Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mikekeswick on January 10, 2012, 08:35:38 pm

Title: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on January 10, 2012, 08:35:38 pm
This is a little teaser of an osage recurve I took the plung and re-worked. It was my favourite bow for a long time but I kept looking at it and thinking ' umm I could just change that and that...and it would be better'. So finally plucked up the courage and took the old sinew backing off, heat treated it and bent it to how I wanted it. Shortened the recurves and sharpened the bend a little. Trapped the back and narrowed the outer limbs. 2 layers of sinew later and a bit of tillering and this is what i've got now. Fully draw to come because the handle glue was still damp.
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/036-1.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/038-3.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/043-3.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on January 10, 2012, 08:37:36 pm
That last pic is 5 inches of reflex >:D
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 10, 2012, 08:39:09 pm
I just love reworks! Its like a new bow with half the work.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: soy on January 10, 2012, 08:49:36 pm
Nice! Can't wait to see the$shot >:D
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: tattoo dave on January 10, 2012, 09:20:59 pm
Sweet lookin bow Mike!!! I like the deer, or is that an elk?

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Will H on January 10, 2012, 09:48:09 pm
Love it!  ;D  The deer looks like cave art of a red stag, a very nice touch  ;)  Cant wait to see the full draw!
~Will
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Pappy on January 11, 2012, 07:24:56 am
Looking good so far,I should do more of that.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: dwardo on January 11, 2012, 01:02:55 pm
Looks like a winner!
I have two here that i know could be much much better,, this has given me the shuv i needed ;)

Very nice work as usual.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: toomanyknots on January 11, 2012, 01:16:43 pm
You should post that up close pic of the sinew you posted over on paleoplanet. It was so smooth and perfect it didn't even look like sinew... What do you use for that by the way? Do you press something smooth down while it's drying?
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: ErictheViking on January 11, 2012, 01:18:40 pm
Good looking bow! cant wait to see it braced and pulled back when the sinew dries.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on January 15, 2012, 05:50:54 am
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/044-4.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/045-5.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/046-6.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/047-6.jpg)

Finally got the braced/drawn pictures done. I'm really happy with how it shoots now, I re-shaped the handle and the arrowpass area and it seems to have done the trick. I'm going to be chronoing it later today and will post the results.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: PeteC on January 15, 2012, 12:13:02 pm
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. That is a great bow,and job of re-building.I like everything about it,and that is "the" tiller for that bow. Great work. God Bless
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Dazv on January 15, 2012, 12:18:11 pm
that is some bow!!!!! Just look at that tiller!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Cameroo on January 15, 2012, 12:43:27 pm
That looks about as good as they get Mike.  Did you lose any draw weight?

A friend of mine wants me to make him an osage recurve, which I've never done before, but if I do, this is what I'll be shooting for!  ;D  How wide are the limbs at the fades?  You say you trapped the back - I'm kind of curious to know why, because I don't remember hearing of anyone doing that on an osage selfbow before.  Were you worried about the belly being under too much stress?  Was it a fairly mild "trapping"?

Sorry for the 20 questions!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Pat B on January 15, 2012, 01:22:13 pm
Nice rework and beautiful results. Well done!  8)
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: soy on January 15, 2012, 01:24:56 pm
Now that is cool  8) love to hear the stats.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: paulsemp on January 15, 2012, 04:48:03 pm
i have wanted to do the same before but never had the courage. did you remove all of the sinew or just where you reworked the tips and splice back in? i layer my sinew in a way that i could not imagine how a splice could be effective? and how did you remove it? (heat and water or just sandpaper). sorry for all the ? but I would like to learn.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: dragonman on January 15, 2012, 04:52:01 pm
very nice looking bow, well tillered, looks perfect to me
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: toomanyknots on January 15, 2012, 05:00:26 pm
Very nice. After a year it will probably have even more reflex. Nice rework. It was nice to begin with it looks like, but now is even better!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: JBL on January 15, 2012, 08:34:06 pm
Very nice work.  Looks perfect...BRAVO!!!!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on January 17, 2012, 04:57:05 am
Thanks guys. *I think it turned out pretty nice as well. ;)
paulsemp - yes I removed all the sinew at once. I used my heat gun on low setting and just took my time. A little water trickled on to where it was still stuck when working along helped too.
Cameroo - the limbs are 1 7/8 ths out of the fades to about mid limb then taper to 3/4 about 8 inches from the nock then into 3/8th at the nocks. I trapped the back so that there was 'less back' for the sinew to go on. Sinew/glue is heavier than wood but can be strained almost 8 times as much....so if you just cover the whole back you are on the road to making a slower bow. I also crowned the sinew so that it was strained a little more than if it was just left flat as before. I took maybe 1/8th off each side of the back. You could do a lot more but I wanted this to be a shooter and decided not to push it too far!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on January 17, 2012, 04:58:27 am
Forgot to say, I lost about 2 pounds overall.
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: toomanyknots on January 17, 2012, 04:23:20 pm
Did you ever chronograph it?
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on November 28, 2012, 06:52:52 am
186 fps with 495grain arrow.....it took me a while  :)
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Pappy on November 28, 2012, 07:07:43 am
O ya very nice rework. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: Del the cat on November 28, 2012, 07:35:04 am
Nice work, great bow.
Del
(Can you re use the sinew you took off, or do you need fresh stuff?)
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: SLIMBOB on November 28, 2012, 09:05:19 am
  Your bows are always impressive.  Nicely done!
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: mikekeswick on November 28, 2012, 09:42:10 am
Cheers fellas. It's still my favourite!
Del - yes you could re-use the sinew if it didn't have a finish on it but you would need the patience of Job...... ;)
Title: Re: Osage recurve rework
Post by: adb on November 28, 2012, 10:20:16 am
Very nice rework! I usually end up making any re-dos worse! Awesome bow.