Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mike Joe on October 25, 2013, 12:45:08 pm

Title: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Mike Joe on October 25, 2013, 12:45:08 pm
Hey guys, this is the tree I posted the other day, because I wasn't sure what it was. ( Thanks Pat B, and Okie64 ) ;) It is 70" long, with a 4" handle, 1 3/4 wide at the fades with 3/4" tips. I'm going for 40-50# range @ 28". It has some natural deflex at the handle, so I floor tillered it, then added some reflex and heat treated it. This is my third bow so I may need some help, or advise along the way. The first two pictures are before and after I added the reflex. Then one of the back and belly. Hopefully the pictures will cooperate this time.  Let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: steve b. on October 25, 2013, 01:08:29 pm
I don't know what wood it is but I love the looks of that stave!
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: CherokeeKC on October 25, 2013, 05:52:47 pm
Im lookn forward to following this!  I have a privet stave waiting for me in the garage.  Good luck!
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Mike Joe on October 26, 2013, 12:13:11 am
Thanks guys :) I got it tillered today. Privet is my favorite wood that i've worked with so far. I don't know for sure what it weighs but I'm guessing just shy of forty pounds. I should be getting a scale pretty soon. I heat treated it after tillering, so I'm hoping it will pick up a little more weight. The first picture was the first time I put it on the tillering tree. Afterwards I got it bending mid limb, then started weakening the limbs. The second picture shows it braced at four inches. After I got it to a low brace I drew it back about six inches. The right limb was a little stronger, so I evened them out. Then I took it to a full brace, and I just had to tweak it a little bit. I think the tiller looks pretty good, but if you see something wrong please point it out. It took quite a bit of set, but I think heat treating it after I got it braced would have helped some. I think that every time I work on a bow I'm learning some more, and I think it will start showing in my work. Thanks for looking :)
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: BowEd on October 26, 2013, 08:07:27 am
Excellent job for just your second bow Mike.That bows' back has some really nice character.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: BowEd on October 26, 2013, 08:09:38 am
Sorry reread it.Your third bow I mean.Whatever.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Fred Arnold on October 26, 2013, 08:21:00 am
That's looking real good!!! I agree with steve b, love the looks of the back profile and your full draw pics.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: danny f on October 26, 2013, 08:43:57 am
i have made a couple of privet bows, i like it. just careful sanding on those little bumps on the back. my last one failed because i slightly sanded through a couple of them.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Mike Joe on October 26, 2013, 11:05:20 am
Before I started tillering I was worried those knots wouldn't hold up when I started bending them, but I'm glad they did. I was toasting the belly last night and I got a little bit carried away, and scorched the bottom limb. So when I strung it this morning I heard a crunch, and my heart sank. I thought I had cracked a limb, so I looked it over real good and didn't find anything. When I tried to string it the second time I heard it again. Puzzled I looked at the ground and realized the bottom limb was sitting in some pine needles. I was glad nobody was watching. ;D I finally got it strung and shot a few arrows through it. I've definitely got a new favorite bow.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: SLIMBOB on October 26, 2013, 11:11:51 am
Very nice.  Good example of why it's important to see the unbraced profile to judge the tiller correctly.  Full draw looks great to my eyes.
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Badly Bent on October 26, 2013, 11:12:43 am
Looking good, nice job of getting it bending evenly through though those knotty areas on the back. You got ya a good bow outta that stave Mike Joe. Looks smooth!
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: IdahoMatt on October 26, 2013, 11:39:18 am
Great job.  Looks like you've got the bug.  Hope to see more soon.  Keep up the great work
Title: Re: Privet Bow in Progress
Post by: Mike Joe on October 26, 2013, 12:45:32 pm
Thanks everyone, I never would have started making bows without this site, I remember the first time I picked up a PA magazine and thought, "People still make bows out of wood?" That's when I got hooked. ;)