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Coffee tree! Here we go again:)

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Timo:
Some may remember last year and my attempt to get a bow from a Kentucky coffee tree. Well…that ended in a bad way.:) I vowed that I would return so he we am.

This stave seemed perty straight and just a few pins so hopes were high.
I yanked off the bark and cambium layer a decided to quit right there. I figured what the heck, spice an life? The sapwood was a good bit thicker on one end than the other, and in hind sight I should’ve took another ring off from the center of the bow out one limb  to even it up,but didn’t…

Curious as to how old one has to get before hind sight becomes foresight?

I layed out a 4” handle, 1 ¾” fades, and 66” length. I started to build a meare heath but just went with 1 ¾” wide for 20” past the fades then tapered to ½” tips.  I know very little about this wood and can’t find out much about it, so I figured that if these dims wouldn’t make a bow then nuthin would.

The grain kinda reminds me of ash, or red elm. Reddish heart wood and pale yellow sapwood. It has a distinct smell that I just can't figure out. Pleasure to work.


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Josh:
 I hope you get it to hold together the grain in the handle is beautiful...  :)

FlintWalker:
Grain kinda reminds me of Sassyfras.  Perty stuff :)

Timo:
First look on the press shows the right limb stiff, I shaved some off until I had it looking more like I wanted.

Little side note about my bow press: I built this last year to help me brace bows and check early limb movement, as I went through hernia surgery and there was no way I could push pull any bow. I still use it now on every bow I build.

I got the idea from Brad Merkel up north.

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Timo:

Time to get a string on it. Not bad for first brace, and string lays perty well. Both limbs have a slight prop to them, so that was my next job.

The bottom pics shows my redneck twist remover.It's a piece of thick steel that I use around the shop for an anvil.I just get it tied on and slide the weight until it gives me what I want.It'll stay put!

Side note: whenever I remove limb twist this way I always do it with the belly up, that way any extra bend that goes into the tip is reflex.(unless of course you need some deflex):)

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