Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: George Tsoukalas on January 30, 2023, 11:56:45 am
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This is a 1 inch wide red oak bow with 95% straight grain. It is kind of an ideal board stave. The bow is tillered to my draw length which is 45#@25". I may have to reduce it a few pounds. I could have easily obtained 50# or more. Set is 1 1/4" presently but I have not shot it yet or finished it. I have to tie a string.
We shall see.
This is a photo of long string tillering
Bear with me. I don't know how to do photos on this site.
Jawge
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Sorry. I will consult with my daughter.
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Just let me know... Once I hit "reply"...
I just click on the "attachments and other options", then on the "browse" button below that, which opens my pictures files. I do drag the mouse over the picture before I select it so that I can see the size to make sure that the largest number is 600 or smaller.
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we are both baby boomers... and you did a great job posting the pictures. :) So...where did the pictures go? LOL
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Thanks, Bob.
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Thanks again!
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I'll show more asap.
I used to draw 55# but now I have trouble with 45# but I am thankful I can still draw something.
Jawge
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great job on the pictures...but it did catch me off guard when I saw them...posted...and then they were gone. LOL The ONLY thing about posting pictures that gets lots of us is the size. Yours are 480x640 and not too bad, but places like the LW require them to be no more than 600 for the largest side...which is easy to fix.
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. :OK
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I did a double so I removed one.
Once gain for those wondering it is at full draw.
Jawge
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the last picture looks like you are still on the long string? :BB
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No, I am at full draw. But i have to reduce the weight also I can draw it.
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Interesting... it looks like it's just now bending enough for the short string... I guess it's just because I tiller with a long string to about 20" and then put the short string on. I'm also in agreement about draw weight...45 is my new 55... :OK This is what my last black locust looked like at 27"...
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Awesome, Bob. Great bow!
My bow is strung and at 25". I just have to take off some weight before I show full draw.
Sorry for the confusion.
I just long sting to 10 in and look for my bow weight. Then I string it.
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Looking good Jawges and Bob ,great seeing you post a bow build Jawges . Looking forward to seeing it strung. Pappy
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looks great :)
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Here is a photo at brace. The brace height is 7". The bow is 66.5" long and 45# at 25". The bow is 1" wide. I'll show full draw on the next post. Jawge
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After 30 years of bow making, making bows from all the usual bow woods (and some not so usual), and making bows from boards and log staves, I still get a thrill when I hit my draw length on my rope and pulley.
The set is about 1.5" so far.
This has been quite a journey.
Jawge
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thank you for the posts... it looks like you still have it... :OK
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Doesn’t get any better than that. Thanks for sharing.
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great work,, congrats,, :)
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Nice job on that narrow board! What does front profile look like?
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Looks good from here, nice tiller. :)
Pappy
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Thanks, Pappy. I am glad you like it.
Thanks, Aksel. I will take a photo of the unstrung profile ASAP.
Thanks, Brad.
Thanks, Bob, and thanks for your help with the photos.
Thanks, bentstick. I took my time with it.
Time to tie a string for it.
Jawge
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Jawge great thread by a great bowyer. Keep them coming. Arvin
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Thank, Arvin, that means a lot. Jawge
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I wanted to mention a couple of things.
The grain on that stave is really straight with just a little wiggle on the upper limb.
There are really no run outs. Run outs are really places where the grain lines run off the edge and have nothing to do with the type of bow.
I tried to add a little reflex to the last 8 inches or so but could not as the limbs were too thick because the bow is pretty narrow at 1". I was able to add a 1/4"
I started the limb taper to 1/2" nocks about 8" from the tips. I intentionally left that area stiff to cut down on the set which is 1 3/8" which counts the 1/4" I added.
Thanks, all, for looking.
Jawge
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Aksel, here is the unbraced photo you requested. Jawge
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Great job as usual Jawge, and I know just how you mean about not being able to draw the heavier bows any more. 40# to me feels stout to me and 50 is all I can do but am trying to work back up to it. 60 pounders are out, I am re tillering my 60 pound elk bow down to 50 and if it comes in at 47 to 48 that is ok too. Anxious to see the full draw finnished pictures.
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Thank you!
I am grateful that we can still do our bow building.
Little John, good for you. You have a goal.
I am going to stay at 45#.
Today, I just did a little sanding. I sanded to all the sharp edges from the nocks.
Jawge
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1" wide, thats pretty narrow. Very nice! tiller looks great.
Mike
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Mike, I've made a lot of children's bows at 25# with 1 inch wide red oak.
The grain on this board was super straight which probably contributed to how well it did. It was good for 50#.
Thanks for the positive comments.
Jawge
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Cool bow, George and great full draw tiller. This is a good example for the new guys wondering if they can make a bow. :OK
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It's very good to see you making a bow, Jawgey.
Straight grain
Straight grain
Straight grain
I'd be rich If I had a penny for every time you mentioned that to folks trying to use bad board stock.
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That’s a great looking bow. Very nice bend. By the way you website has been a great resource for myself and many aspiring bowyers.
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Thanks, Pat, for the positive comments.
Will B, thank you. I am glad I had a hand in getting you started. Makes me happy. Apart from the satisfaction of making my own bows. I have enjoyed helping others get started. The internet had been good for that.
Thanks, PD. Making them is not as easy or as quick as it used to be in my younger days.
Straight grained boards are the key. There I said it again. :)
Thanks. Jawge
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Another penny on my pile :)
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I still feel comfortable at 52 lbs but if it goes like everything else I’m sure I’ll be lightening my next few up to.
Nice to see your work George.
That’s a dandy looking bow you’ve got there Bob. Really like it.
Bjrogg
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Thanks, bjrogg. 52# is a good weight. Thanks. I am glad you like my bow. Jawge
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Here she is sporting a new B 50 string with about 2 twists per inch. The ideal is 1-3 twists per inch.
I try to tie the bottom loop tightly around the bottom nock so the string doesn't fall off. Of course the top one has to be bigger to slide up and down for stringing and unstringing.
I am in the process of stretching it on the bow and won't be serving until it is done stretching otherwise the serving may unravel or get misshapen.
Jawge
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Looks good, that should be a good shooter, I usually use D 97 now but found out years ago that the rule 1-3 twist per inch on B50 and it will preform about as well as D97, Most people way over twist the string to get the length right and turn it into a coil spring. :)
Pappy
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Pappy, thank you; the ongoing joke in my family is that dad does not take to change very well which is why I've stayed with B 50.
Go for 1-3 inches of twist as the ideal and let it stop stretching before serving and like you said it will function. The string I just tied is almost done stretching.
Jawge
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So the string stopped stretching.
Once again, this is a bend in the handle bow.
I laid out the handle. I measured 1 inch above center toward the top limb and then 4 inches down. That is my handle area. The arrows will be shot 1 inch above center. This is the way I've done it for bend in the handle bows.
So in the photo "C" is the center of the bow. The next line to the left is where the arrow pass and 4 inches down from that is the handle itself. "T" is the top limb.
Jawge
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The serving length will be about the length of the bow square beginning from the bottom limb up to the top limb. I will try to get the bottom and top of the serving equal from the arrow pass.
More on that later or tomorrow.
Jawge
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I hear ya Jawgs, I am kind of slow on change myself, at least that's what I am told. ??? :o :-\ Looking good on the bow. :)
Pappy
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Thanks, Pappy, glad you like it.
Lord willing I can serve tomorrow.
Jawge
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Looks great Jawge.
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Thanks, Arvin. Jawge
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I finally got around serving the string.
In this photo, you can see how I poke the serving string through the Flemish. Keeps it tight.
I am right handled and I serve clockwise. The same direction as my release. It may not make a difference but it may and I've always done it that way.
I don't use a serving tool. I put the serving on by hand. I recommend using a serving tool. LOL.
Jawge
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I serve it really tight. I push and pull to make it so.
At the top , I give it a few half hitches.
Then, I tie the finishing knot for the serving.
Explaining that is hard.
Tim Baker did it it in one of the TBB's and I can find the reference if anyone is interested.
Only experienced and accomplished bowyers I do thank them, have been commenting recently so I am not sure if beginners have hung in there and the reference may not be needed.
Photo shows the finished serving.
Jawge
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I’ve been checking in on occasion, but have been more reading than commenting. I really enjoy following, as I’ve never made a board bow. I do refer to your site on occasion for advice also. It’s good that everyone is so willing to share your knowledge so freely. Thank You
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Your serving looks really good George. I didn’t have a serving tool for my first couple of bows but it definitely makes serving easier having one.
I also started out with B-55 and switched to D-97 because of the stretch. I have since come to realize I had to much twist that I’m sure didn’t help my stretch problem.
I’m sure you and your website have helped numerous people over the years. I can’t really think of anything a bowyer can do that would be more rewarding
Bjrogg
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Thanks, bentstick. I am glad you re making and hunting with your bows.
Thanks, Bj. My website has been a labor of love.
Jawge
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So it is possible to twist the bow string too much....hmmm. I might be familiar with that problem ???
Paul
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Yes, Paul, it is possible. 1-3 is the ideal for B 50. I'm at 3 now. Jawge
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I finally put about 30 shots through the bow. I decided to get it down to old man draw weight(43 lbs at 25") so I could draw it easier. Made it comfy for me.
I then sanded it with 220 grit, dampened the limbs with a damp cloth to raise the grain, sanded it again with 220 grit and followed by 400 and 600 grit sanding. I usually repeat the process until the grain is no longer lifted but it's time to get this done.
Then I stained it with water based oak stain...I know...not the best of colors but that's what I had.
Next up is 3 coats of exterior poly. Perhaps tomorrow.
Thanks for hanging in there.
Jawge
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Wow jawge that serving turned out nice for doing by hand! I made myself a jig of sort for my endless loops strings. I like the idea of weaving the tag end thru the Flemish twist string. I’ll have to try that next time.
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Dave, thanks. That's the only way I have ever served.
I just gave it its first coat of poly. 2 more to go.
Jawge
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The polyurethane has been applied. Since the handle is so narrow (1") I glued on some carpet foam using Titebond 3, which also gives the handle some give.
I also glued on the arrow pass and 3 progressively smaller pieces of leather as a shelf. I used a not so watery Gorilla Glue (cryanoacelate).
Jawge
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The bow is done. I've enjoyed this journey. Making this bow has been fun.
Here is the handle. I favor a baseball stitch on a covering of leather. I used Titebond 3. I did a test run to make sure the leather would stick to the foam.
Jawge
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Here is the baseball stitch.
Thanks for looking.
Jawge
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thanks for Sharing,, and happy shooting
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I took her out stumping today. She did well, Brad. Thanks. Jawge
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Cool bow, George and great full draw tiller. This is a good example for the new guys wondering if they can make a bow. :OK
So right and true !!!
Thank you ALL for posting and sharing and explaining!
Εξαριστο γεοργιος
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Parakalo!
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glad you got to go out and shoot,, makes all the work worth it to see the arrow fly )P( :D
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Thanks, Brad. It does and just being in the woods is really relaxing. Jawge
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Been following this one. I'm a new bowyer, and board bows have been a great, quick, way to get me into making bows. Thanks for sharing this one, might make me consider a potential board I might have otherwise thought was too narrow.
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Aaron, you certainly can try that narrow board. The experience will be good.
The board I used was special. Very straight grained and I wanted poundage in the low 40s anyway.
When you work on yours keep is it simple is may advice. No added handle pieces and let the handle bend.
More on my site including a nice straight grained board.
http://traditionalarchery101.com
Jawge
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good to see you making a bow again George. Looks great.
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Thanks, ErictheViking. I actually am still working on the handle. I had to make sure the edges were glued nice and tight. Tomorrow I'll treat the leather with a waterproof leather concoction I bought years ago. Jawge
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Just though I would bring this to the top, this will be his last bow, for those that haven't heard he passed a few day ago.Great guy who will be missed by many. :(
Pappy
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So sorry to hear about his passing. He was such a positive guy and very helpful to so many bowyers. praying for Jawge’s loved ones. He will be missed.
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So sorry to hear about George’s passing. He was a very inspirational to many on this and other sites. He will be missed greatly. Prayers sent on behalf of George, and for his family.
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Sorry to hear George is gone. He´s one of the few people I remember from Paleoplanet when I started making bows a long time ago. Very kind fellow dedicated to teaching.
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What a loss. Rest easy, Jawge.
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sending prayers,,
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Thank you George for all your contributions to the community. RIP
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So sad to hear of his passing. Just like for many others, his site was a big part of me learning how to make a bow. He had such a big impact on our community.
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Thanks for posting this Pappy.
I guess you just never know when you’re working on your last one. Jawge definitely was a welcome family member here. It is sad to realize that he has posted his last reply here.
RIP Jawge and may your memory be eternal
Bjrogg
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Very sad news. I haven’t been on here long but, Jawge had given me some good advice on the few bows I’ve put on here..
RIP Jawge
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I have only had a few posts on here but George was always helpful and encouraged you. He will be missed.
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Too bad to hear. His posts on this site will be missed indeed. He always had positive things to say about helping new bowyers and seasoned ones alike. His website helped a ton of people. Great guy for sure.
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This is really sad news :( I always admired his very helpful and inspiring posts. He will be missed on PA!
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He will be missed for sure...
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George/Jawge:
A great ambassador, a great champion of primitive archery...
...and, by all accounts I’ve ever heard, a great person.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to know Jawge personally, but I almost feel as if I knew him through his friendly, charitable, and humble contributions to the PA community.
Another great the world has lost, joining many others over the past years. His presence will be felt, and missed, for decades to come.
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Rest in peace friend.