Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: superdav95 on July 02, 2023, 07:34:56 pm
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Well some may recall my failed attempt to build this yew take down fg sleeve build. I exploded the bottom limb during the tiller part of the build. All my fault. Not the woods fault. I built a replacement bottom limb and reconfigured the sleeve to include a section of rosewood in the tenon. Well after all the efforts and mold release and carefull measurements and despite my preparations I made I cannot get this bow apart! it shoots hard and fast with little set but cannot get the dang this apart. So I have a decision to make. Do I go to the extreme and cut into the top part of the sleeve the covers the sapwood at the handle to let me more likley to get this thing apart and later patch it or just leave it? I’m still undecided. I wanted a heavier pull bow at 25” draw. It currently is right around 60lbs at 24” and around just over 62lbs at 25”. My aim for this bow finished is at 60lbs at 25”. I’ve been working on my short draw lately specifically for this bow. I had been wanting this bow for hunting and wanted the take down option. Leaving it the way it is would not be the end of the world but my stubborn nature is trying to convince me that I get it apart. It shoots nice. This bow was a bit of a journey build and failed attempts but worst comes to worse it’s shoots well and looks a bit funky. The bottom limb has the character hills and valleys in it as opposed to the top limb. I’ll call it jeckel and hide. It was a tricky tiller with the bumpy bottom limb but in the end I got the bend looking the way I wanted. Thanks for continuing along the journey of this bow build. Cheers. Dave.
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More pics
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Few more…
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When I made one like that and couldn't get it apart, I finally used a wooden screw clamp and a wooden mallet...a couple of sharp hits on the clamp and it popped apart. I wouldn't have tried it but I knew that I had plenty of wax on the joint before I wrapped it. Good luck.
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Beautiful bow, I am hard headed also but that would be a tough call for me, good luck on what ever you decide. :)
Pappy
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When I made one like that and couldn't get it apart, I finally used a wooden screw clamp and a wooden mallet...a couple of sharp hits on the clamp and it popped apart. I wouldn't have tried it but I knew that I had plenty of wax on the joint before I wrapped it. Good luck.
Thanks bob. I’m gonna try this! I’ve got some
c clamps and blocks of wood to protect the bow and try wracking it.
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Beautiful bow, I am hard headed also but that would be a tough call for me, good luck on what ever you decide. :)
Pappy
Thanks Pat. My wife thinks I should just go for broke with it as I can always just make another one. She also admits that she has no idea how much work goes into a bow let alone what went into this specific bow. Gonna shoot another 100 arrows through it tomorrow hoping it loosens up possibly.
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Good luck.
Shooting it sounds like a good idea, flex and vibration generally loosens things up... make haste slowly... the big hammer is the last resort.
Del
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I wish I had advise to offer, but I hope it works out for you. One piece or two, either way, it's a really nice bow.
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Only though I had and you may have already tried it or dismissed it was to heat it up with your heat gun while clamped in a vise. Not sure weather that’s a viable option or not. Anyway heat it then try and get it apart.. might be the dumbest idea ever but I excel at those so I thought I put it out there.
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Only though I had and you may have already tried it or dismissed it was to heat it up with your heat gun while clamped in a vise. Not sure weather that’s a viable option or not. Anyway heat it then try and get it apart.. might be the dumbest idea ever but I excel at those so I thought I put it out there.
Haha. Thanks mike. I haven’t tried that yet. I may have to shoot a bunch more first and give that a whirl if still no go. One things for sure it will be a tight fit if I ever get it apart.
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Heat gun sounds like it might be worth a try, but I wouldn't go overboard with the heat, use hair dryer temperature(warm, not so hot you can't touch it). Another option would be to run it under the hot tap, like you do to loosen up a tight jar.
I would then heavily wax both parts and let it dry, so next time it should be easier to take apart.
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Heat gun sounds like it might be worth a try, but I wouldn't go overboard with the heat, use hair dryer temperature(warm, not so hot you can't touch it). Another option would be to run it under the hot tap, like you do to loosen up a tight jar.
I would then heavily wax both parts and let it dry, so next time it should be easier to take apart.
Thanks Hamish. I did some more shooting today and still not budging. I may have to resort to a little heat.
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Agree, blow dryer over heat gun. Heat gun might tend to melt that, I assume fiberglass handle.
Hopefully you’ll get it apart without anything other then shooting it a bunch..
Good looking bow regardless
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Nice bow Dave
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Quick update on this take down. I eventually got it apart but not without drastic measures! I had tried everything suggested and then some. Shot it a bunch more and no budge. I filed away the top part of the fg socket to expose the tenon. This allowed me to pry open a bit to get it loose. The mold release agent I used didn’t seem like it did anything. I’ve used this stuff with good results before so only thing I can think of is that this yew wood being softer and more pourus maybe the cause and it absorbed much of the spray release. I usually put on 4-5 coats letting each one dry well. I’m thinking with harder woods it doesn’t get absorbed so much and works as it should. This time around I’m going to heat up the tenon a bit and apply some tung oil and wipe it down good. Then let it dry and spray the heck out of it with my mold release and hope for the best. The partial rewrap should go well today and let it dry over night. Fingers crossed. 🤞
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I'm glad that you got it apart, but it's sad that it's not the way you wanted it to come apart. It looks stuck to the front of the tenon? I used simple wax on the entire tenon when I did it and nothing ever stuck to it. Good luck!
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So I took your advise and waxed it too. I coated it with tung oil then waxed then sprayed with the mild release. If this thing sticks this time it’s gonna stay a one piece. Here’s the wrap.
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My fingers are crossed Dave...There is a lot of pressure on those joints but they sure work great. :OK
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Dave, this is going to work!!! I admire your dedication, to this task.
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That sure is a beautiful bow! I hope you manage to get the take down joint to work out. Cant wait to see it all finished!
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Success!!! It worked and has a nice tight fit. Now I just got to shape up the handle a bit and put leather wrap on er. A light sanding and burnish of the belly too with some tung oil to call it done. Thanks for looking.
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Congrats Dave! It looks like you made a sleeve with alignment grooves...I have a bow with those. Great job! :OK
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Congrats Dave! It looks like you made a sleeve with alignment grooves...I have a bow with those. Great job! :OK
Thanks bob. Ya I figured it might be a good idea with this one as the wood was so soft as well for a tighter fit. I will not likley do another take down in yew moving forward however. It’s been a challenge for sure. That being said now that I’ve done it I may eat my words. A better take down option for yew might be the metal and brass sleeve system perhaps. I may have to try one down the road maybe.
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So quick update on this build. I got it shaped up and covered with a leather wrap I was saving for this bow. All seemed to go well. Put a good coat of tung oil on it and burned in the string loop notches. The socket and tenon is good and tight. I’d rather this then a loose fit. I put little wax on it too. The Colors of the yew really pop with the oil rubbed in. The bottom limb which was the replacement was from a different tree is slightly darker then the top. Thanks for looking and following along on this one.
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Some more pics…
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Wow very nice, Dave!
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WOW! :OK The bow looks great....all of it...the sleeve, leather work, and finish. I know you are proud of it. Thanks for sharing.
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Glad it worked out for you, looks like it turned out great.
Maybe a stupid question, but what's the advantage of burning in the nocks? Does it harden them?
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A great result Dave. Your persistence(and skill) paid off. An epic tale of misery and woe, with a story book ending. I feel elated for you.
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Thanks guys. Yes this did turn out good in the end which I’m happy about. There were times that I had my doubts ha ha. It’s not perfect and has some character but I’m happy with it. Aaron yes the burned in string loop grooves harden the very soft yew. I think it looks kind of cool too. I just used a old broken drill bit heated up red hot. Hamish, sounds like you followed this entire story… it was seemingly doomed at times but it came together. I learned a lot with this bow! The big thing I learned is that yew is not a great candidate for a fg sleeve takedown. I’d likely go with a metal sleeve system if I were to do it again. That being said it’s a nice tight sleeve fit.
Thanks again guys.
Dave
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WOW!!!! That's beautiful.
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Thanks Steve.
For those interested here is the original post for the initial failure of bottom limb of this bow…
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,72195.msg1012634.html#msg1012634
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I recently decided to rawhide back this bow being inspired by Simon (Simk) on here. He posted a gorgeous yew bow with rawhide backing that was stained. He had mentioned that he often does this with his yew bows as the sapwood is very soft and prone to dents and damage. I liked that idea and applied a set of rawhide strips to this finished bow. The sapwood on this bow was gleaming white and it was a pretty contrast with the heartwood. I decided to do it anyway. I took it out and fired a couple dozen arrows thru it and it could be a contender for this years hunting bow. It shoots hard and fast. The stain job is a break up pattern similar to a snake skin with some green mixed it. Thanks for looking. Cheers.
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A few more…
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Really nicely done Dave. You made that one cooperate with you turned it into what you wanted it to be.
Love it
Bjrogg
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Thanks Bj. Yes It eventually confirmed to what I wanted.
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Nice job. I really like the TD system that you used. It allowed a nice smallish grip. The camo is cool too...Thanksgiving (fall) colors. :) It certainly looks like a hunting bow. :OK
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Nice job. I really like the TD system that you used. It allowed a nice smallish grip. The camo is cool too...Thanksgiving (fall) colors. :) It certainly looks like a hunting bow. :OK
Thanks Bob. I’m hoping I get one close enough for me this year.