Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: dwardo on September 30, 2013, 09:40:20 am
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This is a Wych elm made from the compression side of a sapling. I didnt have high hopes due to the deflex but the other half made a nice bow. Have been suffering from archers elbow recently so its been slow work. It has given me other time to get some leather work out of the way, will have to pop up some photos soon.
Really is surprising this wych elm as you dont need a lot of it to make a bow.
This is about 63 ish long and the deflex is most natural. Had to even up one limb with the other. It would have done with more reflex in the tips maybe but it just refuses to take it. Heat treated twice and not sure if I may have another pass before calling it finished,,?? dont know yet. Some little horn overlays and also not sure if I will stain it yet.
Only taken about an inch of set so far and is pulling near 60lbs at 26. Might also drop the weight seeing as my elbow is complaining. Either way its starting to behave more now.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Bow%20making/IMAG3472_BURST003_zpsaa984399.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Bow%20making/IMAG3473_zps9fa904d4.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Bow%20making/IMAG3476_zpsde0ac7fd.jpg)
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the top limb is bending more than the other one, are you going for a possitive tiller? can't wait to see it finnished
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Dwardo, I love elm, and that bend is outstanding, sir!!!! 60 @ 26 is a bit much for the old man anymore, though ::)
rich
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the top limb is bending more than the other one, are you going for a possitive tiller? can't wait to see it finnished
Thats right mate the top does bend a little more. I tillered it more evenly on the board and it just did not shoot right. Then tillered it as I shot it in and it ended up with this profile, much sweeter to shoot and no handshock.
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Dwardo, I love elm, and that bend is outstanding, sir!!!! 60 @ 26 is a bit much for the old man anymore, though ::)
rich
Me too if I am honest. As me granddad always used to say "put yer muscles away lad"
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Great looking bow. Staring to love the white woods. Just started a couple of Mt. Maple bows. It is a nice change in workability from locust witch I have been working lately.
Matt
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Nice tiller lines on your bow there dwardo.How much does it weigh mass weight wise as in the picture?
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Nice tiller lines on your bow there dwardo.How much does it weigh mass weight wise as in the picture?
Weighing in at 18.7 oz at the minute. Will lose a tiny bit more with final sanding and thinning the tips a little more.
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Another sweet looking bow mate. I seem to be miles away from bow making these days, good to see you making them - makes me want to ditch the whisky cups and grab a stave :o
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Sounds good...Nothing like a good piece of elm.I did a winged elm pulling 53#@29.5" a while back that only weighed 17.45 ounces before snake skins and finish.Now it's 18.25 with the string.
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Sounds good...Nothing like a good piece of elm.I did a winged elm pulling 53#@29.5" a while back that only weighed 17.45 ounces before snake skins and finish.Now it's 18.25 with the string.
Elm seems the most dense of the white woods we have near bye. Not tried hornbeam and some fruit woods but its a new staple. Just had a look in the bible to check and its around that kind of weight, maybe a bit light so it may complain some more yet. I am considering silk backing it as I was less kind to the back in storage that I could have been.
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Another sweet looking bow mate. I seem to be miles away from bow making these days, good to see you making them - makes me want to ditch the whisky cups and grab a stave :o
Thanks mate should turn out ok. Those cups of yours are stunners mind ;)
Been a bit since I had a chance to play. Sometimes life gets in the way, hopefully in a good way. :)
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Excellent bow. Tiller looks great. I feel your pain with the bowyer's elbow. Mine goes from one arm to the other and I never seem to be totally pain free, part of it I guess. That elm bow looks like a sweet shooter to me.
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Real smooth bend in that bow Dwardo, you sure can get them bending nice.
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I sure like the curves that bow has. I am fond of all the Elms I have worked as well.
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Bows looking good. :)
I know a fair bit about elbow injuries! Is it an annoying dull ache somewhere in the joint itself? Is it mainly on the inside of the elbow?
If you haven't done anything specific to it then it's almost certainly a muscle imbalance.
Tell me where it hurts and I could save you a trip to the physio's!
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Ayup Mike,
Yup a dull ache in the joint it's self. Sore to the touch and if I extend my arm straight in front of me fingers upwards palm forward, then it's the part of my elbow pointing right and on top. Certainly doesnt feel like muscle.
Great this site we even get free physio advice :)
Came on after a weekend taking down all that elm.
Ps think your pm still might be full mate.
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Looks really good to me. Hope you elbow heals soon.
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I thought the tiller looked pretty close to even, and I can't see otherwise after making this view.
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d72/Reparrow/archery/witchelmtiller_zpsc8ab2476.jpg) (http://s33.photobucket.com/user/Reparrow/media/archery/witchelmtiller_zpsc8ab2476.jpg.html)
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Elbow is getting there so back to the tools :)
So, maybe a few scrapes upper limb? Its pulling about 68lb at 26 so far. Way to heavy for me to be honest but its a challenge. Taking about an inch of follow from its natural deflex here. Tiny bit of hand shock but most of my arrows are meant for the 40`s to mid 50`s so need to knock up something heavier.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/woods/IMAG3583_zps338ebc10.jpg)
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Few sneak pictures. Almost done just need to fit a little arrow shelf insert and make a new string but,, I cant do this until I can tune the bow and I cant do this until my shot elbow heals. Wont be shooting this thing for a while which is a shame as its a rocket launcher at this weight. Gives me time to do some other crafty things other than bowyery :(
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG3603_zpsc427313e.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG3605_zps52561fd0.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG3607_zps1bd37b4c.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Bow%20making/IMAG3616_zps2daef412.jpg)
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Another beauty..Very well done
Thanks Leroy
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Thats a pretty one,well done!
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Bend looks great, and I like that handle. How wide is it?
Mike.
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loooking good i like the colour now its stained. nice work
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Man that turned out very nice,tiller looks really good and the finish work is sweet. :) Looks like a BOM candidate to me. :) :) Very well done. :)
Pappy
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Came out nice :)
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Thanks all. Will take some better pictures when the weather dries up a bit.
Hopefully a friend will be able to pop round and draw the bow for me for the FD picture. This elbow wont be pulling any bows for the next month or so :(
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Elm is the top bow wood in my opinion. That bow is a beauty for sure. I love the lines on it. Did that stave have any heart wood in it at all? If so, and if you have any scraps, could you show a pic of it please? Trying to make sure I have wych em and red elm not confused, though I dont think I do.
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Just took some measurements and its 1, 5/8th wide to mid limb is then a taper from there to 3/8th tips, recurves are an inch at the base. Just put it on the board and its 69lbs at 27.
The bow is all sapwood as are all of the wych elms I have made. The heartwood only seems to kick in on much older larger diameter trees and then its probably only about a third of the overall mass. Easiest way to tell a wych elm is the leaves, besides being generally elm looking they also tend to have little devil horn shapes to the leaves and stand out most because they feel like sandpaper.
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That turned out really good. I like the stain and handle you chose.
How easy is it for you to come by wych elm where you live?
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That turned out really good. I like the stain and handle you chose.
How easy is it for you to come by wych elm where you live?
Very lucky to have a good friend who owns a woodland full of the stuff in NorthWales.
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You are lucky there. I'd love to spend some time in those woods as I enjoy the whole history of that area.
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You are lucky there. I'd love to spend some time in those woods as I enjoy the whole history of that area.
Your more than welcome if you ever find your self in my neck of the woods.
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One of these days I'd be more than happy to take you up on that offer. :)