Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: steelslinger on January 08, 2012, 10:04:30 pm

Title: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: steelslinger on January 08, 2012, 10:04:30 pm
I was tillering my first bow and exercising my last session of tillering and the top limb blew right at the fade. I feel pretty good that I did not get hurt to bad.  It was an Ipe board that was really shaping up to be a nice bow. it was 66" ntn and 1 1\2" wide mid limb. I am really bummed because I do not know when I will be able to get another stave to work on. I was having so much fun and learning so much. Oh well ;)
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Gordon on January 08, 2012, 10:15:15 pm
Get used to it. If you're serious about making wooden bows you are going to break some. I had a good run and then had 2 fail on me last month. It comes with the territory.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: mullet on January 08, 2012, 10:40:49 pm
 There you go! ;Dnow you're part of the Club. ??? ;)
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Slackbunny on January 08, 2012, 10:48:58 pm
Don't let that bug you. I broke half a dozen before my first real success. But I was probably a little reckless at first, had to learn some patience before I could succeed. And sometimes no matter how careful you are, that stick just does not want to be a bow.

Congratulations on your first learning experience.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 08, 2012, 10:52:06 pm
I dont know what I would do with myself if I ever broke a bow I was working on.........must be a real bummer.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Dictionary on January 08, 2012, 10:52:28 pm
Had about 10 break on me before i made one that was suitable to my liking. True story. bout 10. Some shot for a while though  ;D
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 08, 2012, 10:57:18 pm
You should run marathons with an attitude like that Dictionary. Way to stay with it pal. I know I wouldnt have!
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: steelslinger on January 08, 2012, 11:03:50 pm
I have been so excited to work on it, now all I want is to start another one. But I must wait for some suitable wood to come my way. I  think I might still hang it on the wall.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Ifrit617 on January 08, 2012, 11:11:30 pm
I'm with dictionary... As some great bow maker once said, "If your not breaking them your not making them... "  ;D ;D Better luck next time..

Jon
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Dictionary on January 08, 2012, 11:25:18 pm
ha i edited it. I initially put 20 bows. It was around 15-20 broken at first. A lotof them developed hinges. Some were overdrawn or made too short. Some were made while green and took enormous set and eventually broke. I took like a month off and started back up and learned slowly. Got 2 bows drawing roughly 48# and 53# @ 25in on the scale and been shooting them for a month or so now. So i'm making progress. Just keep at it. If i can get it.......anyone in the world can.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: randman on January 09, 2012, 02:00:14 am
When I first got hooked, I was breakin about 90% of the sticks I was working on. The other 10% were under weight.
Now I'm only breakin about 30% and the weights are coming up. So just keep on breaking and the percentages get better.
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: druid on January 09, 2012, 03:03:29 am
I think that I broke my first dozen or even more without any survived bow.  :-\
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: bambule on January 09, 2012, 05:02:32 am
I don't know how much I broke but I think about 30% maybe even more of all of my bows broke.
and I think I made about 150 bows over the years...

Greetz
Cord
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Pappy on January 09, 2012, 09:33:06 am
It happens,no one likes it but it still happens,that is why I tell beginners not fall in love with a piece of wood,it will break your heart,plenty of time for love it once it's  a bow. :) :) Hang in,it still happens but does get easier to take. :) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: Parnell on January 09, 2012, 11:05:10 am
Gets your attention doesn't it?!
Oh well, keep moving on, I broke a bunch at first.  Did you back the ipe board?
Title: Re: Just blew up my first bow!!!
Post by: steelslinger on January 09, 2012, 12:08:32 pm
I did not have it backed yet. I was not drawing it much past brace height. I am going sturgeon fishing this week and was hoping for some skins to back it with.