Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Weylin on April 18, 2016, 11:02:24 pm
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I made this bow for a stand-up dude. Art's a good friend to me and all of us Oregon bowyers, always giving and never asking. It is 62" long and 55#@28". It has a mild reflex/deflex profile that is complicated by a bit of character. This piece of vine maple was deceptive and contrary from the start. It seemed relatively tame (for vine maple) but I should have known better. As I worked it down it revealed it's true character and while it could have been much worse, it still gave me some grief. As I tried to even out and match the reflex and deflex it fought me at every turn, I finally got it as close as it was going to let me and I just had to cope with the character from there.
The skin is from a kingsnake that Art supplied for me and the beaver tail hand wrap came from him as well. The tip overlays are buffalo horn, which Art gave me... Noticing a pattern? At least I made the bow! O:) The string silencers are otter fur. I dyed the belly with leather dye. The bow was pretty heavily heat treated so it was important for me to cover the belly with stain. I might have left it light to contrast with the skins otherwise but I think I still like the effect. The string is fastflight and the finish is tru oil.
I hope Art likes his new bow. I had fun making it, and like every project, I learned a lot from the process.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1679/26488594836_5d38b2e120_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GmGYoY)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1573/26514534155_646a920718_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GoZVfB)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1714/26488603326_a0e729cf1e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GmH1Vm)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1589/26422212012_d3f4839cb6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GfQK6w)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1628/26448436721_5eaf0888bd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gia9MF)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1673/26448434701_016c51a674_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gia9bR)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1692/26241715550_f5f6037778_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FYTDMy)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1513/26514555215_5472334cd8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gp12vH)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1489/26241739310_81526b14a5_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FYTLRd)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1666/26422232822_69e27e9286_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GfQRhj)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1686/26488623896_c78b293663_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GmH831)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/26488625296_171ca7f7ab_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GmH8s9)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1538/26514565385_85d6ab13e6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gp15x4)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1460/25911715353_e9b5e25cbb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FtJjdZ)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1714/26514575695_4a100bbb5d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gp18AP)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1496/26448480971_1137985bc1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GianWB)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1607/26422251742_1f274b0e49_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GfQWUw)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1539/25911717503_539e740506_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FtJjS4)
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Beautiful! Really like your dye work with that skin and that sweet profile.
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Wow - That's a looker ! Well done - Bob.
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What a tangle! You did a good job eye balling that tiller Mr Olive. First glance made me say, "whoa, what did he do". Then I studied the pics closer ;)
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That looks great weylin. A true show piece with complete function I'm sure!
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Stunning Weylin. Sounds like Art has a pretty good friend himself.
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Outstanding bow!
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Beautiful bow. Looks like a good use of Art's supplies. I'm sure he'll be happy with it.
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Stunning. Absolutely wonderful job tillering that.
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Wow. I love the king snake and your dye job turned out really nice. The beaver tail handle is also looking really good. That is a stunning bow.
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Gorgeous and well execured!!
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Very nice! The snake skin is a real eye catcher. Job well done.
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Beautiful colors and patterns. Great job.
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Nice looking bow. Those skin are wild!
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Dude! That thing looks awesome!!!
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Another beauty. I bet it shoots great too.
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Wow!
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Detail,detail,detail, its awesome 8)
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The bow is beautiful!
Can you tell me which stain this is? Did you make it yourself?
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Hit that one outta the park...
Thanks Leroy
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Thank you all for the kind comments. It's been a while since I've posted anything. It's nice to have something to share.
What a tangle! You did a good job eye balling that tiller Mr Olive. First glance made me say, "whoa, what did he do". Then I studied the pics closer ;)
Dude, tell me about it. I asked myself several times, "whoa, what am I doing?" I had to pull out every trick I knew to make sure this thing was bending evenly, even then my eye would struggle to make sense of it. I'm glad you can see a good shape in there.
The bow is beautiful!
Can you tell me which stain this is? Did you make it yourself?
Thanks, Jonas! The stain is Fiebing's Leather dye. This dye job was a combination of black, light brown, dark brown and maroon blended and faded together.
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awesome! as always.
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Dude that is nice! That skin just grabs the eye and don't let go. Very nicely done Sir! Josh
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Man you did a great job on a wild piece of wood there
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Amazing.
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That is a looker, indeed! 8) Outstanding craftsmanship my friend.
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Gorgeous bow. And now that you're warmed up, I need you to work some similar magic with my 2 yew sticks that are headed your way.
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Stunning!
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You all can look ,but she's mine all mine!!!!😉 It looks phenomenal Weylin and I truly can't wait to have her in my hands again. Thank you for all the work you put into it and all the kind words. Long ago I realized that your artistry and eye for detail was far superior to any I could ever hope to have and all though I luck into some deceased breeder snakes and odd animal parts from my trapper buddies I'd never be able to honor them the way you could. Thank you from the depths of my being for building me such a fine weapon.
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Killer bow Weylin. The skins and finish work are exceptional but in spite of that the tillering work is what really impresses me on this one. Nice job making her bend well.
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Wow pure eye candy Weylin. Nice attention to detail and very cool profiles
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Wow Weylin, after being away from this site for about a year now the first thing I see is this! I'm hooked again! Can't wait to see your next one. Congrats to Art!
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Very nice!
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That bow is Amazing! Love the snakeskins and the stain on the belly. Excellent job!
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A perfect mix of artistry and technical prowess. That bow is amazing Weylin. Your skills have advanced far from when I first met you.
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Wow. Stunning.
I like the straightness of the limbs at the ends as a result of the reflex. When reflex is in play, how can you tell that the bow is evenly stressed along that section?
Again, wonderful!
Thanks,
Isaac C.
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Thanks, again for the feedback! :D
You all can look ,but she's mine all mine!!!!😉 It looks phenomenal Weylin and I truly can't wait to have her in my hands again. Thank you for all the work you put into it and all the kind words. Long ago I realized that your artistry and eye for detail was far superior to any I could ever hope to have and all though I luck into some deceased breeder snakes and odd animal parts from my trapper buddies I'd never be able to honor them the way you could. Thank you from the depths of my being for building me such a fine weapon.
I'm really pleased that you like it. Can't wait to hand it over. It's great to work hard to do something I enjoy for someone who will appreciate it. Can't ask for more than that.
Gorgeous bow. And now that you're warmed up, I need you to work some similar magic with my 2 yew sticks that are headed your way.
I'll be looking for them. We'll see what I can do. It's fun giving a bow a new lease on life.
A perfect mix of artistry and technical prowess. That bow is amazing Weylin. Your skills have advanced far from when I first met you.
Thanks, Gordon. due in no small part to you. ;)
Wow. Stunning.
I like the straightness of the limbs at the ends as a result of the reflex. When reflex is in play, how can you tell that the bow is evenly stressed along that section?
Again, wonderful!
Thanks,
Isaac C.
I have a few methods that I used. First and foremost, feeling the thickness taper with my fingers is key. If the thickness tapers properly and smoothly you're going to have a smooth bend. I ran my fingers up and down that bow many, many times.
Another little trick that I use helped a bit. I use a yard stick to draw straight lines down the side of the limb. If I have to make a couple on a limb because it's not a straight shot it's still ok as long as I have some long sections of straight lines to work with. Then when I brace the bow I can take a ruler and hold it up to the line to see how much the once straight line is deflected (I usually check 6" sections) I can then compare all the sections of the limb to ensure they have the appropriate amount of deflection. If one section of line is mostly straight I know I have a stiff spot, if another section is very deflected then I know I have the start of a hinge.
related to the line technique is putting the bow on the tillering tree and as I pull a little I hold the edge of my scraper up to the belly of the bow and watch the gap change as I work the bow. I can make sure each area is doing it's share of work.
The rest is by eye ball and intuition. it's a pain in the ass to tiller a bow with a lot of character and you're constantly second guessing yourself. Your eye is telling you that the full draw profile is wretched and you have to override that with all the other evidence you collected that tells you its bending evenly.
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Extra fine bow, Weylin. Aweful work in every aspect. And I like your photo shooting!
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Beautiful stunning bow Weylin in all respects.I'm sure he'll cherish it.