Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on January 02, 2016, 01:19:35 pm

Title: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 02, 2016, 01:19:35 pm
I got an e-mail just before Christmas from a Southern Ontario resident who has several of my bows.  The recurve bow I had made his son a few years ago had broken and he wanted to know if I had one on hand as a replacement.  Now I don't usually keep hunting bows with a 32" draw on hand but I was working on a bow using some new Elm I had cut 2 Winters ago, I usually do a test of the wood by making a highly stressed bow.  I had the bow floor tillered and it was 68" long but I had planned on cutting it down to 64" for a 28" draw.  I figured 68" long on a 32" draw would be a good test and if it didn't survive, for any reason, I would at least have a good idea of the quality of the wood.  Well it did survive.  The bow is 68" long overall with fairly wide limbs that keep a fair bit of that width for most of their length.  I did a bit of heat-treating and added some 3" of reflex then decided to flip the tips after tillering the bow to brace.  Draw weight ended up at just over 50# at its full draw of 32".  The only arrow I had that was long enough for the full draw pic was for a Warbow, it's 32" long to the base of the point.  Here's a couple of pictures

(https://i.imgur.com/nqi7bjb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hWDTFiv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IzY6AuR.jpg)
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on January 02, 2016, 01:27:57 pm
whew, thats a nice one,,  :)
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: TimPotter on January 02, 2016, 01:34:19 pm
Your bow have always been a big inspiration to me. I like how you made the handle area on this bow. Beautiful work.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Stixnstones on January 02, 2016, 01:58:51 pm
that looks smooth as butter  :)
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: dragonman on January 02, 2016, 02:14:42 pm
Cool Bow, well done , thats an acheivement, I have never made a 68" bow that draws so far, I broke a 68" elm bow of similar design pulling it to 30" a few months ago
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Hans H on January 02, 2016, 02:45:02 pm
very nice, looks perfect in all details.  Hans
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: jandersson on January 02, 2016, 02:47:44 pm
Real nice! I like how the handle is done to a center shot.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: sieddy on January 02, 2016, 03:37:56 pm
Beautiful bow Marc. I imagine your customer will be blown away when he sees that!  :)
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Del the cat on January 02, 2016, 04:00:16 pm
Sweet, real pretty curve.
Del
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 02, 2016, 06:02:04 pm
Thanks guys. 

This was a good test for the wood.  It's strong in tension, as Elm usually is, but also elastic enough to tolerate the high stress from this bow's long draw.  I would have preferred a couple more inches in length but it was what I had to work with
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on January 02, 2016, 09:10:14 pm
Nice work on that elm.That 32" draw is long yank even for this long drink of water.Do you happen to know the kind of elm you got up there.The red elm here I've been disappointed with.Darn near have to make the limbs 2" wide.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: wizardgoat on January 02, 2016, 09:29:00 pm
Beauty bend Marc
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: riverrat on January 02, 2016, 09:33:03 pm
awesome bow. Tony
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 02, 2016, 09:56:50 pm
Beautiful bow, Marc! Jawge
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: helmet on January 02, 2016, 11:47:23 pm
 I really like your bows. That one turned out great.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Badger on January 03, 2016, 06:00:54 am
  Looks great, doesn't appear to be stacking at all either. I am always tempted to tller one out to 32" for broadhead shooting. I always end up with too much set. Good job Mark.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Drewster on January 03, 2016, 08:40:17 am
WOW, images of a masterfully crafted bow.  That appears to be about as good as it gets.  Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Swampman on January 03, 2016, 08:46:04 am
Very nice bow Marc and great job getting 32 inches out of it.  Very impressive.  Mike
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: burchett.donald on January 03, 2016, 09:48:39 am
   Gorgeous bow Marc...The bend is awesome and I like the way you designed the handle for close to center arrow pass...
                                                                                                                                        Don
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: bushboy on January 03, 2016, 09:54:47 am
Another beauty Marc!you are inspiring to say the least!
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 03, 2016, 09:55:31 am
Thanks guys

This Elm has sapwood with a yellowish colour which is usually an indication of good wood.  The wood is stiffer than some and was a bit resistant to reflexing.  You can see that the limbs are pretty thin for a 50# bow

Another test of elasticity, which to me is the most important property of bow wood, would be a D section bow and that will be for the future.  Fortunately the tree was a good 10" in diameter so I have a good supply of it
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Aaron H on January 03, 2016, 01:28:17 pm
Great bow Marc.   Your tiller is always picture perfect
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on January 03, 2016, 04:47:01 pm
Yes I can see the limbs are thin.Well no yellow sapwooded elm here.White sapwood with a tastee freeze ice cream tannish brown heartwood.Worked with that winged elm and liked that a whole lot.That had white sapwood too.In the end the tillering is spot on.On your design of bow.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 04, 2016, 09:48:04 am
Thanks guys

I have a piece of Winged Elm here that was given to me.  Someday I'll make a bow out of it
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: blackhawk on January 04, 2016, 10:18:15 am
Ya got all the draw and bend outta that one!!! Sweet :)
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Pappy on January 04, 2016, 10:36:34 am
Very nice Marc,bet he will love that. :)
  Pappy
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on January 04, 2016, 02:36:15 pm
I've located and can go get a stave or two of the winged elm.Just need to drive to get it.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: bushboy on January 04, 2016, 05:08:45 pm
Yes it's quite common to see yellowish sapwood here in manitoba.sometimes a pinkish/purple tinge also.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 04, 2016, 05:24:01 pm
Thanks guys
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Hamish on January 04, 2016, 06:20:27 pm
Marc you have been a mighty fine bowyer for many years. This one looks to me like perfection.
  Hamish.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Lehtis on January 05, 2016, 03:21:27 am
Looks great!
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Badly Bent on January 05, 2016, 07:17:21 pm
I always like viewing your bows for their smooth bends Marc, at 32" draw this one just has more viewing pleasure than most. :)
Very nice bow, I wouldn't want to be the deer on the receiving end of an arrow from that one.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: medicinewheel on January 06, 2016, 05:39:13 am
Dang!!! Love the profile!
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 06, 2016, 08:22:00 am
Thanks guys
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on January 06, 2016, 08:30:55 am
Occasionally here some of this hickory here has a pinkish hew to it.Wonderful bow wood too.I've made a bow or two with it being wider towards the tip but had a little hand shock with it then.Probably a tillering oversight on my part.How does your bow feel shooting it?
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 06, 2016, 02:08:10 pm
The bow does shoot good although a bit slow, but then the longest arrows I have that are suitable for it are 30" long and weigh 600 grains.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: simson on January 09, 2016, 11:58:24 am
What a bend! Awesome execution
A drawlength of 32" is a hard thing, must be a guy like a Yeti
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: richardzane on January 10, 2016, 12:05:03 pm
wow what a beauty... perfect tiller too
the slowness... it could be the heavy arrows but could the thinner limbs factor in at all?
curious that's all.
Title: Re: Elm Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on January 10, 2016, 01:01:22 pm
Thanks guys

The speed is more a combination of short draw, the bow is meant for a 32" draw, and heavy arrow.  At 30" it is probably pulling around 45#