Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 06:26:01 pm

Title: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 06:26:01 pm
Happy weekend gang. Here is a bow I made last June but I never posted pics of it. It is a nice looking bow but I haven't shot it much because it has some unpleasant hand shock. I'm thinking of taking the scraper to it and try and remedy the shock problem. So if anyone has a suggestion as to where I should concentrate my efforts I welcome the advice. It is not a horrible amount of shock but I prefer none at all in my bows. I'm thinking if I can get it shooting nicely I'll put it on the raffle table at the Marshall MI shoot.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 06:27:41 pm
Here is a view of the tiller from the other side and a few more pics
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Dances with squirrels on April 07, 2017, 06:30:14 pm
Nicely bent, Badly Bent.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Danzn Bar on April 07, 2017, 06:57:49 pm
Wow Greg!!!...love the bark back and that tiller looks OK to me ......don't know where your getting the hand shock.
Hope to see it in person in a month...I've got a recurve that I'm going to add to the raffle or auction at Marshall. Hopefully we can stir up some cash for the club..... That sinew back recurve I was working on ended up at 37# at 28" so I think it would be great for a kid....or grandson??? it pulls about 28 @ 26" .......I shot the 3D course at Moontree with it...If Nate is at the Classic this year maybe he can shoot it some? See if it works for him.
See you guys soon,
DBar
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Aaron H on April 07, 2017, 07:16:27 pm
Bend looks good to me Greg, awesome backing too, that birch bark looks really cool.  River birch I'm guessing?
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 07:43:09 pm
Thanks Squirrel
One of your osage recurves would draw a lot of interest in the raffle Bill and quite a few ladies and teen shooters at that event so 37#would be popular there. I was thinking this one of mine may end up under 40# if I start scraping the belly and thats what made me think Marshall.
Thanks Aaron, actually it is paper, (white birch). Peeled the layers and this is some of middle layers, burnish it with steel wool and it gets this reddish color. Also used a little dye here and there on it.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: bubby on April 07, 2017, 08:18:13 pm
Greg i don't know the tiller looks pretty good, maybe the top limd could come around a little more. Take that new fancy phone ya got and video shooting the bow, then edit to slo mo and you can see the limbs work
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: BowEd on April 07, 2017, 08:32:04 pm
Pretty bend on that stick Badly Bent.I must say I usually like osage as it is but that burnished birch bark looks better.I've heard of fellas putting a strap of lead under the handle wrap to help reduce shock.In other words making the handle heavier.Don't know if it works since I've not shot their bows.Lot of fussing to do that too I'm sure.Rewrappng etc.
Somebody will like that bow I'm sure of that though.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 09:13:50 pm
Sure bub, like I could figure out video, editing, slo-mo. HA! ;D

Ed, don't think the day will come when either you or I go as far as putting lead in our handles. ;D
I've tried raising brace height and heavy, 625 grn. arrows, and although it takes care of most of the shock it also makes the bow a real dog as far as cast goes. Maybe the tiller is to circular for the back profile, maybe the additional weight of the backing, uneven tiller?
I might have a bowyer friend or two shoot it and give their opinion before I go to reshaping and refinishing. I've shot bows that felt very shocky to me that others have said were smooth to them so go figure. :)
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on April 07, 2017, 09:17:24 pm
Profiles look sweet. I dig the birch bark as well. Here's a few notes from TBB 1 on hand shock...

"the outer limbs of bows with severe hand shock can be retillered, slightly "whipping" their ends, then shortened sufficiently to maintain draw weight"

"high-strung bows, full-draw short bows, and deflex-recurve bows have less hand shock"

"Bows with stiff, or only slightly bending mid-sections (not just handle sections) tend to release with less hand shock"

"Both working-grip and stiff-grip bows have unpleasant hand shock if tillered too round in the handle"

Don't know if any of that helps, but it's a beauty of a bow either way.  :)
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Trapper Rob on April 07, 2017, 09:29:40 pm
That's a beauty really like the bark backing.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: selfbow joe on April 07, 2017, 09:54:59 pm
Really like the bark on the bow. Nice work!
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 07, 2017, 10:03:01 pm
That looks beautiful with the birch bark back. I wonder if a couple scrapes from mid limb out on each limb would help to reduce shock a bit and not reduce weight too much.

Kyle
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 10:14:16 pm
Kyle, I'm thinking your right but also thinking it is mostly needed in the top limb as bub hinted to.
Do you see that too? Thanks man.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: bjrogg on April 07, 2017, 10:25:48 pm
Hope you get it tamed down Greg. That's a really sweet looking bow. That birch looks great. I really like the bend if you can get rid of the shock. What's your weight, draw length and ntn. I bet you'll get it smoothed out.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: bubby on April 07, 2017, 10:37:44 pm
Sometimes something as simple as beaver balls will take care of a little shock. I notich you are bare string
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: wizardgoat on April 07, 2017, 10:41:08 pm
Ohh that's a nice lookin bow Greg
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 07, 2017, 11:01:01 pm
BJ, it's 57" ntn, 44# @25"
Bub, you know I always put fur silencers on my bows, never realized this one is without until you just mentioned it. What the hell I'll try that first.
Thanks Goat, I have to get some pics up of the snakeskin backed yew that you sent me, now that is a a looker and it has been getting a lot of compliments from people who has been over to the house the past few weeks.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: BarredOwl on April 08, 2017, 12:50:00 am
I really like your bows!  They just fit my vision of everything a primitive bow should be and nothing they shouldn't be. 
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: mikekeswick on April 08, 2017, 02:52:57 am
Easy one :)
It is bending too much in the middle/inner limbs, mid to outer limbs need to bend more.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: bjrogg on April 08, 2017, 04:17:04 am
I kinda like those numbers Greg. Be I nice shoot all day bow for me. I'm thinking I might have to put a bid or two on that one if you donate it at Marshall.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Stixnstones on April 08, 2017, 07:09:19 am
beautiful bow Greg, love it.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: PNewton on April 08, 2017, 07:38:41 am
Great looking bow Greg. It will get lots of bids at Marshall.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 08, 2017, 08:46:03 am
Mikekeswick, I could work on those areas some, maybe a little more at the top limb? Thanks for the tiller eye.

Thanks for the comments fellas, much appreciated.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on April 08, 2017, 08:46:46 am
That tiller looks good to me, McGregor. I'd try fur on the string or another string all together. Getting more bend outward will make it bounce more, IMO.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: H Rhodes on April 09, 2017, 09:02:18 am
I like a little feedback from the bows I shoot.  I think you should give up on that one and just send it to me ;D.  Looks great Greg.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 09, 2017, 01:39:53 pm
Put one big fat fur silencer on her and shot some, didn't seem to make a difference. Still on the fence as to whether the shock is enough to warrant taking the scraper to it. While shooting it and paying closer attention, (something I should do more often), I noticed I could feel the bend beginning in the handle quite early in the draw indicating the mid/outers should be weakened as Mike suggested.
Pondering my next move. :-\
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: rps3 on April 09, 2017, 02:56:46 pm
The birch backing gives it a great look. Reading between the lines of your words, I'm betting you will be taking a scraper to it.
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: burn em up chuck on April 09, 2017, 11:23:51 pm
Sweet

           Chuck
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: Selfbowman on April 10, 2017, 12:27:49 am
I like the ends and the tiller. The bend in the handle bows have no place for the limb vibration to go except into each other and your hand? I am asking here cause I haven't built but a couple. Nice looking bow . Arvin
Title: Re: birch bark backed osage bow
Post by: chamookman on April 10, 2017, 04:23:39 am
Greg - I was going to post on this the other day, but was having 'Puter problems  :-[. I'd leave it where it is and chalk it up experience. Love the Birch Bark - really looks good on Osage. take care - Bob.