Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gorzideudeus on January 22, 2017, 06:55:53 pm
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So,this is actually my second attempt at making a bow. My first attempt was a piece of red maple that ended up like this:
(http://i.imgur.com/Zo2Gd5l.jpg?2)
So that was depressing, but I kept coming back to these forums and looking at bows...and I gave it another shot.
I went up the mountain and located some good trees, trying to find the best one. I eventually chose a sugar maple that appeared to be in poor health. However, it was very straight near the bottom and roughly 7 inches in diameter, so I chopped it. I broke it into staves and brought them back home. When I got back, I picked the straightest of them and stuck it above the ceiling panels near the propane heater for about 2 weeks. I had already started chasing a ring and was about halfway through when I learned that it wasn't really necessary to do so with whitewoods. I finished it anyways, and went from there. I didn't have a specific type of bow in mind; I just had a general shape in mind. Therefore, I don't really know what type of bow this would be categorized as. It's about 62" NTN, and probably no more than 35#. (I don't have one of those poundage tester things, so that's just an estimate.) I also made my own string because I'm too cheap to buy one.
Here it is at 28" draw.
(http://i.imgur.com/ADkXrEN.jpg)
I sorta made a tiller tree, but I didn't trust it. I ended up just flexing it by hand and looking for stiff spots, and did my best to work them out. Let me know how it looks.
It seemed to take some set, so I figured I'd may as well learn how to recurve tips.
(http://i.imgur.com/kkt2hLp.jpg?1)
I also had a recent rabbit hide that was pretty torn up, but I managed to salvage two pieces from it and add "decoration". :)
(http://i.imgur.com/z9cyRNx.jpg)
I burned in some maple leaves, because why not.
(http://i.imgur.com/1gSjGAU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0oIyuCO.jpg)
It has two coats of tung oil and some poly on it.
Overall, it shoots straight enough, although there is still some slight limb twist and the string could probably be better aligned. Still, I'm happy with it as my first bow, and it will definitely not be my last.
Let me know what you think, and I'll take any advice/criticism!
Christian
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I like it! And the rabbit hide looks cool.
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Looks like a pretty awesome first successful bow to me. Nice work. I would recommend letting the stave dry out longer. Even two weeks in a warm room isn't nearly enough. Thats where your set may have come from, as your tiller looks good....To me anyway. Great job, and welcome to the hobby.
Eric
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Looks great to me, especially for your second bow! I probably broke at least 25 or so before I got something that shot. If you rough out a bow to starting dimensions so it's bending just a little it will dry much faster than as a stave. Welcome :)
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Looks like a pretty awesome first successful bow to me. Nice work. I would recommend letting the stave dry out longer. Even two weeks in a warm room isn't nearly enough. Thats where your set may have come from, as your tiller looks good....To me anyway. Great job, and welcome to the hobby.
Eric
Thanks. I guess I wasn't patient enough. I have a couple black locust staves that have been drying for a few months, plus the rest of the sugar maple...I'll probably start another soon enough.
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Very nice job, well done.
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That's a nice looking first bow. Your tiller looks good. Like others mentioned, try to let your bow wood season a little more if you can. Your bow might pick up a little more draw weight as it continues to dry out.
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Awesome. Might end up doing this same sort of thing with hickory (pyramid, flipped tips)
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Man, that looks very nice. You are well on your way.
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Very nice looking bow
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Incredible curves. Well done.
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Well done on your first. The tiller looks pretty good :)
One note don't burn the back of the bow, You are probably fine with this one as your burn is close to the handle but better to use the belly if you do this again.
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That a really nice bend Christian. Welcome to PA I think your gonna like it here. I think you did burn leaf patterns in belly of bow and that's ok. As said never heat back of bow. My only advice would be keep looking for and harvesting bow staves. Get enough that you have dry cured staves when ever you need them. It really is amazing how many a person can go through when this bug bites.
Bjrogg
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Thanks for the advice / encouragement everyone.
The burns are actually on the belly, not the back. The picture probably made it look otherwise. I also used dry heat for the bends, and just let gravity do the work.
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Pretty good and even excellent first time trys Gorz.you've got a great future in self bow making I'd say.
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I like it! Way to go on your accomplishment.
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great second bow. well great bow anyway !!
did you used some kind of stencil to burn the leaves? you made a shape first or is it freehand?
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great second bow. well great bow anyway !!
did you used some kind of stencil to burn the leaves? you made a shape first or is it freehand?
Hey Glis, I actually drew a maple leaf on a square piece of aluminum sheeting, cut out the shape, and clamped the sheet over the spot on the bow where I wanted it. Then I just took a butane lighter and scorched it, without charring it.
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Well, I'm impressed! You are well on your way, bro! The bow looks great, but the account of your process told a tale of you doing a lot of things right!
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Some of us have stated that our first bows were pretty hairy...but not like this! >:D
Keep it up!
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Some of us have stated that our first bows were pretty hairy...but not like this! >:D
Keep it up!
;) Yeah, I mean, the hide was ripped up and useless for anything else, so...
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what an awesome looking tiller on this bow! i like it a lot. My first bow was not nearly as good.
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great second bow. well great bow anyway !!
did you used some kind of stencil to burn the leaves? you made a shape first or is it freehand?
Hey Glis, I actually drew a maple leaf on a square piece of aluminum sheeting, cut out the shape, and clamped the sheet over the spot on the bow where I wanted it. Then I just took a butane lighter and scorched it, without charring it.
good realization
I think I may work even with cardboard and a flatiron. Have to try it as soon as my wife recover from my last test with the microwave >:D
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That is a really good looking tiller. Good job! The fact you did that by eye is double impressive
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That is a really good looking tiller. Good job! The fact you did that by eye is double impressive
Thanks, I guess that the tiller tree I made didn't seem to accurately imitate how I actually held the bow...and I felt like it was going to launch itself out of the groove at any moment. :)
I think I'll probably make a higher quality tiller stand for my next bow.
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That is a real beauty! Beautiful tiller. Congratulations. Jawge
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Really cool bow! Looks like fun to shoot!
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Very nice bow, wished my first or 2nd had turned out like that. Tiller looks great, not sure on the skins but HA, if you like them I like them also. ;):)
Pappy
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Hi, I have already commented on the bow, looks great! One question: I see that you have 2 nocking points on the bow, did you change your mind on which one works better or do you nock the arrow in between the 2 points?
Cheers,
Phil
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Hi, I have already commented on the bow, looks great! One question: I see that you have 2 nocking points on the bow, did you change your mind on which one works better or do you nock the arrow in between the 2 points?
Cheers,
Phil
Hi Phil, I put the arrow between them... But now that you mention it, I guess that there really is no reason for the lower one.
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Nice job on your first bow! Welcome to the obsession!
Patrick
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Very nice bow, wished my first or 2nd had turned out like that. Tiller looks great, not sure on the skins but HA, if you like them I like them also. ;):)
Pappy
Ha, yeah, the thought just occurred to me when I learned about people using plain rawhide (not that my rabbit skin is adding any structural support)
Nice job on your first bow! Welcome to the obsession!
Patrick
Thanks, and it is does seem to be an obsession. That's probably why I don't let my staves dry enough. ;D
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As long as you collect staves faster than you build bows that problem will correct itself over time :)
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Welcome on board.
You did already very good work, cannot say my first bows were that nice.
Curious to see you next 10
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Very nice bow, wished my first or 2nd had turned out like that. Tiller looks great, not sure on the skins but HA, if you like them I like them also. ;):)
Pappy
Ha, yeah, the thought just occurred to me when I learned about people using plain rawhide (not that my rabbit skin is adding any structural support)
Nice bow . You are welcome in my shop anytime. Some are just naturals. I am pretty sure I will be in western Pa. This next summer. Stay in contact and maybe I can bring a couple staves and we can hack one out. Arvin
Nice job on your first bow! Welcome to the obsession!
Patrick
Thanks, and it is does seem to be an obsession. That's probably why I don't let my staves dry enough. ;D
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Don't know what I did on the post above but the part about being in Pa. is me Arvin
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Hey Arvin,
Sounds like it'd be fun. I live on the northeast side of the state though. But hey, if work isn't too busy and I have some free time, it could be possible.
I'll keep it in mind.
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Lord willing I will be in the Warren area in August. Arvin