Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badger on July 12, 2015, 12:36:08 pm

Title: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Badger on July 12, 2015, 12:36:08 pm
      I have made a lot of bows over this shaving mule but I think it needs a few design changes I have been putting off. Going to miss you old girl! The 4 staves I roughed out in the picture I decided to weigh so I could keep track of the moisture loss. Every single one of the weighed exactly 36 oz. I got a kick out of that.
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: HighEagle on July 12, 2015, 02:09:20 pm
I'm in about the same boat with my shave horse. You going to use the same design or use a different plan? Like to see what you come up with, Thanks Chuck
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Badger on July 12, 2015, 03:03:54 pm
I'm in about the same boat with my shave horse. You going to use the same design or use a different plan? Like to see what you come up with, Thanks Chuck

  This is actually called a shaving mule because of the type of adjustment it uses where the stave rests. I am going to slightly change the height and the angles of the legs and the angle on the stave holding block. Very close to indentical with only very minor changes.
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 12, 2015, 05:32:04 pm
It served you well, Badger!
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: HighEagle on July 12, 2015, 06:30:56 pm
Hope you post it when finished, Chuck
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: TolkienFan on July 12, 2015, 08:06:43 pm
Looks nice, I'll take it haha.  Is there a tutorial on how to make one of those?  It would save my back, which has been getting very sore for shaping my staves. 
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: bradsmith2010 on July 12, 2015, 09:43:48 pm
looks like its got a few more bows in it :)
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Badger on July 12, 2015, 11:03:25 pm
looks like its got a few more bows in it :)

   It would probably out last me.  I want the new one about 8" longer, about 1/2 the angle you see not on the bow sitting in it. A little higher so I can use a longer foot petal. The seat slides and with another 8 inches I could work an entire limb without moving the bow. I am also considering just working in a vice and standing. As a retiree my legs need the exercise, amazing the workout you can give your legs hogging wood off of a stave while standing. Sitting on the horse almost makes it too easy.
 
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: mikekeswick on July 13, 2015, 03:57:07 am
I must say I prefer the precision of a vice and solid bench. I've used shave horses a few times and never really got on with them, what I do like is the fact that you aren't tied into a workshop with a shave horse especially when the sun is shining  :)
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Del the cat on July 13, 2015, 04:12:28 am
I get a lot of people asking me for 'plans' for my one... Plans??? I didn't use no steenking plans ::)
Fitting the seat at an angle worked for me so that I can let the stave pass by my left side... handy with some of those V long warbows.
When I'm doing fetes/fairs etc I tell the kids it's called a shave horse 'cos it's got the 3 legs like a horse ::)... maybe a kid will laugh one day? :laugh:
Del
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Pappy on July 13, 2015, 07:25:03 am
I also use a vice  and standing but on occasionally I just want to set and use mine, a good vice set up or bench is like an old friend, you get use to them and them to you. ;) :) Mine got more use when you was in Tennessee than it has in a long while.  ;) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 13, 2015, 08:35:04 am
I guess they can be useful down South but up here in the North they are not very practical so I stopped using mine some 20 years ago.  Do all of my tillering indoors, don't have to fight with the bugs in the Summer and I don't freeze my a** in the Winter
Title: Re: Time to retire the old mule
Post by: Badger on July 13, 2015, 09:26:37 am
I guess they can be useful down South but up here in the North they are not very practical so I stopped using mine some 20 years ago.  Do all of my tillering indoors, don't have to fight with the bugs in the Summer and I don't freeze my a** in the Winter

  I always wondered about that Mark. I live on the coast, seldom ever hot, never cold and no bugs. I actually envy the guys with 4 seasons but might change my mind if I lived in it.