Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Prarie Bowyer on March 05, 2015, 04:47:04 pm

Title: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 05, 2015, 04:47:04 pm

Finishing up my first Yew bow.  Love how springy the wood is but I'm surprised at how soft it feels in general.?  ???

Took more string follow than I expected.   

I glued in about 1.5 or so each limb of Reflex when laminating the bamboo. 

then With the long string I only drew it a few inches and evened it out.
then drew it and exercised it down another 2 inches adjusting each time the one stiff limb till it was right.  That was still super shallow draw.  Then I began to work it down to 29"  in 2" increments and adjusting that one limb if it looked stiff at deeper draw lengths.

Over all took nearly 5" ? ?

Looks nice and feels smooth to draw.   Uncertain of the weight.  I was aiming for even bending and high as possible  given I'd never worked with the wood before.

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: adams89 on March 05, 2015, 06:08:56 pm

how long is your bow?
and did you recurve it?

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Del the cat on March 05, 2015, 06:16:19 pm

Was it well seasoned? Was the boo V thick?
I've occasionally had Yew that was sort of alternate heart and sapwood, neither really one or the other, which was a bit puddingy rather than springy.
Heat treated Yew with boo backing is a great combo.
Del

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 05, 2015, 06:49:02 pm

Are you sure it's Yew?

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 06, 2015, 02:10:07 pm

looks and smells like yew.
 :-\

It isn't the dark variety.  I think the tone of he wood may be a male female tree issue?

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Carson (CMB) on March 07, 2015, 02:17:06 pm

Like Del said, the soft yew loves a good heat-treating. I love to generously coat the belly with 1/2 pound cut of shellac before heat treating. The shellac/soft yew combo responds really well to heat tempering.

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: danny f on March 07, 2015, 02:19:59 pm

teh yew bow i made felt  abit spongy, when drawn.a good heat treating stiffened it right up and made a big difference.

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 08, 2015, 10:38:34 am

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee59/scottnlena/image.jpg1.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/scottnlena/media/image.jpg1.jpg.html)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee59/scottnlena/image.jpg2.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/scottnlena/media/image.jpg2.jpg.html)

No f/d pic yet.  But i'm happy with it.  the amount of string follow is disappointing.  I'm wondering if that is the Bamboo over stressing the belly?  next time I'll try soft maple and raw hide.

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: Prarie Bowyer on March 08, 2015, 10:39:37 am

Pretty zippy bow to shoot even with the string follow.  About 55# but haven't weighed it yet.

Title: Re: First Yew Bowing coming up - boo backed Yew.
Post by: rockrush69 on March 08, 2015, 02:36:33 pm

Yew does that man . It usually takes some set . No biggie though .... good job man !!!!'