Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on March 21, 2013, 03:07:26 pm
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I have build three elderberry bows with different designs, but all in the same drawweight range (50+). I will post all of them in the upcoming days.
Here is the first one, a flat bow with cherry bark backing. It is 62½" ntn and 52# /28".
The bark came in three parts, spliced under the wraps. First time bark backing for me, done with TBIII.
The stave was about 2½" in diameter and had a really thick pith, I drilled out the spongy material.
Cross section is more or less rectangular with absolut flat belly and a bit crowned back which runs at outer third of limb from a trapezoid into a triangular tip.
Five color dying, partally sanded down with steel wool and a piece of old leather gives this bow a "used look" (esp. made for those who don't like the glossy finish).
Finished with several coatings of hard oil.
enjoy
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0518_zps68a0d8e4.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0519_zpsd2147053.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0520_zps1215f3f3.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0542_zpsfd540fe5.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0650_zps0a0572ff.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0651_zpsc756ab6f.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0653_zpsa6ecb595.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0661_zps2219f54d.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0530_zps4fd9d30a.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0660_zps98bcddce.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0657_zpsc623f0d3.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0645_zps23fd4cc3.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0664_zps2a93eb2c.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/elder%20cherrybark%20backed%2052-28/_DSC0643_zps82e11536.jpg)
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very nice, like the natural quiver ;D, Bub
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That's really nice. I love the hole to stow the ram rod... or am I getting my weapons confused again?
I like the nice smooth blend from limb to grip.
Del
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thats a great looking bow. i love the hole through the handle. i have a few elderberry staves ready for using but they are abit twisted and snaky which puts me of abit lol.
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Very clean work Simon. What do you finish seal your bows with? I really like that.
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That bow is so cool!
The tiller matches the width profile perfectly. Very good design and execution.
I like the stain job...thats just how I do my bows ;)
Have you tried heat treating it yet? I also have a feeling that this wood would be great if sinew backed.
Elder grows everywhere around here, i've cut a few staves of it and they should be dry by now....I think you've just inspired me to pull one of them out.
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That's super cool! I think you've convinced me try this. I've got some elderberry trees growing in the yard that might be big enough for this. Does anyone know if the stuff in Florida is of the same quality as in Germany?
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around here the elderberry beetle is protected so you have to be carefull where you cut
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That is just sweet. Love the handle, the cherry bark and the tiller. Great stuff Simson.
Gabe
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Very nice bow! I don't mean to step on your thread , but has anyone had success with american elderberry?? Is european elderberry comparible to american? I know where some nice trees/shrubs are and am thinking of cutting them. I am in Wa. state. Never used it myself always thought it was brittle.
VMB
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Howdy, I believe the issue of the elder bark beetle is confined to the interior valleys of CA. Don't cut elders in the Sacramento valley or face a big fine! Here in the Bay area I've got my eye on a couple of possible staves, and hope to give the local elder wood a try. In the meantime it's nearly elder blossom time and a chance to harvest elder flowers.
Beautiful bow and really unique handle! Ron
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Awesome! You do great work and can't wait to see 2 and 3! Like the hole, that is sweet!
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yeah M-P up here around red bluff they actually planted a small orchard of elderberry for the beetles, bub
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That Sir is one cool bow!!!
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Very cool bow. The handle looks a wee bit sharp though. I'm guessing it rounds out under the leather?
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A very primitive looking bow, I love the coloration. Is that handle at all uncomfortable?
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I really like that one - nice work. How do you go about drying out the elderberry staves? Remove the bark and seal? Leave bark on and seal the ends? The smaller staves I have tried usually split, twist, and check quite badly.
Thanks!
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That is an awesome bow! Top limb bends a bit more than i usually make em but if it shoots well why not lol. That handle looks really cool. These series you've been doing have been nice, keep making them!
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Another great bow from mein beliebter deutschland! Wieder hervorragende!
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Simson you do great work, and this is wonderful. I made an elder bow which unfortunately chrysaled, but that was my mistake not the bows. I too would like your opinions on how to dry the staves. I de-barked and sealed mine but found that they are very prone to checking and even splitting on the sides. I think I even have a piece in my barn that I left the bark on? If not I am going to go out today and cut some in my back garden. Here in Germany we don't have this beetle, I think? Sinew backing a piece sounds like a great idea. In another thread I posted a link to a youtube video that someone had made of a cable backed elder bow, it looked pretty good.
Sehr schön Simson, Prignitzer
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Bubby: too bad the hole does fit only in diameter, so you can store only a very short arrow
Del: I always think about how to use this hole - perhaps to tie on a bow quiver ....
Danny: I have never found a "premium" stave of elder, all is more or less twisted, also on this one (luckily not too much)
I have ignored that
Chris: I have several finishes mixed by myself ingredients are beeswax, carnauba, true terpentine, and others I don't know the English words for, but I will do some search if you are interested. These finishes dries out to a hard and not sticky surface.
Mike: On this one is no heat treating, only slight corrections. I'm with you, this wood is good for heat treatment for sure. I believe it is also good for sinew, because this wood is very elastic - I haven't tried it till now, but think it's worthy to do
Tim: sorry no idea about the florida stuff
Bubby: what the hell is a elderberry beetle - kinda insect ??
Ryoon + misslemaster: handle is narrow and deep (to come over the hole) is is a bit rounded under the leather - so it looks sharper than it is. No problem in shooting this bow.
Mitch: drying elder is a challenge. I cut mine in spring, seal the ends, split the thicker staves, bring it down to nearly estimated dimensions with your bandsaw, coat the stave with paraffin oil, clamp it in a simmple jig to get a bit of reflex where you want it, leave it in not windy, dark corner to dry out. this wood dries extraordinary fast, I have used staves in the past after only three weeks drying.
Zion: yeah, you right and you are wrong. The two limbs comes not in the handle in a true line, this effects a different look. See the fd pic, arrow points a bit downwards, but you can see the tips bending the same amount ( compare with the lines from the boards in the background
Nathan: you are too kind
Prignitzer: Danke, Trocknen: siehe oben
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That is a very nice looking bow simson. I love the aged look that the finish gives it.
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Very cool bow,you done a nice job with that one. :)
Pappy
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yeah it's a bug,
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The color & bark backing make it a Very primitive bow. Good stuff.... 8)
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You are a master Simon. Always enjoy looking at your work. The wide limbs flowing into that deep handle looks very nice.
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Aha i see now. I was wondering about that since when i saw it i saw that the tips lined up but the bend was different. Is it reflexed right of the handle a bit?
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Another great one Simon, very nice, I like the rustic dye job, your very talented at making a new creation look like an heirloom.
That hollowed pith handle is unique and the whole design of the bow looks just right for that wood. Can't wait to see the next
three.
Greg
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Very cool bow. I like that "old feeling look." :-)
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Wow, that is a really neat bow the hole is cool and I like the cherry bark backing.
Kevin