Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on December 08, 2022, 08:57:12 am
-
This is either my first or second attempt at a wood bow built sometime in the late 90s. I had no internet and no help. I believe I was thumbing through an issue of Traditional Bowhunter and ran across Mickeys board bow recipe and though I had struck gold. Obviously, I didn't read it thoroughly. Or, maybe not at all looking at this train wreck of a "bow" :).
This was from an ash board I got from a local mill. I distinctly remember picking out that super cool grain and carving the bow out of the part of the board that had the most beautiful grain swirls. Save these images for examples of what you don't want to do when building a board bow. That being said, my nephew shot this thing enough to put wear marks on the strike plate. I didn't even tiller it nor had I ever heard the word "tiller" before. I just rasped a taper into it and put a string on it. Enjoy!
-
I'm amazed it still in one piece Chris
-
I'm amazed as well, Marc. It doesn't even have any compression fractures. Granted, my nephew at that time may have drawn it 18-20". The bow is about 62" long.
-
I want to see the full draw. lol.
That’s pretty amazing
Sure does have a pretty, swirly grain though. Guess you know how to pick ‘em Pearl Drums
Bjrogg
-
We have ash flooring in our house that has grain like that bow. I'll have to say that is a perfect example of what not to do when building selfbows, from the shortness and abruptness of the fades on the handle to the grain run offs, front and back. It is pretty amazing how well it has held up. Even then with your lack of experience you were an excellent bowyer, Pearlie. ;)
-
wow,, the grain is amazing,, :)
-
You missed the part where I filed string grooves across the back with no overlays. Other than that, I think I nailed it Pat!
-
Some people are just naturals I guess...(it is very beautiful grain!)
-
Maybe we should start another thread about "the ones that shouldn't have made it" or if it is OK with you we can continue on from here.
-
Thanks for sharing, PD. I know I have plenty of those stories. Jawge
-
Pat, you can do whatever you want with this one. It was just Thursday humor, or humility if you will.
Jawgey Poo, you have my express written consent to use this on your web page :)
-
It looks like some of my first attempts. It took me a while to figure out that grain orientation matters LOL. I still have an elm recurve that I literally sawed out of a stave. massive grain violations similar to yours and somehow it held up.
-
I think go ahead and sinew back it as is,, ;D
-
Some bows just don't want to die....
-
Isn't that the bow you just finished up last week?
-
Some of that fiberglass drywall tape should turn that into a fine hunting weapon.
-
Steam some recurves into it and I'll be impressed. (lol)
-
Over the years it's amazing what happens with bow making.Tools and forms used too.
I've got a 45" long/stiff handled 3/4" wide sliver of osage that got my first attempt of sinewing on it from well over a decade ago.Well before making any amount of self bows or learning how to tiller correctly just using a tillering stick.
I thought it quite the accomplishment to get those slight bends on those tips.
Gave it a nice rawhide covering too.
I remember it drew 50#'s at 20" draw.I figured this is it.I'll be ready to kill deer.
I think I made a string for it from artificial sinew.
Did'nt wait but about 2 weeks for the sinew to cure.First draw after sinewing scared the bejesus out of me from all of the cracking going on from the hide glue.
I filled the voids in the sinew job with hide glue.
(https://i.imgur.com/wmf6O2k.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QG5N012.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AplF695.jpg)
It's been a long road but lessons learned.
-
You have come a long way Chris, looks a lot like my first and the description of the build sounds a lot like me also, cut a hickory, shaped it to look like a bow,put a string on and took wood off till I could pull it, it didn't break and I was so proud. Ugly as sin but did shoot, the next several didn't fair as well. :-[ ;) :) :)
Pappy
-
When you’re lucky, you’re lucky. This is a perfect example of experienced bowyers passing information on to help the inexperienced learn. We learn from what “ Not to do “ as much as the “ What to do “. Thanks Pearl Drums.
-
Thanks, PD. LOL. 95% of my on line bow related interactions are to keep others from making the same mistakes I did... many mistakes.
Jawge
-
Certainly is a peach there buddy. Its cool ya held on to it for all these years. Definetly better than my first few attempts
-
My first 4 hickory bows all broke. I had no help, and did no reading on bow building. I was using the belly wood for the back, and the back wood for the belly. After I figured that out I was making them to wet with 2 to 4 inches of set. That was the good old days. I still have ,and shoot some of those bows for fun, and memories. Pearly my dad would have called yours a beauty honey. ;D :BB (--) :fp
-
My second bow man it’s ugly., But it had a shelf.🤠🤠I know that’s why it was so ugly. 🤠🤠Gave it to the guy that provided my first Osage log. He finally broke it stringing it over his knee.
-
You went from that to building world class bows eh Arvin. It has been one hell of a ride .
-
Yes Brad it has and in 16 years I have met a passel of great people