Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Josh B on April 08, 2013, 12:03:35 am
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For some reason or another, I seem to struggle with character staves a lot more than I used to. This one is 69" ntn drawing 45#@28" I'm hoping its fairly close so I don't have to lose any more draw weight. Any input is appreciated. Josh
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Josh, it looks pretty good. That right limb is difficult with the dogleg in the end. Try squinting your eyes when you have a hard time seeing good tiller. This eliminates the details and lets you see the the overall view of the bend.
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That is a cool looking bow! That right limb obviously was a challenge. How does it feel when shooting? It might be tough to give any advice by sight alone on that bow. If it feel good when shooting that is what counts. Nice work.
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Looks pretty good to me.
I'm assuming the left is the lower limb? maybe it's a hint stiff inner 1/2 ? But looks pretty good to me.
Del
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You aren't far off!
The all important question is what does it feel like when it's shot???
If there is ANY handshock/vibration then something somewhere isn't bending properley. When you have perfect tiller a bow will feel like nothing has happened when you shoot it.
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That's so dang close ...I can't say scrape here or there by that evidence alone...you put rawhide on that? I hope that babies backed
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Looks pretty good to me.
I'm assuming the left is the lower limb? maybe it's a hint stiff inner 1/2 ? But looks pretty good to me.
Del
+1
Draw this baby with eyes shut, concentrate which limb comes further to you - this is the stiffer
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Thats a tough one Josh. I struggle with those also so can't offer any advice but I have to say thats a cool looking bow and to me the
tiller looks right. Keep us posted on that one, I'm liking it.
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Thanks for the help fellas! I gotta go to work so this ones getting put up for a couple weeks until I get home again. Its unbacked, so i don't want to push my luck with it by working on it under less than ideal conditions on the road. Thanks again, Josh
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I'm working on some horn nocks for this bow that are whitetail brow tines. I haven't done this much and my first efforts were pretty sorry to say the least. I used Del's how to and it helped a lot. Thanks Del! If any of you elb masters have any suggestions on how to make these better it would be greatly appreciated. As you can see, I haven't filed in the string grooves yet so I can better make adjustments if need be. Thanks, Josh
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Looking good Josh. That is one crazy bow.
BTW, you are almost out of fuel ;)
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Dont really believe that ya need tiller advise.....kinda like Michaelangelo askin if he's paintin good 8) My monies on you bud!!!!
rich
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i must say, some of these character bows i see look off in tiller, but then when you consider the unbraced profile it actually looks good.
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Dont really believe that ya need tiller advise.....kinda like Michaelangelo askin if he's paintin good 8) My monies on you bud!!!!
rich
:) X2
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Looks very good to me.Nice job putting that one all together.
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Thanks fellas! This one had me a bit nervous. I don't think there's much room for error with this stave so I was definitely needing some other tiller eyes to help me along. I appreciate it. I guess the horn nocks are somewhat acceptable since nobody said hey dummy you screwed them up? If no one pipes up by tomorrow night, I guess I will go ahead and finish em out like I know what I'm doing.
Good eye Clint! I almost ran her dry before I noticed the fuel gauge was bottomed out! :o :-[ it wouldn't be the first time I did it either. Thanks again fellas! Josh
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That tiller looks good to me, you pulled it off nicely,and the horn nocks look very nice also, See nothing wrong with them at all, but have to say I also have very little experence with them. :) I will say they turned out way better than my first. ;) ;D
Pappy
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I think those white horn nocks look cool, Doc. You seldom see them that color. Never done em myself, but they look good to me!!
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Thanks Pappy! Thanks Kenny! I went ahead and filed in the string grooves. They didn't quite turn out like I thought they would. The bottom nock ended up showing a stripe of pith in the center so I saturated it with superglue. It seems to have hardened it up nicely. I guess thats why you don't see many whitetail horn nocks. Hopefully they'll hold up. A little polishing and sanding, this one shoot be ready to finish by this weekend. Here's the nocks with the grooves filed in. Josh
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Looks great,ya some white tail antler get that way in the center, some seem to be worse than others from what I see. Fresh and the outer tine tip seem to be more solid,I see nothing wrong with them.Very nice. :)
Pappy
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Nice work man that looks like one that'll make your eyes hurt.
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Thanks Pappy! Thanks peacebow! I gained on it some this weekend while sitting at Memphis. I had to really restrain myself from renting a car and heading to twinoaks for the weekend. Anyway, its not done yet but it's as good as it'll get until I can get home and finish it properly. 69" ntn. 43#@28". Like I said, its not finished, but it is shootable. Josh
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That looks great Josh you got it bending perfect. I want to see that one, I'm planning on looking you up this weekend at the Classic.
Look forward to meeting you and seeing that bow.
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Wow! :o That's really amazing, Josh. I don't think I would have seen a bow in that piece of wood. Nice work all around, can't wait to see it with lipstick.
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Lookin really good, Josh. Hope to see it this weekend in person. ;)
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That full draw is really fine right there, looks perfect like your other bows. ya'd never guess the character from the side full draw shot. (told ya so >:D)
rich
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Been following this post waiting to see the FD. Very nice Sir! Looks to have been quite tricky getting that dude done.
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Thanks fellas! The upper limb does have one stiff spot right where the limb crosses the corner of the window in the pic. If it were bending properly, it would look like a horrible hinge right there. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with how it came out. Thanks again, Josh
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That is a fine looking bow, I can't wait till my ERC has cured enough.
Grady
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Thanks Grady! It seems to dry pretty quick compared to hardwoods. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it. Josh
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Well....Gerty is as done as she's gonna get for now. I just have too much going on to put the lipstick on her. Not only that, but I managed to tear my left cornea lose from my eyeball while clearing brush so focusing on details is near impossible at the moment. If you've ever heard the saying, "its better than a sharp stick to the eye", I can promise you there are a whole lotta things better! :o :'( >:( Anyway, one last pic and there are several witnesses that saw and shot this bow at the classic that can verify that this is indeed a functional bow if there be any doubts. ;) ;D. Thanks for looking ! Josh
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I saw it in person. Its one of those bows when you look at it you think, "this shouldn't be possible". Great job pulling it off Josh. Last year you had that short walnut, and this year you brought this bow. How are you going to top it next year? :)
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When I saw Gert, my first thought was RONG! It was so wrong, I didn't have time to pick up a silent letter w to start it out, I had to get straight to the RONG!
Three reasons why:
1.) It was ERC, it shoulda blown up long before tiller was complete.
B.) There are two gaping holes in the one limb....the working part of the limb!
III.) Gun Dog was holding it, it shoulda been me. Me, I say!
Don't beat yourself up too badly, O Great Rider of the Ken-ebago. At least it ain't got wheels.
>:D
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Super nice bow. And I'm peed again. I never saw it at the classic, like about a million other bows I've seen posted here. Next year at the Classic when I talk with someone it's going to be, "hi how you been. SHOW ME YOUR BOWS!" haha
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Haha it seems like when you hear anything about erc everyone's like 'it has to be backed' and all that. And then you see something like this, it makes me wonder what it's really like lol.
Really awesome bow!
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The fact that you got it ready for finishing is a testament to your skill
@JW, I see what you did there :)
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You are da man Doc! A fine job on a stave i would probably never touch. ;) Sorry to hear about the eye, those cornea injuries are a beast. :-\
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Really nice Josh! I've got a sapling curing now to try an unbacked myself, thanks for the motivation. Hope the eye is alright and heals to normal!
Tracy
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That's one cool anomaly :D
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Beautiful tiller. Beautiful bow! Look forward to seeing her with her slap on ;)
Take care of your eye, Josh :( sure, ya got a spare but no harm in keeping it that way for as long as you can ;)
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That is very impressive! I have a hard enough time tillering those "perfect" staves!!
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I've been wondering if the "juniper needs a backing" bag really holds any air
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I've been wondering if the "juniper needs a backing" bag really holds any air
No wood NEEDS a backing
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Thanks fellas! Clint, I just don't know what I'll make for a "classic" bow next year. It depends on what stave I stumble on too in my stash. As far as backing erc goes if its good sound sapwood on the back and you design, tiller, and hold your mouth just right, it will stand a good chance of making a fine bow. In my experience, if there's any heartwood showing on the back, it NEEDS backing. Blackhawk said it best, this bow is nothing more than an interesting anomaly. I would like to be able to say it was all skill, but even I have limits to how big my stories can get >:D. Thanks again fellas and my eyeball is healing quite well! Josh
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It turned out really great, Josh!
Congrats on this one - a definitely unique piece!
May I ask again:
Do you say ERC only heartwood NEED backing
ERC with sapwood on the back can be a selfbow, but better with backing?
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May I ask again:
Do you say ERC only heartwood NEED backing
ERC with sapwood on the back can be a selfbow, but better with backing?
Yes, that has been my experience with erc. Any heartwood showing on the back is exactly where tension failures have started invariably. I am absolutely convinced that erc heartwood is worthless in tension, but great in compression. Thanks for the kind words! Josh
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there is no way thats real?! some kind of photoshop trick!
very nice bow bud! must have been a nerve wracking tillering process
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That is truly amazing! The talent on this site..... I would have never seen a bow in that crazy piece of wood, let alone been able to tiller one out of it. Great work. Always enjoy seeing your bows.
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May I ask again:
Do you say ERC only heartwood NEED backing
ERC with sapwood on the back can be a selfbow, but better with backing?
Yes, that has been my experience with erc. Any heartwood showing on the back is exactly where tension failures have started invariably. I am absolutely convinced that erc heartwood is worthless in tension, but great in compression. Thanks for the kind words! Josh
I think you are right there Josh.
ryoon made that nice elb bow out of a cedar stave that I gave him at Mojam last year and he chased a sapwood ring on the back of it. A lot of effort but it sure paid off in a nice bow...
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That worked out SweeeeeT Doc !!!!
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wow what a good piece of work that is. just beautifull.
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That bow is the Kind!
I really, really like it. One heck of a tillering job sir,
Gabe
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WWWWOOOOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That should win bow of the universe. Just amazing, especially since it is erc.
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Thank you very much fellas! I just got lucky. Paul- I gotta see Ryan work a little on that cedar bow. In fact that's when I first met him. That was a sweet bow from a talented young man to say the least! Once again, thank you for the kind words everyone! Josh
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I guess its alright >:D
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Have you done a laminate bow, Josh?
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I been on vacation. OH MY MY! That is amazing. Just got done splitting up a nice ERC log and got some similar looking so you give me hope Josh. Thanks Man, Marco D.
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I'm still amazed Josh ,very nice job. :)
Pappy
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It gets me excited about some ERC, when I get this trade bow finished my next project is an ERC Eastern Woodlands from a really clean stave I cut about 6 months ago.
Grady
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Thank you very much fellas! I just got lucky. Paul- I gotta see Ryan work a little on that cedar bow. In fact that's when I first met him. That was a sweet bow from a talented young man to say the least! Once again, thank you for the kind words everyone! Josh
Josh,
I have another stave up in the barn like I gave him. I'll bring it along to Mojam for ya if you like...
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Beautiful bow, I love the character of the holes and colors of the wood. Good work!
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WOW,that's a thing of beauty!
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That's awesome :) :)
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Thank you very much fellas! I really appreciate the kind words!
Parnell- nope, I sure haven't made one. I've considered it a time or two and even went so far as to round up some bamboo, but that's as far as it got.
Thanks Marco and don't forget to hold your mouth just right when you go to tillering ERC! ;)
Grady- ditto what I just said to Dubois!
Pappy-no one is more amazed than me! Lol!
Paul- that is a very generous offer! Thank you very much! Unfortunately, its not looking like Mojam is gonna work out for me this year, but thank you anyway sir!
BH, BB, YA- I'm pretty partial to the beauty of erc too! Thanks again everyone! Josh
Oh yeah! Lest I forgot.......kiss my donkey Soy! :o >:D :P. Lol!
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That's a sweet looking bow. Nice character.
Cipriano
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Josh I read this whole tread expecting to finally read where ya said " . . and then it blew up on me." But it never came. The whole time I kept thinking that is a wonderful looking bow and he has handled the character extremely well, but he'll never get it to full draw.
But then ya did. And obviously have done so again and again.
Well, I used to say unbacked cedar bows are a lot like bigfoot. Lot's of stories out there, but not much proof. Thanks to you I now have proof. She's a beauty!
Now it seems like a saw a tall limb free cedar tree trunk somewhere. . .
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Cippy- gracias Amigo!
SM- thanks man! I appreciate it. It really wasn't that tough to do. The double holes had to be handled carefully. I could only tiller one hole at a time, because you want the wood on both sides of each hole sharing the load equally. The only way I know to do that is to pay attention to side to side tip deflection. If both holes were bending, there is no way to tell which side of which hole is weak or strong. Tillering one hole at a time so that the tip doesn't twist one way or the other is pretty easy. But I never would have pulled it off trying to do them simultaneously. As far as the clean trunk goes, I've always had better luck with limbs. IMO the trunk wood is not quite as strong in tension. Good luck and thanks again! Josh
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i will vote for no.6 very nice