Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: silent sniper on February 24, 2019, 05:26:05 pm

Title: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: silent sniper on February 24, 2019, 05:26:05 pm
Good Day everyone,
I am showing off my latest build, a Bamboo backed Black Locust American Semi Longbow.
This bow started out as a pair of black locust billets that were tapered with a jointer and connected together with a tapered finger splice. The bamboo backing was glued on and 1-1/4” of reflex was added at the same time. A 15” power lam was added at the same time to further strengthen the center of the bow. A 12” long block of black cherry was glued on the belly to serve as the handle.

After tillering the bow I cut it in half and used fiberglass mesh and epoxy to make it into a takedown bow. The takedown system works well and is completely solid when put together.

This was my first asymmetrical bow build. I found the tillering to be slightly more difficult then a symmetrical bow since the limbs do not bend at the same radius from the difference in lengths. The bow is very stable in the hand throughout the entire draw.  I can’t say if the asymmetrical design or just good tillering that is the cause for the stable draw.

The bamboo back was stained with a cordovan leather dye and the bow was finished with 6 coats of water-based spar.  A chocolate leather grip and arrow rest was added with artificial sinew stitching to finish it off.

The final stats are as follows;
66 Ό” long NTN,  51# @ 27”. Asymmetrical design with a 2” longer top limb.  1-1/4” wide limb with a slightly willow leaf design tapering to Ό” tips. 

The bow ended up with Ύ” string follow. The bow is a quick shooter for a string follow design and averages right at 170 fps with 10GPP arrows.

 
I built this bow with the idea of a simple and dependable hunting bow. I believe it will suit me well on my adventures to come.

Enjoy, Taylor.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7916/46287618295_060ca42ac4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dwh9hp)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7839/47202127111_4d6ed43944_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eV6eTM)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/47202117671_5efca3c932_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eV6c62)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7800/33326670228_54a9d6814b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SLXTYy)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/46287619255_6cd1cc3b65_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dwh9yX)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7924/46287639915_b6a47cd89d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dwhfHa)20190219-036A9412 (https://flic.kr/p/2dwhfHa) by
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: silent sniper on February 24, 2019, 05:29:11 pm
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7879/33326669998_f2b7bca977_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SLXTUA)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/47150324962_8fe71a0ddf_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eQvJVh)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7840/47202118581_8b11f36cdf_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eV6cmH)(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7924/32259962017_c2abf5bd91_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/R9GJMF)
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Bob Barnes on February 24, 2019, 05:55:39 pm
You did a great job on that one...congratulations on your new hunting bow.  The tiller looks spot on.   :OK
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 24, 2019, 06:38:28 pm
That looks awesome. Congrats!  :OK
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: bassman on February 24, 2019, 06:49:31 pm
Nice take down bow. I like the way you made it a 2 piece with mesh and fiberglass. Good speed also.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: backtowood B2W on February 24, 2019, 11:26:51 pm
Nice bow!
I've made a T/D but the wood was still too wet, so they got loose in the sleeves.
Please post some pics of the handle, I've never seen a sleeve made of mesh and fg - maybe I can fix mine that way, somehow.
Congrats ,
B2W
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: barebo on February 25, 2019, 01:22:27 am
Nice display of Craftsmanship. It all came together beautifully for you. The take down feature puts it a cut above for me.....Sweet Bow!
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Pappy on February 25, 2019, 04:52:24 am
Beautiful bow, very nice in all aspects. :)
 Pappy
 
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: PaSteve on February 25, 2019, 05:27:46 am
Excellent. Great job on the takedown system you used. Definitely a little risky to saw a bow in half but you took an already nice bow to a different level. Well done.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 25, 2019, 05:29:46 am
I like it, good job.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 25, 2019, 05:40:00 am
Love it! Looks like a good combo and sounds like it performs well.

Kyle
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: ohma2 on February 25, 2019, 07:32:16 am
Always enjoy looking at your bows ,you do some fine work.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Sticks on February 25, 2019, 07:41:42 am
Great looking bow and excellent craftsmanship.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: GlisGlis on February 25, 2019, 07:55:20 am
 (A)
wait...
 (A) (A) (A)

great bow
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on February 25, 2019, 08:13:47 am
Congrats,,.thanks for posting performance stats,,,very beautiful ,,,I like straight tip bows
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: leonwood on February 25, 2019, 08:23:47 am
Really pretty bow! I dig you finish work! Also curious about the takedown thing, does it have any strengthening on the male part?
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Sidewinder on February 27, 2019, 07:53:07 am
Really nice bow. Good job.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 27, 2019, 11:00:01 am
Well done Taylor.  You seem to like BL
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: silent sniper on February 28, 2019, 10:49:48 am
Thanks everyone for the kind words. This bow came out pretty nice and is what I had hoped it would be.
 
For anyone interested in the takedown system, there is an 8 part series on youtube by Big Jims bow company showing how it is done. A search of "how to build a take down longbow" will bring up the videos.  I simply followed his instructions and the takedown worked like a charm.

A quick note: Waxing the tendon with toilet ring wax will fix any noises that the sleeve might make during the draw/shot release.  I waxed mine and it is dead quiet.

Marc, black locust has been treating me well so far.  It is a nice workable wood that has stood up to the designs I have built with it so far.
Title: Re: Bamboo/Black Locust takedown American semi Longbow
Post by: Stixnstones on February 28, 2019, 12:17:00 pm
That is one to definetly show off... great work