Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jodocus on May 24, 2014, 10:07:52 am

Title: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Jodocus on May 24, 2014, 10:07:52 am
Hi all

I've been busy making other things a while, now I made this hazel bow for a friend. It's a quiet and accurate shooter, probably cause it's pretty long.

I've messed away the notes with the technical details, but it is somewhere around 72" long, and pulled about 45# at 29 draw. And it is pretty light weight.

From all the hazel logs I've looked at up to now, this was the only one grown straight and with no twist at all. But it was so badly bug eaten, that I had to decrown it. Some bug bite I left to be seen on the fade. The pith goes trough the handle. Hazel is probably the only wood I know that will not check with this layout.

Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Jodocus on May 24, 2014, 10:08:54 am
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Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Pat B on May 24, 2014, 11:21:57 am
Very nice hazel bow, Jodocus.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Weylin on May 24, 2014, 01:18:54 pm
Way to make a nice bow from a questionable stave. Looks great!  8)
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: chamookman on May 24, 2014, 01:25:37 pm
Way cool - great bow ! Bob
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on May 24, 2014, 01:40:12 pm
Looks like a smooth drawing, forgiving bow.  I like it!
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Del the cat on May 24, 2014, 04:24:40 pm
Nice bow :) ... good ol' Hazel, gotta love it. Silky smooth to work.
Like the flip tips.
Del
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: zenart on May 24, 2014, 05:09:10 pm
Yah I'm diggin' this one Jodocus. Is it just me or that handle offset a little? I like it. Can't quite tell by the pic. Horn or bone tips?
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Arrowind on May 24, 2014, 05:12:28 pm
Very nice!  Love those tips.   
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Zion on May 24, 2014, 06:40:38 pm
Awesome! That's a great bow for sure. Love the tips, nice tiller too.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: rps3 on May 24, 2014, 07:33:26 pm
Beautiful bow. Looks trapped, did you temper it as well?
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on May 24, 2014, 09:26:13 pm
Very nice.  :)
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Jodocus on May 25, 2014, 12:13:43 am
Thanks guys  ;D

rps3: it is trapped about 3:2 belly to back, but not heat treated

zenart: yes, the handle is set back and there is a little deflex in the fades, one natural, one steamed.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Hrothgar on May 25, 2014, 07:17:06 am
Very nice, she looks like she'll be good for quite a few miles.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Bogaman on May 25, 2014, 10:53:36 am
Nice bend to that one! Love the insect groove, gives it character.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: dbb on May 25, 2014, 12:37:24 pm
Very nice!
Love the tips and the overall profile.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: ajooter on May 25, 2014, 11:58:52 pm
When you decrown a stave do you chase a ring on the back of the bow?  I REALLY like this bow btw.  I've seen some nice bows made from hazel on here.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Jodocus on May 26, 2014, 01:55:06 am
Thank you everyone, I did not expect that much feedback on this bow.

ajooter: No, don't chase a ring. You instead cut through the rings, but parallel to the fibers. That's the point. Ideally, you'll see nicely straight, parallel grain on the back. Look at the pic "beads", there you can see the cut-through ring on the back. You actually make a board bow from a stave.

I attached you a pic how the limb was cut from the log, hope it makes sense.

And yes, hazel is cool bow wood.  :-*
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: ajooter on May 26, 2014, 11:39:30 am
Thank you for the explanation sir!
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: GlisGlis on May 26, 2014, 12:57:46 pm
very nice bow. love hazelnut
wouldnt be safer to add a backing of some sort?
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: mikekeswick on May 27, 2014, 03:29:55 am
very nice bow. love hazelnut
wouldnt be safer to add a backing of some sort?

Why does it need a backing? It is already 'backed' with unbroken fibers from tip to tip. Imagine that roll of uncooked pasta.... ;D

I've made quite a few bow from hazel....you really should try heat treating it.  ;) It holds lots of reflex  :)
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Jodocus on May 27, 2014, 05:56:11 am
GlisGlis, yes I trust that back. there is one spot that got a tiny rawhide patch because of two adjacent pin knots (lengthwise, evil  >:(), but the patch is less than 1/4" and hardly visible. I also gave it some good security reserves in terms of extra bow lenght.

Mike, I have not heat treatet a single bow yet, but I'm still determined to try. On this one, the trapped design and decrowned back are in a good equilibrium, I guess.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: mikekeswick on May 28, 2014, 04:14:03 am
GlisGlis, yes I trust that back. there is one spot that got a tiny rawhide patch because of two adjacent pin knots (lengthwise, evil  >:(), but the patch is less than 1/4" and hardly visible. I also gave it some good security reserves in terms of extra bow lenght.

Mike, I have not heat treatet a single bow yet, but I'm still determined to try. On this one, the trapped design and decrowned back are in a good equilibrium, I guess.

Yes but having that flat section on the back isn't making it work as hard as if you'd left the crown intact. The elder bows i've made have all been from very narrow branches (1 1/2 inch wide), I left the backs intact with high crown and then heat treated. I've tested quite a bit of elder and can confirm it's another very strong in tension wood.  :)
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: Dvshunter on May 28, 2014, 11:03:19 pm
Nice looking bow. Thanks for sharing.  Very well done.
Title: Re: Decrowned hazel bow
Post by: paoliguy on May 29, 2014, 12:35:05 pm
Nice classy looking bow and nice photographs as well!