2024 Bow Trade - build in progress

[Selfbowman]

Will if you glue on another overlay shape the handle which I don’t like to do but wrap the handle prior to tiller with wire or sinew it will probably hold . Then put a leather wrap on it. Here is a pic of my hunting bow. It has a bow bolt in it . It broke out and I epoxied electric fence wire around the two handle sections. Pic proves it works.

[Will B]

Thanks Arvin. I have a lot of sinew and will give that a try

[superdav95]

got this yew bow worked down a bit more today and ready for some sinew.  got the bend looking pretty good to about 20" on short long string on the tree.  I did an initial floor tiller to get to this point but felt like i needed a better vantage point on this one.  lots of character not to mention all the plugged knot holes.  by feel its a bit stout yet but ready for some sinew.  if it survives that will be a good bow.  if it explodes on me I have a good back up of similar dimensions maybe little narrower.  will do sinew on this back up as well.   Heres some pics of it at low brace thereabouts.  The plugs seem to be holding up and staying put so far.  thanks for looking.

[superdav95]

a few more pics of the bow showing tip alignment and the back up bow next to it.

[Selfbowman]

I like your reflex. Looking good!

[Will B]

Looking really good Dave.

[superdav95]

thanks guys. hoping one of these survive.   

I laid about 30grams of sinew so far on the one bow.  will repeat the same for the second tomorow.  Ive used tb3 to lay sinew done before with great results so hoping for the same here.  i start with a scuffed back with an old hack saw blade or course 36 grit paper to give something for sinew to grab onto.  i then clean the back realy well with a wire brush (stainless) and get as much of the little bits of wood particales and or dust out.  I then wipe down with a clean damp rag.  I let this dry a bit in tyhe house and then i heat up the back with a radiant heat sourse to get the pours opened up to accept the thinned down glue.  In this case here Im using half and half water and tb3 glue.  not the conventional way of doing it or normally how i do this but trying to get a few more of sinewed bow done this way.  as soon as this half and half get tacky to the touch i have my bundles that i preped ahead of time cleaned and combed straight saturated in the half and half glue and then lay it down on the bow.  I then run a bead of full strength tb3 along the bundle and work this up and down the bundle with fingers to get smooth much like the method used with hide glue.  every now and then ill add a little half and half with my brush if looking little dry while working.  I then wrap with an ace type bandage used for horses.  I go fairly snug till i see tiny beads of glue poking through the bandage.  I will let this sit overnith and remove the bandage and hope not too fused to the bow.  I also back string the bow into more refex about 3" till it dries.  heres some pics of my messy table and piled bundles.  organised chaos. 

[superdav95]

removed the wraps next day.  ill give it a few days or a week before i decide on more sinew.

[Will B]

Looks really good, Dave. I’ve had good luck with TB3 on my sinew-backed bows. Someone will be very fortunate to receive either one of those two bows

[superdav95]

Thanks Will!   we shall see.   Heres a few pics of me doing the second one today.  I used the same wraps.  it allows for it to breath whilst being kept tight to the back while drying or setting up.  over night is ussually good to remove wraps.  so far both have 30 grams of sinew.  The original trade bow with the plugs has about 3" backset.  the other back up has a little more backset. 

[razorbak]

Wow Dave you are amazing !

[Kidder]

Nice work Dave! I finally got my blank glued up. Boo, yew, and a Hazel powerlam. We shall see…

[Muskyman]

Looking good Dave. I’ve got to try a bow with sinew.

[superdav95]

Looks good kidder.  I like that set up.  Yes mike you should try some sinew.  The first one seems a little daunting but reach out to me and can help ya out with getting started. 

[Will B]

Looks good Kidder! I know from personal experience from our past trade your bamboo-backed bow blanks turn into really sweet shooting bows. Good luck with this one.