Author Topic: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.  (Read 9216 times)

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Offline HickoryBill

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Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« on: February 21, 2011, 09:50:43 pm »
I am currently working on an ERC( Eastern Red Cedar) bow.I got the bow to floor tiller stage then long string tillering last night. I noticed when I was using my scraper, on the bow, the blade wanted to dig and tear into the soft wood. I tried sharpening the scraper and it still did the same thing.I got disgusted and called it quits. Before I put the bow away, I rubbed it down with a heavy coat of vegetable oil. When I started working on the bow today, low and behold the scraper was taking off nice pretty curls of wood! Not sure how or why it worked but it did!!   Now my question: The bow has a combed jute fiber backing glued on with TTB2. The backing is really not that appealing to the eye. Any ideas on how to make it look better without putting skins on or painting the bow??? 


 Thanks ....Bill
"He who hesitates usually misses"
"All you really need to make a bow and arrow are some sticks and a deer carcass"
Bill Stockdill
Clarion County Pennsylvania

Offline sonny

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2011, 10:06:04 pm »
to comment on what you were saying about the scraper, I discovered that it's easier to do final tillering with a square edge not a sharp edge.
 

« Last Edit: February 21, 2011, 10:14:54 pm by sonny »
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Offline beetlebailey1977

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2011, 10:09:21 pm »
Good to know Sonny.
Happy hunting to all!
Bowhunters of South Carolina Executive council member
Professional Bowhunters Society Associate member

Reevesville, SC     James V. Bailey II

Offline tattoo dave

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2011, 10:29:36 pm »
I've backed a couple bows with silk for cosmetic purposes that are real pretty. Any fabric store has silk by the yard, you can sometimes get it 60" wide, just by one yard and that's a lot of backings. :)
Rockford, MI

Offline mullet

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2011, 11:47:15 pm »
 When I scrape on cedar, or, most wood when tillering with a draw knife, I hold the knife at 90dgs and peel off curls of wood. Less than that and it will dig into soft wood or catch a splinter and rip wood on hard stuff.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline HickoryBill

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2011, 07:26:44 pm »
mullet: I was using my scraper at 90 degrees to the belly to.
"He who hesitates usually misses"
"All you really need to make a bow and arrow are some sticks and a deer carcass"
Bill Stockdill
Clarion County Pennsylvania

Offline mullet

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2011, 11:01:32 pm »
 Is it cured? The cedar bow that Cubanredneck and I worked on a couple weeks ago had been drieing since 2004.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline HickoryBill

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2011, 11:07:42 pm »
Yeah it was dry, maybe to dry!!!  It just blew up in my face about a half hour ago!!!! I Had it tillered what seemed perfect. 52#@26" only had an inch to go, too. Lucky I didn't get hurt. Scared the hell out of my wife!!!!!   You win some, you lose some!!! ( Seems to be the latter for me more often than not)   ;D ;D ;D
"He who hesitates usually misses"
"All you really need to make a bow and arrow are some sticks and a deer carcass"
Bill Stockdill
Clarion County Pennsylvania

Offline M-P

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2011, 12:39:06 am »
Dang,  It's academic now, but I was going to suggest papering over the jute.   Art and crafts stores often have tissue paper with interesting designs printed on.  It doesn't add any strength, but it can look quite pretty.   Ron
"A man should make his own arrows."   Omaha proverb   

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."    Will Rogers

Offline Pat B

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2011, 01:06:32 am »
Bill, can you tell from the break what gave first? I like to examine blown bows for the causes.  Sorry it blew but ERC sho do BLOW don't it?  :o
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline HickoryBill

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2011, 07:21:57 pm »
The most explosive I've ever seen,by far!!!  I like the cause was it wa to dry and excessive grain run off on the bottom limb. It broke in 13 large pieces and a shower of smaller pieces, one even stuck in the roof of my kitchen!!!!
"He who hesitates usually misses"
"All you really need to make a bow and arrow are some sticks and a deer carcass"
Bill Stockdill
Clarion County Pennsylvania

Offline Lee Slikkers

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2011, 08:20:52 pm »
The most explosive I've ever seen,by far!!!  I like the cause was it wa to dry and excessive grain run off on the bottom limb. It broke in 13 large pieces and a shower of smaller pieces, one even stuck in the roof of my kitchen!!!!

Wow, now I REALLY want to tear into the ERC staves I have drying in the basement  >:D
~ Lee

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"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?"
— Aldo Leopold
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Offline FlaCubanRedneck

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2011, 08:51:50 pm »
your gonna love it Lee.. i LOVE  ;D my ERC flat bow mullet and i made.. i cant wait till my finger heals so i can shoot it more and break it in...
"In the time of gathering together, make no arbitrary choice of your associates. There are secret forces at work, leading together those who belong together." ~~~I Ching"

Offline Lee Slikkers

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2011, 09:08:58 pm »
your gonna love it Lee.. i LOVE  ;D my ERC flat bow mullet and i made.. i cant wait till my finger heals so i can shoot it more and break it in...

I actually started one with a local mentor last friday...we made pretty good progress but when we put it on the caul for some heat treatment to correct some major prop twist on both limbs (opposite directions of twist on each limb) we heard a Pop, Snap, Crackle down through the handle.  So, I have officially busted my first bow  ::) but the disaster wasn't near as glorious as some I've read about...
~ Lee

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"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?"
— Aldo Leopold
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Offline HickoryBill

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Re: Working on an ERC bow, a comment and a question.
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2011, 11:14:34 pm »
I wish mine would have  broke that early on, and not that far along( Actually I wish it hadn't broke at all)   ;D ;D
"He who hesitates usually misses"
"All you really need to make a bow and arrow are some sticks and a deer carcass"
Bill Stockdill
Clarion County Pennsylvania