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Short bow build
superdav95:
Cool little bow.
Aaron1726:
--- Quote from: superdav95 on March 23, 2023, 11:57:33 pm ---Cool little bow.
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Thanks, it was a fun build. Glad I was able to save it from the burn pile :)
StickMark:
I bet people who usually do not shoot stick bows will find that enjoyable.
My family shoots bows once a year, maybe two times, and one bow they enjoying shooting is just like that one you built.
WhistlingBadger:
--- Quote from: Aaron1726 on March 23, 2023, 10:53:48 pm ---Thanks Ken. As for the backing, so far it's held up really good. I've probably put 500 or so arrows through it so far and it's been fine. Honestly I feel like the dogbane will outlast the oak on this one. I made a dogbane string for it as well, just seemed right.
Dogbane is tricky, though. I like the thin fibers, they lay really clean and even, but it's also a pain to get all the outer bark off ( I can never get it all off) so those little chunks are a challenge to deal with, but it also gives it a cool natural camo. I think you ought to try it, I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I couldn't find much on backing with it but figured I'd give it a shot. Overall I'm happy with the results. If nothing else, its kept the bow in one piece. I have some eastern red cedar that I want to tackle at some point and it might just get a dogbane backing as well :)
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Cool bow, Aaron! I have been working some dogbane for a chokecherry bow I hope to build if it ever warms up enough to get out and find some wood. I find that, as I see-saw the fibers between my fingers to get the pith out of the stalks, most of the outer bark breaks off too. It's a tedious job--I work it while watching TV with the family or listening to music--but not too hard. Has that been your experience too? A lot of primitive-skills people on youtube mention scraping the bark off or otherwise struggling with it as you've said; other people echo my experience the most of the bark comes off fairly easily as you work the fibers. I suspect this has something to do with regional differences or different subspecies of the plant. I find it a lot easier than working sinew.
Whatever the case, it's cool to see somebody actually doing this. Does the db add draw weight/snap to the bow, do you think?
Aaron1726:
--- Quote from: WhistlingBadger on March 25, 2023, 12:06:13 pm ---
Cool bow, Aaron! I have been working some dogbane for a chokecherry bow I hope to build if it ever warms up enough to get out and find some wood. I find that, as I see-saw the fibers between my fingers to get the pith out of the stalks, most of the outer bark breaks off too. It's a tedious job--I work it while watching TV with the family or listening to music--but not too hard. Has that been your experience too? A lot of primitive-skills people on youtube mention scraping the bark off or otherwise struggling with it as you've said; other people echo my experience the most of the bark comes off fairly easily as you work the fibers. I suspect this has something to do with regional differences or different subspecies of the plant. I find it a lot easier than working sinew.
Whatever the case, it's cool to see somebody actually doing this. Does the db add draw weight/snap to the bow, do you think?
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Thanks. The db added about 3lbs to this one, but I didn't have it in reflex when I glued it on. I'd like to try and see if that would work, might add a bit more that way.
I do like you with getting the pith out, but most of mine the outer bark wants to hang on. I get a few stalks worth and rub the bundle between my hands and most falls off that way, but you get little pieces all through the stack. When I twist cord it tends to all come out as I twist, but for the bow it was just mixed in with the fibers. I've tried combing, but I feel like I loose too many fibers, so I quit doing that.
Good luck with your bow, I'll be excited to see your experience with db.
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