2024 Bow Trade - build in progress

[Swampman]

You all probably think I forgot all about this bow trade.  I can assure you I have been thinking about it a lot but forces have been working against me.  My wife ended up having a double mastectomy so that took up some time caring for her.  I am happy to report she is doing great and cancer free. 

Shortly after that Minnesota ended up with some pretty bad flooding.  I work for MN emergency management so I ended up pretty busy for a while.  At one point I had worked 27 days in a row.  Neither of those were conducive to shop time.

I found some time to start working on a couple of staves. I plan to work on a black locust stave first and hopefully get a good solid option to send on.  That one is shaped out and just barely moving on floor tiller so far.  The stave I hope to be able to send on is an iron wood stave with a big knot that will fall right in the handle. I started shaping that stave but have a ways to go for it to start looking like a bow.

[Will B]

I’m glad you wife is cancer free and doing well, Swampman. Good to see you on here. Black locust makes a fine bow when tillered properly. Good luck with it.

[superdav95]

Yes agreed glad to see you here and find the time to get back in the shop.  Good news about your wife’s recovery.   Can’t wait to see what you come out with.   

[superdav95]

the first layer dried up nicely and applied the second layer today and re wrapped it.   This will be a total of about 60gr of sinew on this trade bow.  here are some pics

[superdav95]

quick update on this bow and the back up.  got 60grams on both bow finished up and now we wait a few weeks for full dry time at least.  based on prior experience using this method of layng sinew putting down two or more layers still shortens up the drying wait time.  I think 3 weeks will be more then sufficient.  I will weight each bow every day from now on to log the weight loss and keep track.  now we wait!   cheers

[Will B]

Looks good Dave. Just curious what type of scale do you use to weigh your sinew and your sinew-backed bow. I’ve been thinking of getting one.

[superdav95]

Looks good Dave. Just curious what type of scale do you use to weigh your sinew and your sinew-backed bow. I’ve been thinking of getting one.

Thanks will.  the scale i bought was one off of amazon. its a digital one that is rechargeable too.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B083QXK4LZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B083QXK4LZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B083QXK4LZ&pd_rd_w=N57gZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.516c2169-755e-413a-a38a-68230f4ab66f&pf_rd_p=516c2169-755e-413a-a38a-68230f4ab66f&pf_rd_r=SGAWGQ4DRKHYEHJD91M4&pd_rd_wg=aHfuI&pd_rd_r=e6eed9e8-cffa-4b68-8752-67cf410421e4&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

[Will B]

Thanks Dave

[Will B]

I made some progress on this Osage recurve. I glued up and shaped some ebony tip overlays using TB3 and started the tillering process. I like to use a long string till I get the bow limbs bending evenly. As soon as I can comfortably string the bow I get it to low brace. Everything looks pretty good to my eye so far and the string is tracking down the center of the handle.  Shooting for ~55# @ 26”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/5dh3yC38Fv

[superdav95]

Looking quite good will!   

[ajooter]

That looks great Will.

[Will B]

I finished tillering my Osage recurve trade bow. I plan to shoot at least 50 arrows through it, check the tiller, and hopefully finish it up. I have a pair on nice snakeskins I plan to use on it. Thanks for looking.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/wQDm05HE5A

[superdav95]

I finished tillering my Osage recurve trade bow. I plan to shoot at least 50 arrows through it, check the tiller, and hopefully finish it up. I have a pair on nice snakeskins I plan to use on it. Thanks for looking.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/192203801@N04/shares/wQDm05HE5A

Very nice indeed.  Looks like it’s got all the right curves in all the right places. 


Still waiting on mi e to finish drying.  Almost there. 

[Mafort]

i havent been active on this trade alot however i wanted to atleast give a status update. I have a nice ash stave that is finally dry. Im thinking of doing a sinew backed 5 curve style. maybe do a bit of a contact recurve on it and see how it works out.

[Selfbowman]

Ive got a couple in the works . I can give pics of the stave type but we all know what a straight clean Osage stave looks like. I’ll follow  up with some pics of the build . It could be at typical Arvin bow with reflex in the last 10” and close to a pyramid design. Or reflex deflex design.