Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on August 22, 2009, 10:38:31 pm

Title: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 22, 2009, 10:38:31 pm
Here is a bow that I intended for a friend of mine. Unfortunately it developed a few cryshals along one edge so I'll have to build him another. I had purposely kept the outer limbs a bit stiff and that may have contributed to the problem. It shoots a heavy arrow really hard and seems to be holding up so I decided I would hunt with it this year - I'm pretty sure it could push an arrow right through an elk at 20 yards. Its bamboo backed ipe, 68" ntn, 75# @ 29". The nock overlays are buffalo horn and the handle is osage and wenge with a Strunk style wrap. This was my first experience with ipe and I am impressed with the wood. Even though it is very dense it scraps easily and hardly takes any set. I learned much from building this bow and I’m confident my next attempt will yield a bow that I feel good about giving to my friend.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_01.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_02.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_03.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_04.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_05.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_06.jpg)

(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/BBI/BBI_07.jpg)
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Dano on August 22, 2009, 10:43:46 pm
That is a dandy of a bow Gordon, So where's the hat??? ;D
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Little John on August 22, 2009, 11:45:03 pm
Yep Gordon, looks like if it dosen't shoot thru an elk it is because you did not do your part. Good luck with the critters and good hunting. Awsome bow.    Kenneth
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: radius on August 23, 2009, 12:34:53 am
man, you some strong for a guy your age! >:D >:D >:D

what's your draw length, Gordon?
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: huntinoly on August 23, 2009, 02:13:23 am
Great looking bow Gordon, I was wondering what you were building these days. Got in a 7 mile up hill  hike with a 45 pound pack today, still trying to get in shape for september. I had to go back to the bow I got my bull with last year, just broke the over lay on my new bow, it was my first over lay, hope to fix next week. Greg
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 23, 2009, 02:15:02 am
Scott, I only draw 27" so I'm not pulling all the weight.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 23, 2009, 02:17:29 am
Dang, Greg I'm sorry to hear about your bow. Are you referring to the handle overlay? Did it pop off?
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: medicinewheel on August 23, 2009, 03:17:47 am
WOW Gordon, really nice bow, as always!
Great details, nice photos, too!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on August 23, 2009, 06:44:49 am
Should still pull about 67 # at your draw, surely a powerfull bow,...good luck with those Elks
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: DanaM on August 23, 2009, 07:44:08 am
Well done Gordon, that Ipe is some amazing stuff eh :)
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: PeteC on August 23, 2009, 08:07:56 am
Nice bow Gordon,another beauty!!! God Bless
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: bigcountry on August 23, 2009, 10:13:52 am
Great looking.  Thats some very light colored IPE.  IPE I have messed with is the color of the overlay on the handle. 

Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Timo on August 23, 2009, 10:43:58 am
Nice looking bow Gordon. I picked me up some of that ipe at mojam.It's slated for winter use.

Curious as to your thoughts about making something wider and thinner with it?Backed of course.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Pat B on August 23, 2009, 10:46:41 am
Nice bow Gordon. That one ought to punch the air out of an elk!
  Tim, With ipe, the narrower the better. IMO  I build a short(62") hickory backed ipe flat bow and the hickory backing(1/8" thick) was thicker than the ipe when I was done with it.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 23, 2009, 11:14:14 am
Timo, I agree with Pat on the width question. Ipe is very dense wood and if you make the bow too wide, you will hardly have any thickness to work with.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Keenan on August 23, 2009, 11:36:12 am
 Very sweet bow Gordon. Your work on those laminated bows is looking awesome. I like the color contrast and the tips are beautiful as well. I can't wait to see what that dose to an elk this year ;)  That would be a great story for the Pa mag. So lets get out there and make that dream come true. ;D
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 23, 2009, 12:19:13 pm
Thanks Keenan. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to our hunt this year!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Kegan on August 23, 2009, 02:23:08 pm
Beautiful bow, should be a perfect candidate for an elk hunt :)!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 23, 2009, 04:45:37 pm
Very nice, Gordon. Tiller looks great. Jawge
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Jesse on August 23, 2009, 06:19:34 pm
Great looking bow Gordon. I think the compression fracture was a fluke. On a 68"ntn that's bending like that I don't know why it happened ???  Have fun hunting :)
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: backgardenbowyer on August 23, 2009, 06:49:43 pm
A beautiful bow - well done!

I've had trouble with chysals in ipe backed with bamboo and put it down to the variable thickness of the bamboo backing, but that could be just an excuse for a bad tiller by me!  Can see any faults in this bow.  Maybe ipe just does have a habit of chysalling sometimes.

Stan
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: woodstick on August 23, 2009, 07:22:23 pm
yesir nice job.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: GregB on August 23, 2009, 09:27:11 pm
That's a fine looking bow Gordon, very clean and streamline...great looking grip and tips. Good luck hunting with it this fall! :)
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: mullet on August 23, 2009, 09:50:27 pm
 Gordon, the more I play with Ipe the more I like it. You can make the limbs so narrow, and like you said hardly any set. Great Looking bow and good luck hunting.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Bullitt on August 24, 2009, 12:00:19 am
Gordon, as always you did good! Chrysals ...so what! It's not broken, Why do we give a Death sentence to a bow with chrysals? I have a black Locust built by Gary Davis that has chrysals in the lower limb, thanks to my step thru stringing early on. It's still going strong!

  DEAD isn't DEAD until it's DEAD! Shoot and hunt, Damit, Shoot and Hunt! Thank God we don't have to Live By the Bow! Good shootin, Steve. Oh, and you look younger without the Hat!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: adb on August 24, 2009, 12:33:57 am
Eye candy... as usual! :o
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 24, 2009, 02:45:07 am
Actually Bullit, I think the bow will be fine. The chysals are small and on an edge which isn't bearing much load given the oval profile of the belly. I just can't make myself give it to someone else with that kind of flaw.

I guess I'll have to wear the hat less. Who knows, maybe my shooting will improve ;D.

Thank you all for the nice compliments.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Pappy on August 24, 2009, 05:48:34 am
Beautiful bow Gordon.Very well done.That should do the job. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: huntinoly on August 24, 2009, 10:57:11 am
Gordon, it was the tip over lay, I cut the string grove to deep. The over lay broke right at the string grove and popped off. I think I am going to hunt with my old bow, it is six inches longer and seems to be easier to shoot.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Josh on August 24, 2009, 11:55:20 am
Wow Gordon nice bow!!!!  How did you get the curves in the tips?  Did you use dry heat?   I am asking because I just got some Ipe and I want mine to turn out like yours.   Also how wide is it at the fades and how do the limbs taper?   Looks great man!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 24, 2009, 12:14:13 pm
Greg, it's a fairly simple matter to replace a tip overlay. But I also find a longer bow easier to shoot with consistency.

Josh, the curves were created when I glued the bamboo backing onto the core over a form and let it cure - no heat is required. The limbs are 1 1/4" wide to about half way and then taper to just under 1/2" at the tips.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Josh on August 24, 2009, 12:27:04 pm
Thanks a bunch Gordon!  You truly are a master at this. 
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Mechslasher on August 24, 2009, 03:14:02 pm
good looking bow!  didn't recognize you without the hat.  be careful, i thought that style of grip was trade marked? ;D  hillbilly, correct me if i'm wrong.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: AKAPK on August 25, 2009, 02:06:26 am
lookin good Gordon, good hunting to ya.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: juniper junkie on August 26, 2009, 12:46:12 am
awesome bow as usual! looking forward to seeing it in person. how much reflex did you lose from glue-up to tiller with the IPE? got my juniper homie shooting very sweet so we have to break in two new bows this hunting season. looking forward to hunting with you and Keenan.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 26, 2009, 02:23:11 am
Dave, the bow lost a little reflex after I took it off the form, but gained most of it back as I removed wood from the belly. I'll bring the bow when I meet you and Keenan for the hunt. I don't know how much I will be able to hunt with it - it's so dang strong I can hardly hold it at full draw. I figure I better bring a couple of my 60 pounders as backup just in case.
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Ghost Dog on August 26, 2009, 06:50:13 pm
Hey Gordon, I have one of John Strunk's hunting bows from several years ago that is also bamboo backed ipe. It is not reflexed though. It is a good combination of materials. Yours is a beauty as usual!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Little John on August 26, 2009, 09:36:18 pm
Good luck Gordon, J.J., and Keenan on your hunt. When do ya start?
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: Gordon on August 26, 2009, 09:58:11 pm
Thank you for the compliment Bob!

Little John, our hunt starts around and about Sept 12. I can't wait!
Title: Re: This year's hunting bow (not for BOM)
Post by: zeNBowyer on August 26, 2009, 10:50:23 pm
Bravo  Sir,
   A  real  man's  bow  @75#