Author Topic: My first bow, long time coming!  (Read 6116 times)

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Offline lebhuntfish

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My first bow, long time coming!
« on: September 08, 2014, 09:20:54 pm »
The title says "my first bow" this is true but I have built others and have several in process. That being said, this is the first stave and the first time I ever put a tool to a piece of wood to make a bow. The stave was given to me by an Indian friend of mine the first time I ever met him. His name is "Gray Ghost" or Larry. Anyways it was a big stave and about 5 years old. The rings was thick with thin early growth. It was twisted about 30 degrees on one end and had about 2 in of prop twist. At that time I knew nothing about how to work out all of that so I turned to the internet and found "Boarriorbows" on YouTube. (Thanks Mike) I also made several trips to my friends house for input. But as far as working on the bow at home I never had anybody to look over my shoulder. As far as the design, it has transformed a lot from its original to its current state. I followed one of Mikes build alongs on his YouTube page. I made a simple form just like the video and bent the tips into thees huge hooks. Looking back they were horrible. I put sinew on the back just like the video showed. Then I found PA, and after a few post with this bow I transformed it to almost what it is now. Then I had what I thought was my first big screw up. I took too much off one of the tips and made a weak spot in what was supposed to be a static tip. Luckily MoJam was in a couple weeks so I took it with me and met Dave/dvshunter.  He acted like it wasn't a big deal and told me what I should do to correct the problem. In about an hour I was borrowing his arrows to shoot my first bow. Thanks a lot Dave your awesome! After that I put it away with the thought of adding more sinew to the back. I got it out today and done some minor adjustments to the handle and finished the tips out. Then I started shooting it and realized that it was super smooth and really comfortable to shoot. I decided I was done working on it with the exception of some skins and a handle wrap. This bow was started the first week of the government shut down last October. And as my grandpa would say "All I like is finishing" 

Specs are 60" ntn 38@27. Thanks for looking and thank everyone that helped me with this bow. It means a lot to me. Patrick










Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline bubby

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2014, 09:30:01 pm »
nice job and cool story
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2014, 09:42:41 pm »
Nice job on your first stave bow.  That is a heck of a lot better than my first one.  That DVS is a good guy.  You were lucky to meet up with him at Mojam.
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2014, 10:13:36 pm »
Thanks bubby!

Osage, thanks and you are right about Dave he is a stand up guy!
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline tattoo dave

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2014, 10:17:35 pm »
Great looking number 1 Patrick!! Nice work.

Tattoo Dave
Rockford, MI

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2014, 10:39:39 pm »
Thanks tatoo dave!
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline koan

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2014, 10:45:34 pm »
Nice!...... Brian
When you complement a lady on her dress.....make sure she is the one wearing it.....

Offline Stixnstones

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2014, 10:46:38 pm »
If thats ur first than its gonna b awesome watchin everything i do from here, sweet bow
DevilsBeachSelfbows

Offline Badly Bent

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2014, 11:00:59 pm »
Real nice one, a well made first bow thats for sure.
I ain't broke but I'm badly bent.

Offline wizardgoat

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2014, 11:05:57 pm »
Nice bow Patrick

Offline Knoll

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #10 on: September 08, 2014, 11:11:57 pm »
Great job, Patrick.   Your satisfaction shows in your post .... and it's understandable.
Every time I see one of your posts I'm left wondering how we managed to NOT meet at MoJam.
... alone in distant woods or fields, in unpretending sproutlands or pastures tracked by rabbits, even in a bleak and, to most, cheerless day .... .  I suppose that this value, in my case, is equivalent to what others get by churchgoing & prayer.  Hank Thoreau, 1857

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #11 on: September 08, 2014, 11:16:11 pm »
Thanks koan!
Thanks stixnstones!
Thanks Badly Bent!
Thanks wizardgoat!

Thanks knoll, I know what you mean. I was pretty much in the middle of everything too. Figured that was the best way to learn! For sure next time!
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Pat B

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2014, 11:37:03 pm »
Nice bend, Patrick. Those tips seem to be opening a bit at full draw.  8)
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2014, 11:59:58 pm »
Thanks Pat B, that was dvshunter's fix to my screw up and I like it! 
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: My first bow, long time coming!
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2014, 12:17:00 am »
That's awesome! Love the tiller! Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!