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Author Topic: Hurray for Hawthorne  (Read 7397 times)

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Offline OldBow

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Hurray for Hawthorne
« on: January 03, 2009, 01:27:22 am »
I made a bow from hawthorne several years ago which only was so-so.  The limb I used then was pretty slender.
I cut the limb for this bow from fairly luxuriant brush along our popular Clark Fork (from Lewis & Clark fame) last winter. There
is a lot more there, too.
This bow is kind of a Holmgaard style. If I had the design more in mind when I started, it would have been more typical of a
Holmgaard.
One limb (you can see this in the bandsaw picture) was very reflexed. I heat-gunned a little reflex into the opposite limb and realigned the tips, somewhat.
Anyway, it is 62" ntn with 1.5" limbs just above the handle and tapering to 1 3/8" as it enters 9" x 3/8" tips.
The handle is bendy based on recommendations from this site:
http://www.fiarc.org/public/Forum/Data/jeval/2005102714414_Tillering%20the%20Holmegaard%20Bow-2.pdf
The handle has a wrap of soft 1/8" suade and 1/8" glossy leather trim. This same glossy trim highlights the transition from limb to
tip.
The bow is stained with an old mixture of reddish? Minwax stains with Minwax Ebony for the tips. Several coats of Minwax satin
polyurethane seals it up.
The bow pulls 47# at 26"
There is no set after all the stress I have applied to the bow and after shooting it  dozens of times. No hand shock either.
Got to say...I'm pretty impressed with hawthorne.

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« Last Edit: January 03, 2009, 01:32:48 am by OldBow »
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Offline koan

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2009, 01:32:34 am »
Thats an Impressive bow Don...Brian
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AKAPK

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2009, 02:04:26 am »
Lookin good buddy :)
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Offline Little John

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2009, 04:14:42 am »
Very good job Don. That is a very nice bow and a serious contender foe Jan. bow of the month. I am a big fan of the holmie type, love the way they shoot and the total lack of hand shock. Well you did that piece of wood proud, enjoy.  Kenneth
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Offline ricktrojanowski

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2009, 07:33:52 am »
Very nice bow.  I like that detail on the tips.  How was the Hawthorne to work with?  It sure came out nice.
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Offline DanaM

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2009, 09:58:53 am »
Looks great Don, I really like the detail work on the grip and tips :)
I am curious how wide and thick the tips are though??
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Offline Ryano

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2009, 10:50:38 am »
Very nice bow Don. I like hawthorne too..... ;D
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Offline OldBow

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2009, 01:31:31 pm »
Forgot to mention that the tip overlays are yew.
-Dana, the Holmgaard tips are 9"L x1/2"W x 5/8"H  Some reference, perhaps the one cited, suggested the shape.
-Ryan, both you and Gordon, have made wonderful bows from hawthorne.  You guys inspired me.
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Offline Canoe

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2009, 02:11:06 pm »
Howdy OldBow, and Happy Holidays to all,

This bow looks terrifically deadly - very nice!!  I'm impressed and encouraged.

I've recently been rereading some material on the Holmegaard Bow including, 'Tillering the Holmegaard Bow' by Dennis La Varenne (a copyrighted, PDF file). 
I am especially glad to hear that this type of bow can be produced and shot with little to no handshock. 
A question I have had with this type of bow is in its general efficiency.  Doesn't it lose energy by having to propel those long, heaver outer sections?  Or, are those outer sections not so heavy and therefore contribute to its efficiency?

On this bow you made, you referred to it as "bendy handle."  But, as I look at it, I can't see where it bends through the handle at all?  When I hear the term "bendy handle," I think of an ELB-type (or D-bow) where there is a working handle? 

Your comments and knowledge are always appreciated.

All the best,
Canoe
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Offline DanaM

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2009, 02:46:08 pm »
Thanks Don :)
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Offline OldBow

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2009, 04:41:47 pm »
I shouldn't have used the term "bendy" handle. It is more a hump handle. I tried to reduce as much stress on the limbs as possible by  Even the flare into the handle was seen to flex a bit.
Read below from the cited reference:

"This type of handle has a signal advantage. It allows the limbs to bend very slightly into the handle rise3, thus relieving some of the strain on the bending part of the inner limb. On a hump style handle, the dip begins from the mid-handle where it is thickest. On a parallel handle, the dips begin at the ends of the parallel sections."

It is my understanding the outer limb "tips" because of their stiffness act like an atlatyl or catapult to put more energy into the arrow.
Anyone else have an explanation?
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Offline michbowguy

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2009, 06:45:18 pm »
i like that shape very much!
great job!
love them little bows!

jamie
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Offline Jesse

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2009, 07:33:35 pm »
Awesome bow oldbow. I like everything about it :) Now you have to say BOOKMARKED FOR JANUARY BOM ;D
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Offline Little John

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2009, 07:51:23 pm »
Don, thanks for the link on tillering the holmegard bow. I am working on one and need all the input I can get. Hope mine comes out as good as yours. Oh well if not there is more wood out there.   Kenneth
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Offline GregB

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Re: Hurray for Hawthorne
« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2009, 08:11:26 pm »
Very nice job on your Hawthorne bow Don! Impressive... ;)
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