Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: blackhawk on November 20, 2013, 05:32:04 pm

Title: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 20, 2013, 05:32:04 pm
This bow came from the huge stash of ash I harvested back in may...I wanted to know if it was good ash or bad ash asap due to my experiences with ash in the past,and if it was not any good it was gonna get thrown in the burnpile to make room in one of the places I store my wood. So I roughed out a blank on sept. 1 and let her sit to dry out...for my first try at the wood I went with this design...a long Andaman Holmgaard style 76" long ntn...47@28"...26 ounces mass weight...osage tip overlays....trapezoid cross section....and a honey amber dye job over it all...it has some funky wavering back n forth twist in it,which you can see from both sides of the braced pics...nothing fancy,and just a good target shooting bow....these designs will stack your arrows in very tight ash groups...they are a pleasure to shoot for the pure joy of shooting...and helping me model the bow is my lil peanut  8)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1391.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1391.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1398.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1398.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1399.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1399.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1393.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1393.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1400.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1400.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1401.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1401.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1387.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1387.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1403.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1403.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1404.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1404.jpg.html)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x436/blackhawk28/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1409.jpg) (http://s1181.photobucket.com/user/blackhawk28/media/Mobile%20Uploads/100_1409.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Bryce on November 20, 2013, 05:46:01 pm
Oooooooooh Ash* well I guess I looked for nothing ;)


That's a fine lookin bow right thrr!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: RyanR on November 20, 2013, 05:46:17 pm
Nice looking bow. That thing is huge. What did you stain it with? I have been wanting to use some white ash but the borers have it destroyed up here. It is so bad in my area I hate to cut an ash tree that is actually in good condition.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Blaflair2 on November 20, 2013, 06:10:55 pm
Nice ash  :o
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: BOWMAN53 on November 20, 2013, 06:13:26 pm
thats one sweet piece of ash right there.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: dbb on November 20, 2013, 06:14:36 pm
Indeed a nice piece of ash  8)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Atlatlista on November 20, 2013, 06:20:10 pm
I don't get tired of seeing that primitive target design at all!  Love the stain job on it too.  It really highlights the growth rings - primitive man's bowsight.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: DuBois on November 20, 2013, 06:26:55 pm
Very nice Blackhawk! Love that finish.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: dwardo on November 20, 2013, 06:27:20 pm
Picture of your littlun holding the sky scraper bow is priceless.

Cool ash bow. Must finish the few i started.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Joec123able on November 20, 2013, 06:29:08 pm
Turned out gorgeous
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Chadwick on November 20, 2013, 06:30:36 pm
I guess you like the big ash. I tend toward smaller ash, but I'll admit they're less.. stable.
Tiller looks great.
Michael
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: bubby on November 20, 2013, 06:34:43 pm
yeah she's got legs, and them legs got some sweet curves BH, that's a lot of fine bow, bub
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Badly Bent on November 20, 2013, 06:45:50 pm
Looks like a pole vault stick in the peanuts hands. :)  Nice retained reflex in the unstrung pic, great finish and tiller as well Chris. Probably hitting nothing but 12 rings in your hands huh.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: bow101 on November 20, 2013, 06:56:58 pm
Lol..... Funny pic with your little one, I don't if the bow makes her look so small, or her making the bow look so humungous... :)  Either way nice bow.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 20, 2013, 07:08:03 pm
Thanks for the replies everyone :D and all the puns  :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh: ...I'm sure they'll be more  ;)

Greg this thing only lost an inch from what I started with  8) the length,the trapping,and tempered made it so ;) and yeah she's super accurate
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on November 20, 2013, 07:12:28 pm
I'm glad to see a pic of that little peanut! Solo cute!

Bow looks great. I like the color to.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: RyanR on November 20, 2013, 07:16:06 pm
I guess you like the big ash. I tend toward smaller ash, but I'll admit they're less.. stable.
Tiller looks great.
Michael
What were we talking about again? >:D
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Onebowonder on November 20, 2013, 07:29:29 pm
Well there's nothing quite like a good piece of Ash that'll bend over nicely for you and keep her shape despite time and strain.  Especially one that'll put your arrow right where you mean for it to go!

OneBow

btw - what kinda wood in that bow made of?

P.S. - I had to get on here and grab some of this low hanging 'pun fruit' before JW Halverson showed up and took it all!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: J05H on November 20, 2013, 07:30:12 pm
I guess you like the big ash. I tend toward smaller ash, but I'll admit they're less.. stable.
Tiller looks great.
Michael
What were we talking about again? >:D
Good question! :laugh: :laugh: LOL
That's a great looking holmie, and your little Peanut is so cute!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: BOWMAN53 on November 20, 2013, 07:41:06 pm
i like big ash and i can not lie, you other brothers can deny, when blackhawk walk in with ash in his hands you get sprung, wanna pull when its strung. hahahaha oh snap!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: RyanR on November 20, 2013, 07:55:23 pm
Well there's nothing quite like a good piece of Ash that'll bend over nicely for you and keep her shape despite time and strain.  Especially one that'll put your arrow right where you mean for it to go!

I don't think it could be spoken any better.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: osage outlaw on November 20, 2013, 08:00:10 pm
Glad to see you quit playing with boards  ;D   That's a nice ash bow right there. 
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: adb on November 20, 2013, 08:04:14 pm
Nothin' better than a good piece of ash.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Danzn Bar on November 20, 2013, 08:08:43 pm
Nice bow Chris,
It's amazing how you tiller a stick and keep the reflex in it.  OH by the way nice ash ........... bow that is.   :laugh:
DBar
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 20, 2013, 08:36:10 pm
Thanks for the laughs n replies ...yins guys are "crack"ing me up  :laugh:

Clint just for that comment I might glue some boards together this weekend ;)

Hmmm? Where's JDub?
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: paulsemp on November 20, 2013, 08:43:08 pm
 I'm surprised you didn't make it a nice even 7 foot!  Really putting a lot of stress on those limbs at 76 inches >:D. just kidding I actually have a nice piece of oak I was thinking of doing the  something similar to that. Beautiful as usual. your daughter is a doll and can't wait to see her marshall and see how much is changed in the last year
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: okie64 on November 20, 2013, 09:02:13 pm
Great lookin tiller and nice stain job bh! I built my first selfbows from ash years ago and Ive held a grudge against it ever since. I do plan on givin it another chance one of these days.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: NeolithicMan on November 20, 2013, 09:06:42 pm
Great title for the thread BH. sweet bow too, made an ash bow a while back about 76" long... shot great until it blew up die to ring violation on the back. got me imspired again!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: mwosborn on November 20, 2013, 09:37:48 pm
I like the looks of that - very nice.  My first few boards were all ash - still have several pieces.  Might have to get one of those out and try for another ash.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: SLIMBOB on November 20, 2013, 09:42:35 pm
Sweet lookin'.  Love the stain color on it.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Trapper Rob on November 20, 2013, 10:09:37 pm
Nice bow Chris but the little one makes it look better.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: wood_bandit 99 on November 20, 2013, 10:12:09 pm
Why is there a huge chunk of wood missing where the arrow goes?  :laugh: nice looking bow. I would be proud to own it!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: IdahoMatt on November 20, 2013, 11:19:34 pm
Wow that's a long one.  Looks like it would practically shoot itself.  I love the way those shoot.  Never made one that long though.  Great job as usual.   :)

Matt
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: criveraville on November 20, 2013, 11:29:15 pm
Love the simplicity and the grain. Great looking bow!

Cipriano
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: mikekeswick on November 21, 2013, 04:25:33 am
Just goes to show in the right hands ash is a v.good bow wood....you've just got to treat it right.  I guess we are lucky here i've never worked an ash stave that I would class as bad.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Pappy on November 21, 2013, 06:41:31 am
Nice bow  ;) ;D I remember another thread several years ago around here ,I think it was about Marie's ash,[by the way we cut some out of her yard] :)  it when about like this one has, :) Miss Joanie says with men it ALWAYS goes there. >:D Love the grain Ash has,but have had the same experience as you,some work and some don't for some reason that I haven't figured out.  :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Arrowind on November 21, 2013, 10:22:49 pm
Nice bow dude!  Love the stain/ finish!
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Atlatlista on November 22, 2013, 02:28:29 am
Miss Joanie says with men it ALWAYS goes there. >:D
 Pappy

I was beginning to think the same thing myself.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Badger on November 22, 2013, 05:25:28 am
  Great design for that piece of wood. Always have loed the grain on ash. I will be doing an ash backed ash in the morning.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 22, 2013, 07:43:53 am
Thanks guys ;) I've been enjoying shooting this one almost every eve this week,BUT I think I can make a better one  >:D

Badger...do you temper a whitewood belly pre glue up? Jus  curious...I know some do and some dont
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Buckeye Guy on November 22, 2013, 08:34:53 am
Man if you have good Ash there better be a piece set aside for me !

Peanut needs to quit growing so fast , give everyone there a hug for me !
See ya when I can , or at Marshall with ever comes first !!
Guy
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: burn em up chuck on November 22, 2013, 12:38:25 pm
   very very cool, I like the subtle contrast on the tips, nice

                                                        chuck
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 22, 2013, 12:46:36 pm
Sure thing Guy....but what are you going to do with it? Make a bow? Pfhahaha  :laugh: thanks ;)

Thanks chuckaroo ;)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: bowmo on November 22, 2013, 01:42:38 pm
Nice work. Looks lie it would be smooth. I've had bad luck with the ash here in IL. Must not grow like that around here.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: koan on November 22, 2013, 02:56:27 pm
Ive had good luck with ash, both board and stave... Took a little set but i havent tried it since i learned bout trapping
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 22, 2013, 05:42:14 pm
Thanks bowmo...funny thing i harvested an ash before this one that was only 300 yards away from where this one was cut,and it was junk...and both were cut right out my backdoor basically...no driving needed....

Thank Brian...your lucky then ;)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 22, 2013, 08:24:31 pm
That is a fine piece of ash.   Glad you left her undressed for the pics.   ;)

Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: koan on November 22, 2013, 10:01:29 pm
Thanks bowmo...funny thing i harvested an ash before this one that was only 300 yards away from where this one was cut,and it was junk...and both were cut right out my backdoor basically...no driving needed....

Thank Brian...your lucky then ;)
cant tell ya what kinda ash it was.. got it in 5/4 board form from the Amish. Was able to chase a ring on one and made several board bows from the rest, all 68-72".I really like it... Brian
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Buckeye Guy on November 23, 2013, 12:03:01 am
Sure thing Guy....but what are you going to do with it? Make a bow? Pfhahaha  :laugh: thanks ;)

Chris you are most likely correct , but it is hard for a fellow that has been doing this stuff all his life to admit he might be done ,gota keep dreaming or it will be true !
At least I can still make something that looks like a bow and most folks can't tell the difference anyway !!!  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Guy
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: kiltedcelt on November 23, 2013, 02:07:05 am
Not much I can say that other folks haven't said already - pretty much all the best puns have been used up. Oh well. I'll settle for - awesome lookin' bow, fantastic dye job, really brings that grain out, and I love those tip overlays. I've always cut grooves in with any overlays I've done, but I like that simplistic almost brush nock-lookin' tip style you've done. I'll have to try that style myself in the future. Two questions though - first why so long? Did you feel the wood was marginal so you went longer with the limbs to reduce stress? Also, what kind of dye did you use? Was it a leather dye or one of the wood-specific dyes that you dilute with alcohol?
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 23, 2013, 08:53:25 am
I'll still write your name on one guy,and you can dream on it  :laugh:

Thanks kiltedcelt ....several reasons why I went long(according to your opinion)....funny thing is back in medieval n Victorian age Europe this was fairly average length....and its because longbows are more accurate...plain n simple...and when shooting at longer distances a longer bow is more stable and will be easier for an Archer to hit distances farther away than normal hunting distance shots....also a longer bow(if done right) will have better cast on average ...once you get over a certain length tho the rise in fps is smaller and very minimal,and the longer you go the more critical mass weight becomes out in the outer ends of the bow...and the longer string means a heavier string...and yes because I felt a long and wide design with narrow outer stiff tips was a good design for ash which is a lighter bow wood,and can be weak in compression....and that's as simple as I can say it without writing a book as much more can be said...
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 23, 2013, 02:00:56 pm
That dye job is beautiful.  Did you use osage shavings to get that color? 
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 23, 2013, 07:16:15 pm
Carson... no its not osage shavings dye....just a dye called trans tint I picked up at a woodworking store ...thanks ;)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 23, 2013, 09:59:12 pm
It's a beauty! Nicely done. Jawge
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Arrowind on November 26, 2013, 12:35:27 am
Hey blackhawk,

 That bow is sweet!  I really like ash...it reminds me of more medieval bows which I think are cool.  I have made a few but always tend to end up with more set than I would like.  I have a couple roughed out right now and plan to temper. 

Did you temper it a little less than you normally do or about the same?  I've read that a "light tempering" is better for ash than a more in depth or deeper temper for some reason...  Do you think that's true?
Not sure if I'm asking this right...  Anyway.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: soy on November 26, 2013, 01:41:46 am
I think its just a perfect fit for the young one!!!! ;D
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on November 26, 2013, 08:13:07 am
Thanks jawge

Thanks soy

Thanks arrowind...im not an expert on ash,but I'll share my experiences ...on this one I just tempered it medium before I braced the bow...I then just monitored it as I tillered, and it took very little loss even tho I tillered most the color off....I have tempered one ash before(from different tree) much deeper and it ended up breaking in tension...not sure if it was just bad wood or the tempering made the back tension weak,although no burn marks hit the back and it didnt scorch it...and some ash will just take set no matter what ya do and is very weak in compression...it has varied a lot for me....this one showed great characteristics for bow wood tho...i only lost an inch from what I started with ...ive been shooting this one a bit lately n last night again,and its still maintaining nicely,n shoots like a sniper rifle ;)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Onebowonder on November 26, 2013, 01:11:38 pm
...so, if I'm hearing you right, it's important to have a little bit of a temper on a nice peice of Ash, ...but too much temper can lean to breaking things and get painful real quick.  Is that about right?

OneBow
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: Sidewinder on December 17, 2013, 11:58:23 am
Yeah thats a tall glass o water fer sure. Like all your bows, beautiful. The stain job really does the grain justice. I bet with that length balance on target is sweet.   Danny
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: BowSlayer on December 17, 2013, 12:36:51 pm
nice one. thanks for posting. love the conoured handle.
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: blackhawk on December 17, 2013, 05:57:58 pm
thanks danny,your right about that ....thanks to bowslayer  ;)
Title: Re: Long Legs On A Tight Ash
Post by: jim mason on December 22, 2013, 09:42:07 pm
i like no. 6 nice long bow. just made an ash bow myself.