Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mike_H on August 18, 2012, 01:01:37 pm
-
No pictures or video as yet. I finished tillering the bow just a few moments ago and got it at brace and fill draw. It is accurate and hard hitting. A hell of a hunting bow! I'm so durn excited that it works I can hardly type!
I want to thank everyone for their support and advice. This certainly will not be the last bow, just first among many!
-
Sweet! Congrats. Post some pics!
-
yeah, go get pictures! quick! before it runs away! ;D
-
i will tomorrow, my wife has the good camera and she works late.
I love the Molligabet design!
-
yeah, go get pictures! quick! before it runs away! ;D
PMSL ;D
Del
-
Congrats!
But you better go shoot a few hundred arrows through it before you get too excited. Its wood remember.
-
Oh, I will. It's well backed and nearly a single growth ring along the back anyway.
It's actually a little over built. A heavy weight bow for me but I still have a bit if clean up to do. I will stretch the wood after each grit.
-
I saw your video, Mike, the bow does have growthring violations, and from the looks of it, several.
But since it is backed it will not blow up in a dramatic fashion IF it fails at all!
Great feeling shooting your own bow, ain't it? You only get ONE FIRST BOW! Take good care of it!
-
not my first but the only that didn't explode after shooting it.
-
By my definition, it's your first. If they get to shooting and blow up right away THAT was not a bow, that was a serious mistake that I missed!
Shooting this bow for a few hundred arrows will really be the acid test of whether it really is a bow or kindling.
I'm happy for you, brother, you got a shooting bow!
-
Let me rephrase that, most shoot for a little than blowup.
This one's a killer to be sure!
-
Too cool! Can't wait until I make my own version of this post!
-
Congrats Mike. Its so good to see you get excited about it. I remember my first too. Just keep on shaving wood and they will get better and better. Danny
-
Thanks folks.
I know I said tomorrow but here's a sneak peek.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8284/7810002618_1b7327c0f5_z.jpg)
-
before anyone says it, I know the tiller is off. I realized this after I posted the pic. I'm pretty sure I got it fixed just haven't gotten any new ones done yet.
-
Here's two better pictures
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8282/7810461634_3124c6b3ac_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7810462322_ee58904b29_c.jpg)
-
I'm not an expert on Molly's (or anything for that matter :P) I'm working on my first one right now as well. That being said, it looks like your bow is doing too much work off the fades and not enough through the rest of your working limbs. Has your bow taken any set yet? an unbraced picture would help to see what's going on as well. the Mollegabet is a highly stressed design because of the short working area, you want as much of those limbs working as possible or you maybe be looking at trouble.
-
There's about 1.5" of set but it's not getting worse. The handle bends slightly but it is also backed. I may have to take some wood off the lower the draw weight anyway. It's a little heavy for me.
-
Hey, good to see you caught it! I like it a lot! 8) congratulations
-
Definitely not bad for an early bow of that design. I kind of agree with Weylin that it looks like it might be bending a little too much at the fades which seems to be a common problem I ran into with that design. It may appear that way because your handle is bending some, though. Mine are usually stiff. I really love the "no stack" draw on this design, too. Congrats!!
-
Thanks guys. I'm just surprised she's holding together!
-
Another quick update. I just worked on the upper limb and it looks and shoots much better, It has dropped a few bounds and is much easier for me to draw and I know she's still a good hunting weight. I'll get pics when she has had time to rest.
-
There was a little problem. You can see it here http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/reply/451761/Here-she-is-#reply-451761
-
thats a great feeling, but isnt that a little large for a molly?
-
thats a great feeling, but isnt that a little large for a molly?
almostapighunter made one that was slightly larger than mine.
Before it broke, I had her shooting really sweet. hopefully the repair will hold.
-
Congrats on a shooter,had my doubts from the first Video but you look like you pulled it off. :)
Pappy
-
Not so fast there Pappy. It broke.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7818538102_f73fcc674f_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7818538414_cd8df63f68_c.jpg) But seems to be holding with the repair job I gave it. I did a little bend test this morning and the crack didn't come up so I'm also going to wrap it equal lengths from the handle and glue that down as insurance. I hope this works cause I can't afford to make another.
~Mike
-
oops,you have to be sure when you cut in fads/or the levers on the other end that they don't bend, where the 2 meet, violating the longitudinal grain and bending don't mix.Sorry ,maybe the repair will hold. :)
Pappy
-
that wasn't the problem. I just when too far too fast when I was stretching the wood. I'm gluing it down again and will wrap it like I said. Before the crack opened up again, the tiller was still spot on. Go with that dreaded "f" material and wrap the area to keep it down. But I think I'll try fabric first.
-
The repair holds. She's shooting just as good as she ever did with a little extra hand shock. Not surprising though, she has a slight twist in the bottom limb (that's where the break was) because the split lifted slightly but will not go though the fabric wrapping that I glued over the fades and handle. Also she gained an extra 1/4" in set but that is not getting worse. I think it's safe to say I brought her back from the dead. For which I call her "Resurrection".
I'll have pics soon.
-
unbraced
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7826101130_e3aed59bfc_c.jpg)
Braced
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7826100830_d6f615524e_c.jpg)
Full draw
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7826100454_084dba26ec_c.jpg)
I'd say I got lucky.
-
With all due respect Mike, your NUTS if you shoot that bow anymore. Your going to get hurt. Start another one man.
-
If I had the money do start another, I would. But I don't. That's the problem with being poor. (I'm piggybacking off of a neighbors wifi)
-
Thats fine, just dont shoot that bow. Wait until you can spend another 6-8$ on a hickory or oak board and start another, this time get the limbs bending and not the handle. Thats what got you on this one.
-
I know. But I think I can fix that with a bit more tillering. It is holding quite well though.
-
Mike sent ya a pm
-
Mike sent ya a pm
Got it and replied.
-
If i were you, i would listen to these people. I said the SAME thing. 'oh i can fix it ::)' then when the bow was ready to be shot i shot it a few times, put it on the tillering stick at draw, SNAP. Just like that a bow will break, trust me when i say, if that bow explodes and it hits your eye, you wont really be too happy. Med expenses will be high and you will be very sorry you chose to continue.
-
Well, don't worry, I'm out of arrows anyway. I would have to make more.
I held her at full draw for about a minute and nothing, Drew it back not too long ago and nothing, I really think I got her repaired but as I said, no arrows.
Besides, Coaster500 is generously sending me a stave. Dunno what it is or what size but I will really take my time. Just hope I can work it before the cold weather hits as my "workshop" is my back porch.
Oddly enough though, none of the bows I have attempted actually exploded, they all generally cracked or splintered as this one did, Guess I've been lucky so far.
-
Well, don't worry, I'm out of arrows anyway. I would have to make more.
I held her at full draw for about a minute and nothing, Drew it back not too long ago and nothing, I really think I got her repaired but as I said, no arrows.
Besides, Coaster500 is generously sending me a stave. Dunno what it is or what size but I will really take my time. Just hope I can work it before the cold weather hits as my "workshop" is my back porch.
Oddly enough though, none of the bows I have attempted actually exploded, they all generally cracked or splintered as this one did, Guess I've been lucky so far.
NEVER HOLD A WOOD BOW AT FULL DRAW
-
Bubby, it was only long enough to take the picture. That's why I built the tillering tree. I ain't that stupid. :P
-
Oh well, here's to the next one working out. I've learned a lot on this build, mostly to go slow and be patient.
Thanks to everyone for the support and advice, present and future. This isn't the last, just first of many.
-
Good to hear that you are still enthusiastic about making more bows! it was a bit disappointing that the one i had made broke. but i realized that i was not going to make it to a higher level of bow making by quitting. never even crossed my mind.
-
I've tried to make a bow way too many times to let it get me down. I will make a good bow eventually, I just have to keep at it. And it will be a hunting bow.
Funny thing, I have not hunted before and decided to start primitive. Kinda crazy, huh?
-
I am the same way! i really dont want to use my factory made recurve! it is SO fast, yet it wouldnt be the same! I want my first kill to be with a traditional bow! ;)
-
I plan on using knapped points on hand crafted shoot arrows.
One thing that as suggested to me on www.paleoplanet.net, that even though this bow is to be retired, I could still learn from it by playing with the tiller trying to get it where it should be. She could still be shot but at a much lower poundage. So I think that is what I will do. Use this bow as a learning aid. It won't be shot as is but when the tiller is nearer to typical.
-
Just be careful man! wear some eye protection if you can! thats the best advice i can give you for a bow that could break.
-
If a bow breaks, it's telling you to leave it alone! Don't risk being maimed by messing around with this one any further...even at lower poundage!
-
well, I tried it again. And noticed that the repair was not holding as well as I had hoped. I purposefully over drew it on my tillering tree (I was about 10 ft away from the bow and wearing safety glasses). I decided to break it completely myself by hand ( safer that way, no way of exploding). That was a serious learning experience. You guys were right, I should have scrapped it once it broke, even though it was my own impatience that caused it to break in the first place.
Ah well, lesson learned, on to the next one when the stave arrives. :)
-
Have you searched around your area for friendly and knowledgeable bowyers? Having some hands on help is more valuable than anything else in my opinion. It's better than reading books and I'd argue that it's better than making and breaking 20 bows on your own. I'm sure you've learned alot through your trials but you may also be repeating the same sorts of mistakes with every bow. I was lucky enough to start off under the guidance of a good bowyer and when I moved to Oregon I searched out local bowyers and found a wealth of experience and knowledge. Help from people like Gordon and John Strunk have improved my bow making skills by light years. I shudder to think of the bows I'd be making without their guidance. I still have a lot to learn and i don't need to bug Gordon as much anymore but it sure gave me a good start. Just something to think about, plus, it's more fun to work on bows with other people. What area do you live in?
-
Maine, Greater Portland area.
I know Stim Wilcox is a several hours north of me but gas prices prohibit that trip.
-
Ha, you're in the wrong Portland! There are tons of bowyers out here. :P I'd try putting the word out on this site and Paleoplanet. You might be surprised who comes out of the woodwork.
-
don't worry if there isn't another bowyer around to work with, it'd be great but i've personally never even met another guy building bows, just take your time on the first few and check out builds on here and ask ton's of ?, there's no stupid question's, stupid answers yes, but not question's >:D, luck with the stave, Bub
-
Between here, Paleoplanet and Youtube (reputable boweyers) I think I have my bases covered. :)
-
What took me the longest to accept was the fact that I needed to make it bend where it wasnt and leave it alone where it was bending. As simple as that sounds, its hard to follow.
-
My biggest problem is that I am impatient. I just need to slow down.