Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Lee Slikkers on August 08, 2011, 11:36:38 pm

Title: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 08, 2011, 11:36:38 pm
I am currently working on a new bow build and have already bent in the static recurves.  I have heard that adding deflex to the bow helps with some the stability issues that can arise with heavily recurved tips...if that is true and recommended, how much deflex is typically added?

Many thanks on any thoughts~

Title: Re: Recurve question
Post by: Pat B on August 09, 2011, 12:49:03 am
Mine usually deflex themselves as I tiller and shoot the bow in.  ;D   ::)
Title: Re: Recurve question
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 10:22:19 am
LOL, thanks Pat...now that you mention it my last short Osage recurve did a little of that as well.  Thanks~
Title: Re: Recurve question
Post by: blackhawk on August 09, 2011, 10:43:26 am
Yup...just continue carefully tillering that shag out n it'll end up a tad deflexed in the limbs. Id give her a med toasting where your profile is right now n then finish tiller n you'll end up where u want when all is said n done.
Title: Re: Recurve question
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 11:02:01 am
Cool, sounds like a good plan of attack Chris.  Thanks a ton.  Gonna get back on it today.   >:D
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 05:04:38 pm
Here is a pic of some of the progress so far on this Hickory Static Recurve...

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJ-em3fXEDE/TkFoYJ8l9SI/AAAAAAAADHQ/-jafAPkeops/s912/CIMG1786.JPG)

She is pulling #58 @ 16" on the short string, need to move up to a braced height soon.  I'm shooting for #55 @ 28"

Thanks for looking~

Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 09, 2011, 05:37:15 pm
What did you use to get the tips formed Lee? Any pics of your jig?
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Mark Anderson on August 09, 2011, 06:11:32 pm
It looks really good so far!!!
I agree with Pat and blackhawk, just continue tillering, get it on the short string and it will deflex a bit by itself. In my opinion the only reason I like a little deflex in a static recurve is for ease of getting a string on it. I try not to let it get too much, but if there is a little it just means you have the wood doing a lot of work. Being a static recurve should mean that you have higher poundage at brace, which should store more energy, so putting to much deflex in can make a negative effect on the extra wood in the tips.
Keep posting the pictures!
Mark
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 06:14:33 pm
PD, does that question mean they are not done correctly?  I can snap a pic here of the jig in a bit (just starting to put another coat of Tru-oil on a Hick / ERC bow that is almost completed)

Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 06:19:07 pm
Thanks for the reply Mark, I'll keep working her down a bit as I increase and draw and things should work out pretty well...the limbs are bending very even so far right from my rough out so I can't complain any.  I just got done toasting the belly on this right after I snapped that pic so I suppose I need to wait a day or so for the bow to re-hydrate some.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 09, 2011, 06:20:19 pm
Mid limbs look a wee tad stiff,but looking good and your on the right track with your tiller,and plenty of weight to play with yet. Keep up the good work.    ;)

Haha...im toasting a hickory right now too
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 09, 2011, 07:46:42 pm
PD, here's a shot of the jig I used to recurve my tips.  I boiled them for about an hour and they bent pretty easy.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k0AUEKO0IIc/TkGffVMtNaI/AAAAAAAADIE/SYWQ_HXpY44/s912/CIMG1789.JPG)
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 11, 2011, 03:11:34 pm
Hey guys, here are a few pics from today's tillering.  Seems to be going fairly well but as you can see in the last pic the tip on the left has the recurves starting to pull out.  Not sure what is causing that as both tips are the same thickness.  Can I re-treat with a heat gun and bend them again?  Are underlays the only way to help this issue?

10am
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hQywKD_0WqY/TkQDxYRkBRI/AAAAAAAADMU/V5F2XYCMx_c/s800/CIMG1816.JPG)

11am
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-625wzvk75-c/TkQEnszy5JI/AAAAAAAADMc/PbXwsO7KGBo/s800/CIMG1819.JPG)

Low Brace
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5RjNntqKIcw/TkQE1UjCHvI/AAAAAAAADMg/BFzRyjWl9aM/s800/CIMG1822.JPG)

12pm
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0FjMDTJIZH0/TkQFBDNTVlI/AAAAAAAADMo/n0umkTP7Zls/s800/CIMG1821.JPG)

Thanks all!
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 11, 2011, 03:37:20 pm
My question meant just that. I see nothing wrong with your curves Lee! I just like to see others forms, always looking for a better way.
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 11, 2011, 03:42:46 pm
Just my two cents n worthless opinion on the matter as I've never had curves pull out on me before. But id set them back in the jig and reheat them carefully and slowly work it back down around the jig. Let em completely cool before removing from jig.  Then lightly sand off the heat marks,clean with acetone,and glue thin qaurtersawn underlays of Osage. It'll look cool anyways and should hold her together.

How thick is your curve at the apex of the bend? Put your calipers on em and give me a three place decimal number.

I think you know but left limb is stiff and could bend a lil more out by the fade.


P.s. your low brace pic isn't showing. Looks like ya forgot to put a bracket behind the first img code
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 11, 2011, 06:02:25 pm
Thanks for the tips Chris.  Yup, I saw the stiff left limb and it should be already corrected now.  I have the tips back in the jig and re-bent so we'll see how that works out.  Not real crazy about gluing up Osage as an underlay (not the "color" combo I was looking for) but it may be the smartest choice for strength I guess.

The thickness of the apex for each tip is as follows:

Left = .495

right = .483

Odd huh, the thicker limb is the one that has the recurve pulling out too...head scratcher for sure unless when I toasted the belly I somehow toasted everywhere else more than that area??

Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: bubby on August 11, 2011, 06:32:09 pm
I dont think ya have to use osage on the tips, just prebend whatever wood that you think will work before glue up, like a lam bow the glue along with prebending  should hold the recurves, 'course that's just my opinion, Bub

ya might have noticed but I like walnut with hickory :D
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 11, 2011, 07:02:08 pm
That's true Bubby...walnut would look pretty nice.  I'll let the cat out of the bag on this build...I am backing it with Cherry Bark so I want to use wood, dye and leather that will accent and highlight the bark backing.  Hmm, purple heart might look kind nice too, maybe I need to get online and do some shopping  ::)
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 11, 2011, 08:49:14 pm
When you toasted the belly of the limbs did you get to close to the curves? If so that could make the curves pull out some. If you toast the curves they need to be on the form. So if you toasted your curves without them being on the jig then it prob took some curve out.
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: mikekeswick on August 12, 2011, 06:22:49 am
Remember set isn't deflex! :o
If you actually induce the deflex with heat the bow (all things being equal) it could draw further or be less strained at the same draw-length. Once wood has taken set the damage has been done - the wood has lost some of it's spring and you can't get it back....
If I was you I would give the whole bow a good heat treating then work it some more. Re-heat treat work it some more, re-heat treat work it a few more inches of draw....repeat until you reach draw length. This process will help to minimise any set and allows you to get to full draw with nice springy wood! It may even keep some reflex in the limbs if your careful.It's a pain having to wait after each heat treating but it works.
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 12, 2011, 01:23:16 pm
Thanks for that info Mike...I may do just that, have to wait for the Titebond III to dry on those Osage underlays now anyway so I might as well take advantage of the down time.  Can't wait to get this puppy spitting arrows!

Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 12, 2011, 01:44:55 pm
Can't wait to get this puppy spitting arrows!


Yeah....me too!!!  8)
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 12, 2011, 02:32:59 pm
Where are all the progress pics of your build Chris?   8)
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 12, 2011, 02:41:14 pm
Its called "wait for it"  ....lol.  im not confident enough I can get this one going. Its on the borderline of being unstable and I don't wanna embarrass myself.  8)

But if you insist........hmmmmm ::)
Title: Re: Recurve question (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 12, 2011, 02:43:32 pm
Hey, this one is borderline stable and WAY outside my comfort zone so if I can do you sure as heck can  >:D

Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 13, 2011, 10:13:06 pm
Well, bored while waiting for the bow to rehydrate so I thought I'd snap a few pics.  Here is my progress on adding some Osage underlays to help keep the recurves from pulling out.  Went pretty well...  Also a few pics of the toasted belly.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hf4VuGL5ebQ/TkcFI3zjHRI/AAAAAAAADQU/gBIexXeJWyY/s800/CIMG1824.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f7WYrUnOw5M/TkcFbUnfLrI/AAAAAAAADQY/BAFbR4LGS4s/s800/CIMG1825.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gVaaZC0iDyU/TkcExydJUZI/AAAAAAAADQQ/gL8KPJSa4HU/s800/CIMG1823.JPG)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MyIcb8WjSuM/TkcFwE1JkBI/AAAAAAAADQc/EqItnvaWsIw/s800/CIMG1830.JPG)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6Su7Y24S9Mw/TkcJwN7-S3I/AAAAAAAADQo/LXMt4tRyH5k/s800/CIMG1831.JPG)

Thanks~
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: blackhawk on August 13, 2011, 11:47:54 pm
I LIKE it   ;)  told ya they'd look good.  :P
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: gstoneberg on August 14, 2011, 10:35:21 am
Looks nice Lee!  George
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 14, 2011, 10:41:29 am
Looks nice Lee!  George

Thanks bud...it has been pretty simple compared to your recent Saturday bow, this one was straight to start with  ;D
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: gstoneberg on August 14, 2011, 11:15:51 am
LOL, you just have access to better wood.  Don't tell anybody, but there's a nice straight hickory stave curing in my shop now.  Sadly it is NOT knot-free.  Back to your bow.  I may copy this design, I really like the lines.  Keep the pictures coming.

George
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: Lee Slikkers on August 14, 2011, 11:24:38 am
Sounds good George...wait until it is finished and shooting to see if you still like the design, if you do I can get all the dimensions off it for you.  Love the Hickory so far, 1st time I've worked with it.
Title: Re: Hickory Recurve (and progress pics)
Post by: johnston on August 14, 2011, 02:29:09 pm
Lee this has been fun to follow and has all the earmarks of another beautiful bow. You do nice work.

I have never caught the "Yellow Fever" probably because Osage doesn"t live around here. My top of the line wood is hickory. You have work both, how do they compare?

Lane