Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Msturm on June 26, 2019, 08:38:02 pm

Title: Yew Static Recurve build along.
Post by: Msturm on June 26, 2019, 08:38:02 pm

Well I am making a yew flat bow. I have done this before, but not with such a severly deflexed stave.  So this will be my first go at recurving tips in hopes that I get a pretty sweet looking and shooting bow.

It is currently 69 inches. I make most of my bows about this length but they are all straight flat bows.   I draw to 27.5.  If I wanna put some static curves in it should I leave it long? or cut it down some?  I am shooting for 55lbs at 28.

It is just starting to bend at floor tiller. This is the stiffest piece of Yew I have ever worked with.

Any tips on recurving Yew. Boiling and setting with a heat gun is my thought.

Thanks!

(https://i.imgur.com/15Y75gu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4nf6ZD7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9J9nWek.jpg)

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions..
Post by: Del the cat on June 27, 2019, 02:37:37 am

Nice looking stave.
Leave it long, you can always cut it down later.
"Severely" deflexed? ???
I think that's just nice :) and it will balance out the reflexed tips nicely.
Personally I'd go for static recurves (flipped tips) as it will make tillering easier. Just get the bow virtually finished then flip the tips.
Leave the tips wide to allow some adjustment of string line when the tips are flipped.
Del

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions..
Post by: leonwood on June 27, 2019, 03:48:49 am

With your drawlength I would not go longer than 64" ntn. With yew boiling and then setting with the heat gun the next day always works best for me.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions..
Post by: Msturm on June 27, 2019, 09:12:22 am

Thanks guys!

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions..
Post by: Ozi Sapling on June 28, 2019, 06:44:10 am

Mmmm. Yew.
Some of us can only dream.
Would love to see your progress on this one.  Good luck.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. **Updates**
Post by: Msturm on July 04, 2019, 09:10:22 pm

got it bending decent at floor tiller. low braced it to about 2 inches... Here is the first pull to 12 inches at 35 lbs.

(https://i.imgur.com/0jq2zCM.jpg)

I kept working on the stiff spots and removing wood to drop weight...

Here it is a couple hours later pulling 40 at 20 with a 4 inch brace. Tiller looks much better to me.

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

I put a 5 gallon bucket of water on the campfire and boiled it for 20 minutes and then bent it over a log.  I think I need deeper recurves so i will give it another go tomorrow.

but here it is with the flipped tips. I will also toast the bends to set them tomorrow.

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

I will let you know how it comes out!

Thanks!

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: simk on July 05, 2019, 12:48:12 am

better keep it on the caul when heating or it will spring back immediately. cheers

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Ozi Sapling on July 05, 2019, 02:09:45 am

What does 'on the caul' mean Simk?  I've seen that term a few times on this forum, but it's not in the glossary.  Thanks!

Looking good Msturm. Keep the updates coming!

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 05, 2019, 05:13:45 am

A caul for bending;

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Del the cat on July 05, 2019, 05:29:18 am

Caul, form, former, template... all mean much the same thing.
Del

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Msturm on July 05, 2019, 10:40:43 pm

I wanna give a huge shout out to Weylin Olive from Swiftwood Bows for answering questions from a total stranger! your help has been incredibly valuable. Good on ya buddy.

Did a bit of work on the tips today.  String still aligned nicely through the handle just eyeballed it during the bend and got lucky.

Check out my super high tech bending form and Boiling system!  Top of the line gear makes the work so much easier. lol.

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

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

(https://i.imgur.com/X1oRAHj.jpg)

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

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

(https://i.imgur.com/oElF968.jpg)

Thanks for following along.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Msturm on July 06, 2019, 04:31:06 pm

(https://i.imgur.com/09Z8pnC.jpg)

braced to 2 inches.  Pulled 45 at 12 inches.  Noticed a few stiff spots. more scraping to come.

(https://i.imgur.com/VOfn9tJ.jpg)

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: ohma2 on July 07, 2019, 08:14:58 am

Starting to look good.i like yew with that roller coaster grain.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Msturm on July 07, 2019, 10:01:15 am

Here is a bit more from yesterday.

She developed a bit of twist early on.  A bit of heat, and some careful tillering got it back to working shape.  Here it is at its worst.

(https://i.imgur.com/fb4bui0.jpg)

Now that there is no worries about the string coming off, back to the scrape and tiller cycle. Pulling 45 at 18.

(https://i.imgur.com/gG8prRI.jpg)

After I get to about 24 inches on the tiller tree I don't use the tree any more and start short drawing the bow to see how it bends in the hand.  I use a lot of video for this process and I like it alot.   I am guessing this is being pulled to about 27.  One more day of tillering and sanding and shooting in to come.

(https://i.imgur.com/pLfu8VX.jpg)

My dog and I find moose sheds fairly often. So moose antler overlays it is! 
(https://i.imgur.com/rjWg1sF.jpg)

Done for the night.  It still needs to loose about 6 lbs and I have two little adjustments to make on the tiller but here it is at full brace with a real string. Tips are on, but need to be prettied up quite a bit.

(https://i.imgur.com/U0On5P2.jpg)

Thanks for following along.  There will be more to come tomorrow.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Hawkdancer on July 07, 2019, 10:07:00 am

Nice job!  Looking forward to seeing the finished bow!  With all that high tech equipment, next thing we know you'll be having running water! >:D (lol)!
Hawkdancer

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: willie on July 07, 2019, 10:53:44 am

Looks very nice Mike. where did you find the yew?

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Del the cat on July 07, 2019, 12:07:04 pm

Very good work, looks the biz... ;D
Del

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Msturm on July 08, 2019, 01:46:53 am

Incoming picture flood!

The bow is 67 inches Nock to Nock. It pulls 60 at 28. She moves an arrow with some serious juice!

I put about 100 arrows through her today with no noticeable drop in draw weight or changes in tiller. Then I added finish.

Here come the pics.

Moose antler tips- top groove is for stringer. Getting these hooks strung with the push pull method is really hard!
(https://i.imgur.com/V4vi7Ty.jpg)

Full draw in the flowers.

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

Belly grain and string alignment.

(https://i.imgur.com/CTzDgV4.jpg)

Brace

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

Moose antler shelf.

(https://i.imgur.com/FZiQpc3.jpg)

A little bit of snake a lot of roller coaster.

(https://i.imgur.com/snetv5w.jpg)

Back

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

Full Draw

(https://i.imgur.com/9uldrj5.jpg)

Thanks!

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** UPDATES**
Post by: Msturm on July 08, 2019, 01:55:11 am

Willie, it came from Oregon.  Bought the stave.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: burchett.donald on July 08, 2019, 02:03:52 am

  Excellent work on that bend...Looks very balanced...
                                                                                  Don

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: bassman on July 08, 2019, 02:16:32 am

Nice bow. Nice work on that one.

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: leonwood on July 08, 2019, 04:23:40 am

Nice bow! I like your "hight tech" method a lot ;D

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: bjrogg on July 08, 2019, 05:11:54 am

Well done sir. That bend looks really nice.
Thanks for sharing
Bjrogg

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: Pat B on July 08, 2019, 06:23:47 am

Very well done. Looks like an excellent bow.   :OK   8)

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: GlisGlis on July 08, 2019, 07:51:04 am

Nice bow. It will collect for you some moose antlers before they shed   :OK
 (SH)   :-D

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: backtowood B2W on July 09, 2019, 03:34:39 am

Cool bow ! Like everything about it! The reddish color of the heart Wood looks amazing!
Congrats
Martin

Title: Re: Yew stave... and a few questions.. ** turned into a build a long!!**
Post by: ohma2 on July 09, 2019, 06:52:15 am

Thats a fine looking bow ,i bet it will make meat for you.

Title: Re: Yew Static Recurve build along.
Post by: Msturm on July 13, 2019, 04:57:39 am

Thanks guys!  I got some bamboo arrows tuned up for it and it is shooting very nicely! It also shoots a 55 lb spine POC shaft with a 125 grain rubber blunt very well.

I will post some stump shooting rove pics here .

(https://i.imgur.com/F01l2b4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6idnL4x.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iKv8omi.jpg?1)

Title: Re: Yew Static Recurve build along.
Post by: Woodely on July 13, 2019, 08:29:23 am

Nice bow,  I like the swirl grain pattern in the handle transition area.

Title: Re: Yew Static Recurve build along.
Post by: razorsharptokill on August 08, 2019, 04:06:23 pm

Very nice!