Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

Experimental bow - English Ash, 95# @ 32" finished pics.

(1/3) > >>

WillS:
I've just finished working on a bit of a bizarre little bow, thought I'd post it in here!

It's English ash, and it was basically an experiment for a few reasons.  I started roughing the stave out months ago, in the hope of getting something around 110# for an upcoming EWBS shoot.  As I got the thing down to bow dimensions, I came across a load of wind shakes, cracks and long splits running along one side of the upper limb.  Looked like this, basically.



I posted the pic on Facebook for people to see and post their comments/thoughts, and essentially the general consensus was "scrap the thing, or just use it as practice but wear a hard hat when you first draw it up..."

So I kept going  :P

The cracks and splits were drowned in superglue, some big ones with epoxy and clamped together, and the roughing out finished until I had a regular warbow stave full of superglue.  It was more or less 99% glue and 1% solid wood at this stage I think.  The bow went into the corner while I did some house decoration, and eventually got forgotten about. 

The EWBS shoot approached (this weekend just gone) and on the Thursday I decided to pull out the ash stave and see what I could do.  There were now two challenges in my head - make this superglue bow last at 32" of draw, and achieve it by the Friday afternoon when I was leaving for the shoot.  Friday afternoon arrived, and Superglue Bow was surviving at 110# at 32" draw.  Insanity.  I've never made a bow this quickly, or met a target weight so neatly.  I was dead chuffed.  Sadly, in my haste the tips were hinged, and there was a whopping great chrysal in one limb tip but at least it survived!

After the shoot, I did a bit more work on it, and it's now a very nice looking bow I think.  It's weight at the moment is 95# at 32", and there's been no heat treating etc yet.  I'll probably temper the belly with a heat gun for a bit to ease out some of the set (it was super humid while I was working on it, so it's sucked up some moisture) and ramp up the weight closer to 110, but overall I'm quite chuffed!

Here she is, I'll get some better shots of her once the horn nocks are on and the finish is applied etc.  Bear in mind this was a rush job, so the tiller isn't spot on.  Slightly too much movement in the middle and not enough at the tips but I'll fiddle with it while I shoot it in.  The right limb could do with easing a bit more as well, looking at it now.  Although it looks better in the hand.  Anyway, Impossi-Bow, or "Superglue Bow."

JW_Halverson:
Good lord, you are as daft as Del! 

Frankly, I am amazed and impressed that you got that thing to full draw at ANY weight after seeing the stave with checks and all.  Excellent combination of luck, skill, and experience, sir!  Congratulations!

WillS:
I don't think it's a combo at all - just 100% pure, unadulterated luck.  Thanks though  ;)

The daftness must be a British thing.  That or I can't afford to throw out staves!

JW_Halverson:

--- Quote from: WillS on July 27, 2014, 02:51:35 pm ---I don't think it's a combo at all - just 100% pure, unadulterated luck.  Thanks though  ;)

The daftness must be a British thing.  That or I can't afford to throw out staves!

--- End quote ---

If that is the case, then about 500 folks from North America have been exposed from one of the world's worst carriers....Del the Cat!

PatM:
Keep the heat away from it. The superglue and epoxy will start emitting noxious fumes and undoubtedly break down.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page