Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: medicinewheel on June 17, 2007, 04:09:43 pm
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hi everybody! - a while ago i worked the sapwood of a yew stave down to one yearring. that was the first time and i was proud i did not violat athe ring. thisone is meant to become a 45-50#@28" ELB.
the backline needed a little correction and i found the time to steam it this weekend. this worked out okay.
at the same time i tried to induce some reflex but that didn't work very well (only kept 1" from 3"). would you yew bowyers out there say that dry heat i would have had a better result??
thanks for watching,
frank
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Frank, I have never adjusted yew with heat(mainly because of limited use of yew ;D) but from what Glenn St Charles says in "From Billets to Bows" it manipulates well with heat. I believe he either boiled or steamed but I'd bet if he had access to a heat gun he would have used it. If I were to use dry heat, I would oil the wood well first then let it rehydrate for a day or so before stressing it. Don't take my word for it :o, wait until someone that knows answers. ::) Pat
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......... Don't take my word for it :o, wait until someone that knows answers. ::) Pat
aaaaaahh pat, i love your understatement ;D !!
thanks!
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Like ME Pat? :o :o OK maybe you better keep waiting. Justin
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;D ;D ;D ;D it's not good to rush these things anyway!
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From what I've tried heating yew,I'd stick to steaming and boiling.I found out the heat gun is alright making small bends and adjustments after really oiling it up.It still acted like it didn't like it.It bends real easy boiling it.But be carefull letting it dry too fast.Like putting it in an air conditioned room.The tips on my stave split almost 3" in one day,even after I sealed it.
I almost lost a Primo,80% finished stave that day.Personally I think it likes a little moisture like Eastern Red Cedar.
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Frank, if you boil or steam it and it is well seasoned you should coat the area to be worked to prevent moisture from entering the wood, which will lead to drying checks later. Shellac will do the trick even with boiling or steam temperatures. Its easy to remove later with either a light scraping or wiped off with alcohol. Pat
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thanks guys! - seems like yew is a wood one needs to be carefull with when heating it up! i did seal the area to be bend with shellac and after bending i sealed it some more to prevent cracks. so far that worked fine.
frank
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You got lots of projects going.Reminds me of me.Don't know witch one to work on first. :)
Pappy
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Hey, Pat B and all else,
remember, for straightening or inducing reflex ... dry wood use dry heat. wet wood, use steam.
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ADB, I understand the old addage about dry heat, dry wood, etc but in some situations and with some woods, one would be better than the other. In the case of dry wood that has to be steamed or boiled, shellac would prevent any moisture from getting into the wood so you shouldn't have to worry about checking afterwards. ;) Pat.
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I'm the guy that does a 16 mile round trip bicycle ride to get yew just north of where I live. I have made a few yew bows and will make another this autumn. I use dry heat. Steam is probably as good but then you have to let the wood dry too long.
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everybody thanks for their replies! - stave is still alright.
frank
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Very nice war bow. marlon
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hi everybody! - this one has been sitting in the corner floortillered since quite a while! started tillering it today and i'm pleased with the result so far!
the pictures are taken at 21.5" (=20" + 1.5" thickness of handle), 23.5" and 25.5"
i'm at 60#@25.5", 50-55# at 28" is what i'm aiming for, so no problem there!
well, it's my first bend-in-the-handle bow and i would appreciate some tiller comments!!!
thanks, frank
ps: upper limb is on the right, tiller is 1/4" positive!
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The tiller looks good to me Frank.With a few inches to go you still have room without getting in trouble.Bet those knots are a little scarey.
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Look like a lovely bow. To me, it looks as if you need to shave away just a tiny bit in the mid of the right limb. But maybe wait for someone with more experience to help you out ^^
Tom
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To me it looks like it needs to bend just a little more in the handle and far inner limbs - but it is looking really good.
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One of the things that keeps me going about yew - it is such beautiful wood, grain, color and all. Looks like Frank has a good one here. Good to have such a nice piece of yew in the hands of bowyer as skilled as medicinewheel.
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mullet: oh yes, these knots ARE scary!!
tom: i think you are absolutly right; doesn't really want to bend mid-upper limb
gordon: yes the handle does need more bend; actually that's easier to see on these pictures then on the tillertree
i had steamed in a litle reflex but that got lost on floortiller already (should have used the heatgun i guess); so i'm really happy with not even an inch of set at this state!!
thanks everybody, i'll keep you posted,
frank
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Very graceful Medicine, I like it .Danny
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thanks danny!
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hi again! - well, i sure am the slowest bowyer here, but northshorepirate Manny started tillering with 100grid sanding paper, maybe there's a chance to pass him (just by speed not by quality... ;D )
i made the former lower limb upper limb now because it just wanted to bend more AND there's this big knot that i left non-bending pretty much for safety reasons!
the bow is 72" long and doesn't bend too much in the handle. just a little bit...
backed her with deer rawhide.
she's bit more then 50' at 29" which is what i wanted.
i'll shoot her in and pretty her up soon!
any further comments on the tillering??
thanks for looking.
frank
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ps:
oops...that really felt different: just measured her with 58# at 28" !
feels quite smooth...
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nice arc!!!
regards from your nephew 8)
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BEAUTIFULL !!!...love the looks of those yew ELB's, I like the tiller too ;) ;)
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that's looking real good.
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Yew tends to not like being heat straighten or reflexed it seems to always return to its original shape, with dry heat or steam. At least that was my impression of it . Tiller looks good to me. Nice job Frank.
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Yew tends to not like being heat straighten or reflexed it seems to always return to its original shape, with dry heat or steam. ...
thanks ryan: yes, that's my impression, too, here! but it worked good enough to end up with less then 1 inch of set; it gives the impression of a straight stick!
thanks manny, thanks daniel!
frank
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ps: what do you guys think: is the arc circular enuogh??
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If the Left Limb is the Bottom ....you are doing good.I was going to show you the Elliptical View....but I have been asked not to.......but you caught on!!! I think it looks great myself!!
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;D ;D ;D ...i knew it could be done with GIMP!
yes, left side is the lower limb!
frank
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Frank, You could probably take a bit more off the tips to get them bending some but it ain't necessary. She looks might good! 8) Pat
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I was thinking the same as Pat
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Looks really good Frank
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I'd be shootin that bow ;) She's lookin great.
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Frank, You could probably take a bit more off the tips to get them bending some but it ain't necessary. She looks might good! 8) Pat
thanks all!
i think i'll reduce the tips from the side a bit mor when i put on the hornnocks!
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Mighty fine job Frank,looks great.You do some fine work.I need to get on my Yew stave,
like I need another project,man I need to get on my Vine Maple ,dogwood ,persimmon,ash
O it just goes on and on.Anyway fine looking bow. ;) :)
Pappy
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Mighty fine job Frank,looks great.You do some fine work.I need to get on my Yew stave,
like I need another project,man I need to get on my Vine Maple ,dogwood ,persimmon,ash
O it just goes on and on.Anyway fine looking bow. ;) :)
Pappy
that's the way it is, isn't it! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
glad you guys like it!
trying to put on horn nocks before the end of the month to be on BOM with her!
frank
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Frank, I found making and fitting horn nocks the most difficult(and frustrating) part of my whole ELB project. Take your time and I'm sure they will be as fine as your bow! Pat
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DON'T RUIN HER WITH HORN NOCKS !!!...just kidding ;D ;D ;D ,....but not really, I hate horn nocks ;)
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DON'T RUIN HER WITH HORN NOCKS !!!...just kidding ;D ;D ;D ,....but not really, I hate horn nocks ;)
haha...! - ya, i sort of know what you mean, but with yew it really makes sence! already had a small splinter coming of while tillering.
plus i'm making this bow for a friend and he wants them...
frank
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Frank don't put them on backwards like Pat. ;D ;D ;D Sorry Pat couldn't help it. ;) Can't
wait to see the finished project. :)
Pappy
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Pappy, I did that on purpose so others could benefit from my misfortune! ;D Pat
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I guess everyone needs to experience horn nocks on a yew bow at least once. :P
On my first yew elb I had used hard wood overlays temporarily for tillering then filed them off to do the horn. I questioned the sanity of that decision throughout the entire horn nock process. ???
From the comments it looks like my experience wasn't an isolated one.
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So Bob, hows about some pictures of the yew bow with the horn nocks.
JD
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That bow is a beauty. Well done. Tiller is right on. Frank, you asked if the tiller was circular enough. That's a matter of personal preference. Jawge
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again thanks everybody!
as i said the horn nocks are in the works and pland to put on this weekend!
frank
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You're still in time not to do it.
:D :D :D :D just kidding.
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naaaa... i just HAVE to... !!!