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Eastern Woodlands build Part 1
superdav95:
I like it. That’s a good technique
M2A:
Thanks Dave, pretty straight forward simple and I like simple. 8)
After getting the stave 3/4" end to end I need to try and thin the stave down. I will leave a 4" handle area go for now and work out from there. Marking the limbs half way between the "handle" and tips I mark up the outer half with a pencil.
IMG_5832 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
Then proceed to remove the lines with my farrier rasp. Then file out the tool marks until its rather smooth again. Next I mark out the entire limb and repeat the process.
IMG_5833 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
I do change the the mid point each time so I do not get a step in the center of the limb. I picked this tip up here and wish i could remember from who. But works well for me giving me a good limb taper.
IMG_5834 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
5 cycles of doing this on each limb has got them bending just a little but getting limb thickness down enough I think its time to put the farrier rasp down and use a less aggressive rasp to continue. It dont take much wood removal at this point to change things. It would be nice to have it floor tillered before the weekend but not sure Ill have that much time. So far so good :)
Mike
superdav95:
Looks good. Will be nice to see it bending.
wooddamon1:
Following, I like your taper technique. Glad to hear you're doing better health-wise.
M2A:
Got a bit side tracked Dave but do hope to start tillering next.
Thanks Wooddamon. Done it that way on the last several bows and has been working well for me.
Got the things pretty evened up and the floor tillered pretty good. I still have some mass to remove from the handle area and plan to slowly work at that but would rather not get that area bending too fast too soon. Also I do not like to try and heat in reflex after working the limbs too much. I dont think the belly wood takes well to tension after it has been worked in compression and pull the fibers on the belly apart. so I figured was a good time for heating in some better profiles. but starting off like so.
IMG_5838 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_5837 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
The biggest offense is that dog leg on the one limb.....But after looking at my options I figured I would be best served with a new form to heat treat and straighten this piece out with. After some time trying to work the math or just plan freehand the arc I wanted I went back to a string tied to a fixed point to get my 3" reflex over about 14" of the outter limb.
IMG_5839 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
worked down to the line with hand tools then and checked for it being square
IMG_5841 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_5842 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
Simple project and all part of the bigger picture as I hope to make good use of this form.
That done time to heat treat and try and even profiles up. I use 850 degrees on my gun as a constant and time is variable for heat treating. Working one limb at at time. I mark of 6" lengths. Locust is quick and on average takes 5 min for each 6" to get the color I want, white wood can take much longer(12-18 min/6").
One limb all clamped up and sorry for all the background clutter but space is pretty tight in the shop.
IMG_5843 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
I am pretty happy with the reflex added but didnt enough of the dog leg out yet. Will be heat treating again at around 22" and hope to get it better at that point. but hes where I stand now.
IMG_5846 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
IMG_5845 by Mike Allridge, on Flickr
Should be able to get a string on it and see how things look very soon.
Thnaks. Mike
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