Primitive Archer

I have never seen a deer as fat as the one I killed last Sunday, it had 5 or 6# of intestinal fat and about the same amount on its back, hams and ribs.

I have heard that the intestinal fat is the best to render for tallow so I collected abut 3 1/2# when I dressed the deer to give rendering a try, I had never done it before.

I don't have any particular purpose planned for what I end up with, I think concocting a good patch lube for my flintlock loading will be first. I currently use a product called "mink oil" but the only producer of the real stuff had died or quit the business. There are plenty of companies marketing what they call mink oil but a look at the ingredients shows more petroleum products in them than anything else.

I boiled the fat down, strained it several times through cheese cloth and ended out with a very clear product. I did let the oil get a little hot at the end which turned the liquid slightly brown, the tallow turned white after it cooled.

Felt like sharing a new project I started. I wanted a larger landing net and figured I’d try my hand at making one. I still have more work to go before it’s ready for the net. But the hoop is 1/2” thick by 1” deep mulberry. It’s two halves that are 6 foot long and bent into shape shape with just a heat gun for dry heat. A couple pin knots decided to crack a little but doesn’t seem to effect much when flexed. But I’ll fill and wrap those when done. I also left these slats rough cut instead to smoothing them over so I can see what mulberry can handle strain wise. So if you’re hesitant about using dry heat to adjust a bow, it can do hire a bit if you take your time and heat up slowly. Next step is to cut a piece for the yoke area and glue it all up.

I’ll update as I go

Kyle

Sorry to hear this, Marc. I used to stay in touch with Glenn and talked to him a lot when I was hoping to get a chance to hunt a bear at your place also. He was filling me in on the details and then I couldn't make it up there. after a while I lost touch with him when his posting slowed down.

Good luck! I built something similar and it got so narrow I was loosing side stability and it wanted to flip on me. I had to reduce the reflex by cutting the tips, which caused the weight to go back up. Im expecting to see you fight a similar fight.

I saw your utoob video of this coming bow. Very promising.