Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:03:35 pm

Title: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:03:35 pm

This is a bow I finally got around to finishing for my Daughter Emily. It's a BBO reflex delflex, 64" NTN with cow horn overlays at the tips. I think I made the upper limb 1-1/4" longer. I started it two years ago and it had developed a crack running out from a pin knot in the slat during tillering. I repaired it with a patch per Dean Torges' instructions.
Look close
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/IMG_3094-1.jpg)
Grind it out
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/IMG_3100.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:07:00 pm

Trace the patch
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/IMG_3101.jpg)
Made the patch and glued it with Urac. Ready for glue up
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/IMG_3104.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:10:31 pm

On to the finished product. Em wanted a wild dye job. It starts out purple at the handle, then fades to Cherokee red, then sunset orange at the tips. The dye job will throw your eye off, but I swear the tillering gizmo says the tiller is good. Sorry about the sideways pic. Photobucket is messing with me.
Unbraced
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5379.jpg)
Braced
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5390.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:17:14 pm

Tips
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5386.jpg)
Handle is rolled and stitched and sports a floppy arrarest.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5401.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: half eye on September 14, 2012, 01:20:20 pm

Damn Tom, that's a sweet bow right there....bet she's tickled to death. My granddaughter was wild on them colors also. Very nice, sir!!!!
rich

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:22:08 pm

More later when Photobucket stops locking up on me!
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5402.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: BowEd on September 14, 2012, 01:24:26 pm

Nice repair job.She should like it a bunch.

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: spyder1958 on September 14, 2012, 01:40:53 pm

Very nice Tom, I'm doing a bow for my granddaughter and she would love that. I may copy some of your work if you don't mind.
What did you use for dye and your process for applying and sealing?
Thanks, Graylan

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 01:54:28 pm

Thanks for the kind words. I use alcohol based arrow dyes that I bought from Larry Maggard of Grey Ghost. Mike Yancy at Pine Hollow used to sell it too, but I don't see it on his site anymore. Fiebings leather dye comes in a bunch of colors. I know it works well too.
Hero pic
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5391.jpg)
I think she likes it
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5396.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 02:01:22 pm

Oops! Forgot to mention. I just put on gloves and apply the dye with old pieces of tee shirt. You have to wipe carefully to get the fade right. One color tends to thin the previous one you laid down. BTW the bow came out at 50#@27". She's a swimmer, so she hauls it back easier than I thought she would.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5393.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5394.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 02:14:58 pm

O.K. one more pic. She was so proud of herself for sneaking this arrow through that hole on the steel caribou at 15 yards. Wish I had video of it. I was proud too!
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Skittles/DSCF5417.jpg)

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: hedgeapple on September 14, 2012, 03:05:51 pm

Beautiful bow.  And that girl can SHOOT.

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on September 14, 2012, 03:12:11 pm

That is a fine looking bow.....I like the colors.  Good to see the young lady shooting, and shooting good at that.

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 14, 2012, 04:49:36 pm

Yep, when she settles in and remembers to hold that left arm still, she's always right on.

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: lostarrow on September 15, 2012, 12:57:41 am

Nice job! Looks like she may have tried a bow once or twice before.

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: coaster500 on September 15, 2012, 05:13:17 pm

   :)     Cool little bow and a happy archer right there !!!

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Carson (CMB) on September 15, 2012, 07:09:50 pm

That is a nice bow, and a good shooter there.  Well done dad!

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Sidewinder on September 16, 2012, 11:12:24 am

Good job on the bow and for getting the younger ones into it.   Danny

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 17, 2012, 11:15:26 am

Yep she's been shooting since she was 5. Started out with an ATHA rattan kids bow we made at Cloverdale.
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/cloverdale09.jpg)
Here she is 5 years later at Mojam
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/flatbow21/Embear2.jpg)
My older daughter shoots too, but she's too busy with college and cheerleading these days. ???

Title: Re: Skittles
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 17, 2012, 11:47:13 pm

I just noticed the question about sealing the bow. It's tru-oil applied with fingers. Something like 7 or 8 coats. 0000 steel wool rubbing very lightly after coat #4. She wanted me to leave it shiny.