Author Topic: My old locust bow...RIP  (Read 14330 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
My old locust bow...RIP
« on: May 10, 2021, 09:00:27 pm »
I built this locust bow in 2003. It was my best locust build. Note the cut in shelf. I haven't done that in years. One of the tip overlays popped off years ago and I never fixed it or shot it again. Recently, as I was going through my bow collection I saw this one and wondered about sinew backing it. It is 55 1/2" t/t, is just over 2" at it's widest and draws 47#@24". The belly had developed some very fine frets at mid limb on both limbs but not bad. I thought about adding recurves to the end of the limbs but decided to just leave them straight. I will repair the tip overlay then I think I will sinew back it.
Here are a few pics...




« Last Edit: July 31, 2021, 05:26:44 pm by Pat B »
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Digital Caveman

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,117
  • formerly Tradcraftsman, formerly Yooper Bowyer
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2021, 10:31:51 pm »
I can tell it is 18 years old because the Osage tip looks like walnut. 

Nice lines.
God Bless America

Offline Fox

  • Member
  • Posts: 997
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2021, 12:47:20 am »
mmmm that is so pretty
Why must we make simple things so complicated?

Offline Deerhunter21

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,261
  • What do you despise? By this are you truly known.
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2021, 11:53:29 am »
The chocolate color of old Osage... you gotta love it!
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.

Offline RyanY

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,999
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2021, 11:57:01 am »
Surprising it got frets being so wide. Beautiful shape.

Offline Hawkdancer

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,040
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2021, 02:06:57 pm »
Nice!  New tip and sinew, she'll be as good as vintage wine!
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline bradsmith2010

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,187
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2021, 02:38:02 pm »
yep,, nice project,, :)

Offline bassman211

  • Member
  • Posts: 597
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2021, 03:21:58 pm »
I can't if you trapped the back or not. It is a good practice with Black locust. The one's that I have made successfully all have trapped backs.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2021, 04:12:54 pm »
Thanks guys. I'm sorta excited about getting this old bow back in working order.
 Ryan, frets are typical for me and locust. Like I said this one was one of my best locust bows.
Bassman, no trapping on this one. The limbs are so thin and it was probably before I knew what trapping was anyway.  ;)
 Old locust puts on a nice patina like osage and mulberry.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline bradsmith2010

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,187
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2021, 04:37:55 pm »
Pat, I have one from 1994,, it has few frets that I did when I was in a hurry tillering,, lucky they have not gotten worse, and the bow still shoots just like it did,, its a beautiful great shooting wood, excited to see yours come back to life,,

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2021, 12:13:35 pm »
I removed the handle wrap and scraped and sanded off the old finish today.


...as you can see the belly developed a concavity over the years. I use the goose neck scraper for areas like this. I observed that the limb with the frets had the most concavity to it. Whether there is a connection I don't know.


Then I used heat to remove the remaining tip overlay. I'm not sure what glue I used but once it was heated up the overlay lifted right off. I'm thinking I used gel super glue.


Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2021, 12:16:39 pm »
After scraping and sanding the whole bow I clamped one limb to a reflex form and laid the heat to it. I'll check it a little later and work on the other limb.



More to come...
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Bob Barnes

  • Member
  • Posts: 942
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2021, 12:49:01 pm »
thanks for sharing...it's one of my favorite woods too.   :OK
Seems like common sense isn't very common any more...

Offline Aaron H

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,437
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2021, 12:53:22 pm »
Neat

Offline Will B

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,022
Re: My old locust bow
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2021, 01:00:45 pm »
Look forward to seeing how the sinew backing goes. Love seeing these older selfbows!  Good luck