Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: nathan elliot on May 15, 2011, 11:28:42 am
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My apologies for any of you guys who hang out on here and paleoplanet having to see these twice, but I wanted to post my bows on both forums as they have given me so much inspiration and knowledge.
To cut a long story short, I lost my job. Bummer. However the silver cloud is that I’m still on the pay role for two years! What would you guys do with time on your hands?
What follows are my successes and failures in bow making –
Rowan 68”long, 40# @ 28”, backed with linen. I only backed it because it had a few marks from harvesting. I tried to make it look like bark. Unlike a Hazel bow I just finished (I hate hazel!!!!!! You’ll see why soon) this bow has no crysals. It is a little on the light side, draw weight wise, but it shoots good.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/i005.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/i004.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/0403112030.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311153.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311136.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311047.jpg)
Next up - Purging Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica.This tree is similar to Alder Buckthorn (another wood I have on my list to try as a bow wood, in the past Alder Buckthorn with its Yellow wood was used to make the charcoal in early gunpowder) easy way to tell them apart is the berries, red for Alder Buckthorn, black for Purging Buckthorn. And yes the purging bit in the name is because they used to use the berries to purge themselves, it was considered a kill or cure remedy and not recommended. The bark and berries can be used to make yellow dye; the bark can reputedly be a skin irritant, I had no problems but suspect that as with all things it may give some folk problems so be careful.
The bow is 68" long, backed with linen; it pulls 45# @ 28". It has an uneven un-braced profile but sorts itself out nicely when strung. It has a few wiggles that made tillering fun and an amazing bird’s eye effect in the grain, I tried to capture it in some of the pictures but I’m not sure it comes out. I didn’t heat treat it or correct it at all; I wanted to see how the wood performs as is before I go crazy with the heat gun. The handle is a simple hemp sting wrap with a coat of TB3, tips are IPE. I have made three bows from this wood and would recommend it as a self-bow wood up to the 50# mark, anything over that would be a real challenge, but no doubt could be done. A word of caution, in some languages it’s known as brittle wood.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/i020.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/i009.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311071.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311062.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/040311059.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/140608024.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/i013-1.jpg)
Black thorn - Prunus Spinoza. This is one of my favourite trees (more often a bush than tree) I have carved a few spoons out of it and my wife uses the berries to make a lovely tipple called sloe gin. Anyone who has come across this wood will soon notice how tough it is. TBB4 has it with an SG87, I just had to try it as a bow wood.
Years past and I’m on my way home on my bike passing by a hedge that had been machanicaly trimmed. The hedge had been well cut back making it easier for me to ride my bike, but it had taken back quite a bit of growth. I made the journey many times on my bike until I spotted this cut branch left snagged in the trees. I stopped and pushed my way into the bushes to retrieve it, all the time thinking, it’ll never make a bow, it’s been there far too long. It will be eaten out by wasps and worms and have checks running up and down, why am I pushing my way into blackthorn bushes getting all snagged and scratched? I finally got it out onto the path and was pleasantly surprised, this one was going back to the lab!
I used a hatchet to rough it out, then a rasp and onto a scraper. It did have a few worm holes, only one remains in the final bow the rest got worked away in the tillering process. I think the last worm hole looks kind of neat so I filled it with super glue.
To me this is the epitome of a self-bow, a stick and a string. I’m not sure I want to even put a handle on it. This bow does “register a discharge” as it’s a bendy everywhere bow, but the hand shock isn’t too bad and with a handle and some heavy arrows its more than manageable. And considering it was a really easy bow to make, probably no more than 5 hours work in this bow, I can handle a little hand shock. It also gave me the confidence that should I have to, I could make a hard hitting bow in the woods with basic tools in short measure.
Its 65” long, buffalo horn overlays, 68# @ 27”
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/023-1.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/001-1-1.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/044-1.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/033-1.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/004-1-1.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/2011%20bows/003-1-1.jpg)
More soon.
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Sweet Bows Nathan....I like them all...but especially the Blackthorn...great full draw tiller...looks nice...must be great to lose a Job...have all that Free Time...and still know the You have a Paycheck for 2 years...I got canned almost a year ago...and had to start selling play toys in 3 months.... sure glad that I got back on at a different Refinery in 4 months...might have had to sell myself...and that would have been a Hard Sell.... ;)
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You've got a nice style in bowyerism! I look forward to your future creations...
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Nice bow Nathan, you and I are on the same page as far as designs and simplicity. I love the bend in the handle Blackthorn, its a perfect self bow in my eyes.
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Those are all nice looking bows. I like the buckthorn, I can see some of the birds eye in the 3rd picture of it. Nice tillering!
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Gorgeous bows Nathan, love them all but the blackthorn the most. I don't think you could get a better tiller on any of them. We have a buckthorn here(cascara)-Rhamnus purshiana...the bark is used as a laxative. can't wait to see the others
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Superb work...very nice bows. I like all of them also. It never hurts to try new wood.
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Nice bows, all of them!
R u still in Germany??
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Nice bows, all of them!
R u still in Germany??
Thanks Frank, yeah still in Germany!
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excellent work love the lines !
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Beautiful bows,very nice work. Love it. :)
Pappy
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Beautiful bows with some unique wood!
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nice work on those and great pics to.
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amazing!
I especially like the blackthorn...so simple yet there is something about that is unexplainable...
great work!
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Still bow bonkers! Been at it all year so far. Made quite a few so far. I thought might share 3 I have just finished up. They are two laburnum and a yew.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/016.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/015.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/038.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/037.jpg)
So first up this nice Laburnum elb style. 71" and pulls 85# @28". This stave had a good bit of propeller twist and plenty of reflex. I really tortured this stave with the heat gun
I really wanted to take out the kink in the bottom limb but as this was where the propeller twist was, I left it alone. Shoots real hard this one.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/018.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/022.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/031.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/055.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/052.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/019.jpg)
The other Laburnum it a take down, I will post pics of that later.
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Superb workmanship...gotta love the ELB simplicity and style...I know I do! Great bows, eyeball candy for sure...85# draw weight...man, I'm sweating just thinking about pulling that! Cheers, P1.
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Very nice work ;)
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This is a yew selfbow, it is 68" long and is 50# @28". Nothing special about the yew, quite a low density stave. But like all yew it makes a fine bow.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/023.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/024.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/051.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/048.jpg)
laburnum take down. Again it's a 50# @ 28". But a little shorter at 65". Its backed with linen and tite bond 3.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/028.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/029.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/041.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/044.jpg)
I made this to be my wife's bow. Show here with a picture of my bow, also a laburnum take down, and the cheep document tubes I use to transport them.
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/063.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/066.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/071.jpg)
(http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/nathanelliot_bucket/summer%20bows%202011/072.jpg)
Im now an ipe crazed fool, with a stack of ipe planks and loads of bamboo. Watch this space......
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great bows.
I like your arrow plate shape, the long triangle looks good, I don't like a lot of the ones you see on longbows, the rectangle with a pointy top ones which look like how kids draw houses, they look quick and lazy to me. Your long triangle has some elegance. I go for oval which is a pain but looks good, I think maybe you've found an easier shape which still looks great.
The take downs are really clean, that's another thing I haven't done yet... D'oh.
Del
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Very fine bows. I especially appreciate the full draw pics that are FULL draw instead of the often seen 22" partial draws. Time on your hands seems well spent - keep it up.
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beautiful bows Nathan, tiller and finish work is awesome
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Thanks guys; I have been inspired by many bows and bowyers on this site, thought it right to share what I have made. Thanks again for looking.
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Good to see ya still at it and still making some beautiful bows,very nice work on the last ones tiller looks good and finish work is exceptional, good to see you with you glasses off. ;) :D :D
Pappy
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Your jobs are just absolutely beautiful, Nathan. Very well done. Jawge
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Lovely looking bows all of em.
This post just gave me a kick up the ass to go get some done, thanks for that.
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Gorgeous, gorgeous...I have never made a bow in this style but after seeing these wonderful bows I know I need to try, and soon!
What hardware do you use for your take downs?
Dwardo...GREAT to here this post motivated you, looking forward to the next bow!
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Thanks guys. Lee to make the bows I just use simple hand tools, rasp, axe, scraper, draw knife. When I started making bows I was obsessed with finding specialist bow making hand tools. Some quite expensive too. They are good, but nothing with ever replace 4 in 1 rasp and scraper, simple, cheap and they work.
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Thanks Nathan...I use the same type of hand tools and have found what tools and method of reducing works well for me without getting too far ahead or removing too much material. I use a Shinto rasp, shurform rasp, drawknive and scrapers.
I was curious about the takedown sleeves or handle setup and if you made your own or purchased them from somewhere?
Thanks~
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All beautiful. I really like the simplicity. Very very nice!