Mahogany longbow! are you sure?

[Squirrelslayer]

 That's what the guys at the club said to me yesterday. Here I found a mahogany board which cost me around $40-50 (im not sure of the exchange rate) and I glued on a walnut handle and overlays. I also have a fiberglass tape backing which I am not liking as it is not natural. I have been following AlmostPigHunter's (Mike) flat bow build along on YouTube which really helped me with the glue up of the handle. I would also like to thank all the legends on this site like PPEARL DRUMS and blackhawk and all the others that have given me advice.  This bow took a little set but im ok with that considering that it is mahogany.  I haven't got any pictures up yet but I will by the end of the week.  So for now here is a link to a video of it on YouTube. Enjoy. SS

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=NDSb3kncBRg

[ionicmuffin]

an alternative to fiberglass is silk or real linen. you can also use rawhide, however, that is not advised because its a board that you're putting it on, so if it blows for obvious reasons it would have been better to waste some cloth than rawhide. Try either of the first two and see how it goes, you may need 2 or maybe 3 layers, and I've also heard that it wont stop a really bad grain and also heard that it will, kind of experimenting from here on out eh? a fiberglass backing is better than a compound bow  just thought i would throw that in there so you know.

[Squirrelslayer]

an alternative to fiberglass is silk or real linen. you can also use rawhide, however, that is not advised because its a board that you're putting it on, so if it blows for obvious reasons it would have been better to waste some cloth than rawhide. Try either of the first two and see how it goes, you may need 2 or maybe 3 layers, and I've also heard that it wont stop a really bad grain and also heard that it will, kind of experimenting from here on out eh? a fiberglass backing is better than a compound bow  just thought i would throw that in there so you know.

Haha yes I was thinking that myself.  But I may give the linin or rawhide a try. As luck would have it I have some dog bone rawhide roled up in my draw. You've given me an idea..... SS

[BowSlayer]

Hello Squirrel. I must say I am very pleased and impressed to see this. When you told me that you are making a bow from mahogany you weren't kidding. Glad to see something that worked out for you.  Cheers

[Squirrelslayer]

Hello Squirrel. I must say I am very pleased and impressed to see this. When you told me that you are making a bow from mahogany you weren't kidding. Glad to see something that worked out for you.  Cheers

Thanks.  SS

[blackhawk]

Hello Squirrel. I must say I am very pleased and impressed to see this. When you told me that you are making a bow from mahogany you weren't kidding. Glad to see something that worked out for you.  Cheers

Thanks.  SS

Nothing better than having a conversation with yourself....have you been tested for multiple personality disorder 

[adb]

I can't get your youtube video to open.

[Squirrelslayer]

Hello Squirrel. I must say I am very pleased and impressed to see this. When you told me that you are making a bow from mahogany you weren't kidding. Glad to see something that worked out for you.  Cheers

Thanks.  SS

Nothing better than having a conversation with yourself....have you been tested for multiple personality disorder 

  SS

[ionicmuffin]

I can't get your youtube video to open.

He posted the mobile, here's the main one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=NDSb3kncBRg

[Cardboard_Duck]

Hello Squirrel. I must say I am very pleased and impressed to see this. When you told me that you are making a bow from mahogany you weren't kidding. Glad to see something that worked out for you.  Cheers

Thanks.  SS

Nothing better than having a conversation with yourself....have you been tested for multiple personality disorder 

ROFL!! I've often wondered the same thing

[adb]

Well... it is a bow, and it bends without breaking (so far). Atta boy.

[ionicmuffin]

Well... it is a bow, and it bends without breaking (so far). Atta boy.

Yep, the point is that he's actually trying to build bows and not just talking.

[Cameroo]

Well I'll be damned!  That looks like a bow to me, I believe we have a bowyer here!

If I can give you some constructive criticism for future bows (please don't take this the wrong way) - you may want to spend a little more time on the finishing details.  For example, all of the edges on both the belly and back appear to be rather square, which will concentrate a lot of stress right where you don't want it - along the edges.  Even a slight radius on the corners will help concentrate the stress more evenly.  Also there are some pretty deep gouges from the bandsaw just out of the fades.  These can easily be removed with a file or scraper.  You want to have a nice smooth transition from the handle into the limbs.

Also, if you are struggling to get to full draw, make yourself a lighter bow to build your strength up.  There is no sense in practising technique with a bow that won't allow you to consistently hit the same anchor point.  Start with something you can handle confortably.

But all in all, not too shabby for a first self-made bow.  Keep going - you will learn something from each bow you make.

[Joec123able]

Wow nice job

[PEARL DRUMS]

Dont you be calling me a legend squirrel nuts, I wont even call me a bowyer yet! I just build bows for now.