Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jimmy on July 05, 2013, 01:39:42 pm

Title: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: jimmy on July 05, 2013, 01:39:42 pm
   My friend Sidewinder (Danny) has been flirting with hackberry a little and encouraged me to try it.  I found a real nice 3" diameter tree while mushroom hunting this spring.  I cut it down with my hatchet to check the growth rings and the outer one was perfect.  I took it home, roughed it out square and let it season for about 2 months.  I recently finished it and here it is.  It is 62" TTT, 1 1/2" wide parallel limbs, last 14" tapering to 3/8" at nocks.  4" handle, 2" fades.  Leather handle wrap, leather shelf, hickory tip overlays.  I heat treated it lightly twice, and gave it a deep treatment with about 1 3/4" reflex.  It has about 1" string follow right after being strung and shot several times, and is straight when relaxed.  It pulls 55# at 26".  A little more than I wanted, but I decided to stop while I was satisfied with the tiller.  Hackberry is suprisingly nice and very easy to work with.  This bow is the best white wood bow that I have made so far.  I will be using it again.  It has very beautiful grain.  I stained it lightly and finished it with tru oil.  I give the stuff a thumbs up.  However, heat treating is a must with it.   
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: jimmy on July 05, 2013, 01:42:02 pm
  More pics.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on July 05, 2013, 01:50:25 pm
Very nice indeedy.  Go a little wider at that length and you can reduce the string follow a good bit.  Love HB and you did that one proud.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Onebowonder on July 05, 2013, 01:50:37 pm
Beautiful work there...  By-the-way, I love the new excuse for going out into the woods to look for potential bow wood staves - - - "Honey, I'm going mushroom hunting..."  I'll have to borrow that idea!  >:D  >:D  >:D

OneBow
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Joec123able on July 05, 2013, 02:50:08 pm
Very nice job man I love hackberry. Ive went on mushroom hunts tht turned into cutting bow wood too lol
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: jimmy on July 05, 2013, 03:46:44 pm
  Thanks for lookin'.  Bow wood always on the brain (it comes and goes).  Every good tree just a potential bow with roots.  Wasn't our Creator thoughtful to have planted so many bow staves for us?    ;)
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Del the cat on July 05, 2013, 03:47:32 pm
Yup nice bow, handsome grain.
Del
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: JonW on July 05, 2013, 04:26:29 pm
Good work there Jimmy. Tell ol' Danny boy I better be seeing a Molly from him real soon.

Jon W.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: okie64 on July 05, 2013, 04:36:00 pm
Thats a great lookin hackberry stick! Hackberry is my favorite of the whitewoods, easy to work and it smells great too.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: lesken2011 on July 05, 2013, 05:03:42 pm
Nice job, Jimmy! Sweet bend on that one!! ;)
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: BowSlayer on July 05, 2013, 05:45:52 pm
very nice bow. congrats
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Marks on July 05, 2013, 05:48:34 pm
When is the best time to cut hackberry? Seeing and hearing all this talk about hackberry is giving me the itch to cut some for the future. We have it coming out our ears here.


Very nice bow too by the way.  :laugh:
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Badly Bent on July 05, 2013, 09:01:58 pm
Thats a great looking bow and well tillered too. Nice work on that hackberry Jimmy.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: TRACY on July 05, 2013, 09:29:19 pm
Nice bow, tiller looks real good!

Marks, cut it now if you want the the bark to come off easy.


Tracy
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: osage outlaw on July 05, 2013, 09:38:21 pm
Very nice bow.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: jimmy on July 06, 2013, 01:06:18 pm
Thanks for the compliments guys.  Jon, Danny and I have talked a lot about making mollys, just haven't done it yet.  Just cut hackberry in the warm months and you can peel the bark off with your fingers.  When I did this one I brushed the back with amber shellac to seal it for seasoning.  When I finished it I just lightly sanded it and it left that cool color combo, more camo than just plain white.  Oh yes, it did smell like popcorn when when I heated it. 
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Zion on July 06, 2013, 05:00:31 pm
very nice, glad you kept it simple, very good design.
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: PeteC on July 06, 2013, 11:08:19 pm
That's a nice bow ,looks great. Good work. God Bless
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: mwosborn on July 07, 2013, 12:37:16 am
Nice looking hack!
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Pappy on July 08, 2013, 08:00:19 am
Beautiful bow,nicely done,love the grain on Hackberry,it really stands out when finished. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: ohma2 on July 08, 2013, 11:02:29 am
nice bow there . nothing wrong with hack,B
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: Sidewinder on July 08, 2013, 12:06:56 pm
Man Jimmy, that turned out sweeeet. can't wait to shoot it. You are an outstanding bowyer and I really appreciate hanging with you and sharing thoughts and ideas. I will try and get by in the next couple weeks.
 Been bowfishing lately? I shot two last night. Been getting down to the river for and an hour or so when I can. Seems like I never get skunked but have'nt been down there with my bow  when they were running heavy. Its only when I'm not packin their all over the place. Otherwise its just onesy twosey.
  Jimmy does'nt post much guys, but I'm here to tell ya, I've seen his work now for the last couple years and he is as good as any of em I guarantee ya. All his work is stellar. I am fortunate to have him as a friend.   Danny
Title: Re: hackberry "peer pressure" bow
Post by: BowEd on July 08, 2013, 12:11:26 pm
Man nice touch and finish to that bow.