New bow started(again, 1/4/2022){ and again 8/10/22}

[Will B]

Looks great so far, Pat. The photos and descriptions are great!  Looking forward to seeing this stave become a bow. Thanks for taking us along on your build.

[Pat B]

I got her on the long string today. You can see she needs work. The limb on the left is stronger so I need to get that down closer to the right limb.
 The black on the levers was to help me visualize the working limbs without the distraction of the stiffer levers

[bownarra]

It’s one of the bees in my bonnet.  Eastern Mediterranean cultures used sinew backed bows 1000s of years before Christ, so why wouldn’t Western Europeans?  Protecting sinew with bark is a very ancient technique and the advantages of sinew might encourage some experimentation.  In later periods sinewed crossbows were used across the length and breadth of the continent so the unsuitable climate argument is one I struggle with. 

It is a really cool project though and I am looking forward to seeing how it goes

Yes I've used authentic finishes on hornbows and used them day in day out in the rain and humidity. The climate may not be 'optimal' but a bit of humidty doesn't spoil a sinew backed bow here.

[Pat B]

I got a little more done today. Got the limbs a bit more even...

...by using Eric Krewson's "Tillering Gizmo"...


 For those not familiar with this very cool and effective tool it works by leaving pencil marks where the limbs are not bending enough...

...and you can see where the pencil lines are not even everywhere. This gizmo also shows you if there is a twist in the limb or the scraping is not done evenly...


...more to come...

[Pat B]

She's sitting at 41#@26" now and the tiller looks pretty good. Today I heat treated the belly on one limb and added a little reflex too...




 

...more to come...

[superdav95]

Looking great pat.  I’m watching this!

[BowEd]

Good attempt Pat with that elm.It would serve you well to extend the ever increasing reflex out on your levers also.
They will flatten out and appear stiffer at full draw then.

[Pat B]

Ed, I was gonna do that but will wait until I'm a little further along. I've thought about recurving or heavy reflex or just a mild reflex. I'm thinking more of a mild reflex at this point.
 Thanks Dave. Hope I don't disappoint.
 Heading down to the basement to cook the other limb this morning. With all the rain we've been having rehydration shouldn't be a problem but I'll wait a few days before straining either limb.

[BowEd]

It's best to get it done before bracing it.Otherwise your tiller shape will change doing it after you started tillering.

[Pat B]

I got the other limb heat treated and did a little lateral straightening to boot...

Then reflexed and heat treated the outer working portion of the limb after the inner limb cooled. I also brought the working limb and lever in line across and through the limb...

[Pat B]

I got most of the heat bending and straightening done. Will probably be a bit more tweaking to do but not now. I have to say, elm sure reacts well to heat corrections. In a few days I'll recheck the tiller, make adjustments then it will be a while before I start adding the sinew. Here is the end results of the last few days work...

[superdav95]

That’s gonna be a nice bow pat. 

[Pat B]

Thanks, Dave. I'm looking forward to the rest of the build and seeing how the finished bow comes out.      

[Pat B]

I got off my boney butt and did some more work on this bow. I did a little tillering to get both limbs fairly even for now. Then I clamped the bow to a one limb reflex form to heat treat again and do some lateral adjustment at the same time. I'll try to get to the other limb tomorrow or the next day. Here are a few pics...

[bradsmith2010]

lookin great,, beautiful