Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Zion on March 29, 2013, 01:05:09 pm
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So a little less than a month ago a harvested a small sapling. I peeled the bark off and let it dry in a corner for bout 3 weeks and recently i decided to make a bow out of it. It was a very clean, dense piece of serviceberry without much character. I heat treated the bow once which seemed to do the job of keeping set at bay.
I also have been working a deer hide. I cut some strips off of it that i'm keeping as rawhide and i'm gonna tan the main hide. One of the strips i used for the grip. It's a crude handle but hey i like the simple ones the best. I like these simple, but very usable designs much better than the ones i spend more time finishing.
This is also my first "not quite bend in the handle but close to it" bow. The handle area is very slightly narrowed on the shooting side, and the belly is oval. I can't wait to make more of these bows in the future, and with much heavier weights, too.
62" TtT
My INNACURATE scale said 88# at 25," so i ESTIMATE that the weight is SOMEWHERE AROUND 80# at 25." But don't believe anything i say about that lol ;D
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Drawn and braced:
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Looks like a shooter. You sure can turn them out Zion!
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Beautiful bow and beautiful scenery in the back ground wish I had such a beautiful place to shoot !
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Another Zion signature bow. ;).! How do you prevent the wood from checking at such a short drying time..? You are heat treating with a hot air blower.?
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Thanks guys, this one was really fun to make.
Yeah i guess i take WA scenery for granted lol.
Well as long as you don't rough out serviceberry it won't check unless it's SUPER hot (like during the summer, 100-110 degree weather.) If you rough it out the belly will check near where your handle will be (unless you seal it) but the back never checks.
No, i heat treat with either my wood stove or over one of the burners on the stove in my house. Is a hot air blower supposed to be better?
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Really enjoy Your Bows Zion - nicely done Young Man ! Bob
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Zion,
Very nice again...I heard recently that there is serviceberry in Missouri...anyone know for sure? Thanks for sharing your talent.
Lyle
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Zion, It sure looks like springtime in Tonasket! My wife and I are going to to be heading over that way next week! Looks like we'll be seeing some sun!
Nice bow Zion! You know how I love your bows! Don't you just love working those funky, curvy serviceberry staves? Keep turning them out boy! We love your work! Dale
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Zion,
Very nice again...I heard recently that there is serviceberry in Missouri...anyone know for sure? Thanks for sharing your talent.
Lyle
Yes, Missouri does have Serviceberry growing here.
OneBow
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Thanks for the kind word guys!
Lol it's more like summer!! :o I just spent 2-3 hours shooting this one and i'm thinking it might be my new #1 bow instead of my apple longbow. I shoot just as good with this design as any other which is pretty cool!
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Well as long as you don't rough out serviceberry it won't check unless it's SUPER hot (like during the summer, 100-110 degree weather.) If you rough it out the belly will check near where your handle will be (unless you seal it) but the back never checks.
No, i heat treat with either my wood stove or over one of the burners on the stove in my house. Is a hot air blower supposed to be better?
Thanks Zee, I guess I'll debark some of my cuttings..! Speed up the process... ::)
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Zion you crazy young fool, everybody knows you can't make a bow from the tree to the string in three weeks. :D :D :D
Just kidding! Whatever your doing is working cause thats another nice bow there. Real nice bend and the braced and unbraced
profiles look great also. Keep em' coming you insane bow building machine. >:D
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Nice work sirs, you are a talented craftsman. I dig the simple thing
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Another great bow. good job Zion!
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Man Zion, the number of bows you're turning out is making me feel lazy. I'd better get on it. Next time I'm in Montana I'll have to grab some of the that service berry. Beautiful bow as always!
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Thanks alot guys!
No problemo Bow101, serviceberry don't take long too long to dry!
Haha BB yeah i am a crazy fool! ;D ;D ;D Ya just have to be careful while tillering and it all goes smoooooth if the wood isn't fully seasoned.
Thanks Jmilbrandt, it seems like the last 3 or so bows have been pretty quick to make. Just made another one outa Ocean Spray but i doubt i'll post it lol. It's just not good enough to be in the cool club. ::)
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You can tiller a bow, thats for sure grappler. The sky is the limit once you master that area.
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You really got this bending thing down.... another sweet bow!!!!
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Thanks Pearly and coaster. Yea a while ago when i was still 'learning' tillering my bows were way crappier, i wasn't really in-tune with what the bows were saying to me.
I am currently seasoning an amazingly perfect piece of Ocean Spray i'll attempt to make a warbow out of. Right now it's physical weight is like 3 pounds, so it's heavy stuff. I'll probably end up making more close to this design for warbow training. i'm not gonna claim i can get anywhere near warbow draw right now lol!