wow!! For a young un you sure can work wood ;)
-
Well I have to say that this bow turned out just fabulous. Well done!
-
Beautiful bow and what a story!
-
VERY NICE!!!
-
Incredible!!! I think it is awesome taking a piece of wood that has been cut for and used for something else - fence post, shovel handel, house frame, etc, and fashioning it into a bow that will take down game. Can't beat that.
-
What a cool story and bow! Simply amazing!
Mark
-
AWESOME! nice work!
-
This ones at the top of my list so far for June selfbow BOM,cus that IS the bomb :o
-
Loved the buildalong and the bow fantastic job you did! Steve
-
WOW,if that peice of wood could talk about all the storys from 1911 that would be some thing...great work on a peice of history...i love the tiller and finish work...MAN,from stagecoachs to airplanes...WOW...john
-
SWEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
-
That is one amazing bow. :o
-
Nothing like setting the bar high! Nice work, very nice work indeed.
Go looking for one of those cheesy plastic bracelets that looks like barbed wire, untwist it and then twist the plastic barbs into your bowstring for the perfect finishing touch!!!
-
OUTSTANDING
-
Awesome...simply Awesome! I really love it. Cant beat that taking that old post and making a work of art. I bow to you sir.
-
What more could be said-stunning bow truely one to be proud of-just awesome-Hammertime
-
I can honestly say this is one of the nicest bows I've seen. Great work, to think inside of that old rotting wood post was that bow waiting to come out. Great work.
-
Wow!!! From a fence post to a work of art. I had to look at your pics over and over! Awesome bow!
-
Turned out Sweet.............
-
Beautiful bow,very nice work from some challenging billets/fence post. :) The finish work is exceptional. :) :) Got to love that, story and bow. :)
Pappy
-
It looking great, very nice work!
-
congrats Will for june selfbow of the month. thats all there is to say other than great story ,and beautiful bow , excellent craftmanship
-
I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been expressed already. That truely is an awesome bow.
-
Beautiful bow, Gorgeous
-
.........love it!
-
Seriously....that is a superb bow.
-
Wow! I dont event know what to say...Thank you guys SO much! I had to work hard to coax that old piece of wood back to life. Now I guess its time to dig into the pile again and see what else is hiding inside those half rotten posts! I know Ive said this before but I REALLY couldnt have done it without everyone here on PA! Its amazing how much there is to learn from each other. Ive been collecting the magazine since I was 15 ('95) I remember I just couldnt wait for the next issue to hit the stands and would just read it over and over again. I just cant belive its taken me this long to start participating here online! Again, THANKS FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS!!!!! I really means alot! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
~Will
-
The thing that I thought was great was the natural brown color of the osage from weathering for all those years and then the contrast with adding the new, more yellow piece to the handle. Still ended up with alot of snake, it looks really awesome.
-
Very well done! I too, like the color of that wood.
-
UGly as hell and not worthy of being seen by the public. I think you need to send that bow to me RIGHT NOW so I can dispose of it properly! ;) ;) I think you need to write an article to Primitive Archer about that one. DO IT!!!
-
This will be my pick for June Bom.
-
Amazing bow! Congrats! ;D
-
one of the best bows i have seen ,if it shoots its a real winner.i to am curious about the color, i have worked some very very old osage and still got some yellow -orange wood from inside. dont matter just curious.beautifull bow.
-
I second rainman's sentiments.
-
That is a very special bow. Billy's idea is great about an article - sounds like it would be well deserved. Really a remarkable bow, Will.
-
Man thanks again y'all! I really didn't expect this bow to get this kind of response!
Billy: thanks man! I always love your articles! I think I might try and submit an article...BTW how do you go about doing so?
Omaha2: thanks! To answer your question... I picked up 13 posts total. I've worked a few so far. Most are as you said, get a through the rotten stuff and it's yellow like new wood. But the post that made this bow was only yellow/orange in the part that was in the ground which I cut. I figure this post came from a tree that had the darker more dence orange wood to begin with and then the post was placed in an area with more sun than some of the others. Also I think it was a bit older than some of the others because it came from a different fencerow. It's crazy how many more are still at that guys place! I think I'll have to make another trip sometime :)
-
You did an awesome job!
-
:oThat is an awesome looking bow. I will never look at another osage fencepost the same again. ;)
-
:oThat is an awesome looking bow. I will never look at another osage fencepost the same again. ;)
Nope, but I know I will definately be looking for them >:D