Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: OldBow on December 10, 2007, 06:01:07 pm
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I bicycle up a nearby canyon (no motors allowed) to a patch of yew eight miles upstream and haul out a future projects.
The yew log I gathered up in 2005 was not long enough for a stave so I had to cut billets and z-joint them.
I followed the article written by Jim Boswell in the April/May 2007 of PA closely. I freaked out applying pressure only to shape the limb and used my heat gun to preshape the portion near the tips. I did email Jim, though, and he assured me that I could have used only the form and clamps. I appreciated Jim's quick email response - Goes to show you how folks are willing to help out. ;)
I used 1/8" hickory strips that were given to me as a gift and resorcinol glue.
The two billets did not respond to the overall glueup/clamp process equally. Twice, I used my heat gun to adjust the limb shape. Tillering, too, the different billets was a task.
Anyway, this is a 45# R/D hickory backed yew bow with these specs:
66" ntn / 1 1/2" wide 1 1/2" above the 4"handle - not much of a flare / 1/2" tip overlays made of oak and Ipe
Handle has a scrap of osage to thicken the handle. Hope to cover it with leather tomorrow.
Hickory strips are stained with Minwax Jacobean stain. The entire bow has two coats of polyurethane.
Not my best bow by a long shot :P
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Great looking bow Don. Ill bet you get some funny looks riding a bike with a log tied to the side. ;D Justin
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Don,
That is a pretty bow, how does it shoot?
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Don, that came out really nice. Tried the same system with bamboo and ash but my glue up was terrible. Think I should of thinned the ash a little more...now I wanna try again ;)...Great bow....Brian
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Beauty, I'd name that one 2 wheeler. Bet you weren't doing any extreme mountain biking with that sucker strapped to the frame.
VB
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Sweet looking bow, especially with a classic wood like yew. And the fancy pictures really show it off :)!
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Nice looking bow Don,sweet curves.
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Put a little leather on the handle:
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really beautiful Don.
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superb work there!. Haha the Christmas lights really set it off in the last pic ;D. It's negative 12 centigrade here now and you can see the northern lights! ;)
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Oldbow I like those curves,and I know the work that went into the tillering.Beautiful work.
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Good use for my Mountain bike now
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I like the curves on your bow - classic.
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She's a beauty, Don. I'll have to try hickory backed yew. I just happen to have a stave that traveled just like you posted. 8) I split the pole you sent me and got 4 staves out of it. I may even be able to get 4 bows! 8) Pat
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Very nice Don,mighty fine looking bow.Man you know how to do the pictures also.I
guess you get a lot of practice. :)
Pappy
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What everyone else said Don she's real purty. Merry Christmas
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Very cool recurve. Love the fine grain of that yew.
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She is purty all over :). I'm thinking you prolly got some looks with a fence post strapped to your bike too, hehe.
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Nice bow Don. I can't imagine riding a bicycle with a log like that strapped down between my legs :)
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Don,I see the bicycle is becoming a popular method for bow wood pillaging. ;D Mine gets used for this frequently. Very sweet lines on your bow! I bet its quick too!
Rich
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hey don! - what a nice bow!!
frank
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Don, she is a beauty!! Great job. Steve
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That's a really nice looking bow, nice use of the bicycle too!
Alan
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I just keep coming back and looking at this one Don, the way you got her clamped down during glue up - more ideas :). You say not your best one by a long shot - I'd sure like to build one that purty....Nice bow!!
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me likey ;D nice color
got you up for backed BOM too! ;D ;D ;D
its the whiskey.....
the bow color reminds me of ;) ;D >:D
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Very nice bow.I think you have that tillered the way its supposed to be for that design. I use a similar form for R/D bows even the shaping blocks are the same. I based mine on Rudderbows design. Only difference from you is rubber strips for clamps. How do you like the ipe for overlays? I was going to try that.
Jesse
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Betcha that is one snappy shooter! Looks great Don.
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Wow Don that is one beautiful recurve bow. The lines are graceful and I'll bet she's even better in person. Its bows like this that are made by guys like you that insprire me. Danny
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Definately Awsome, How do ya get your pics squished together like that.