Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: rossfactor on October 10, 2009, 07:53:44 pm

Title: Ash and Silk
Post by: rossfactor on October 10, 2009, 07:53:44 pm
This bow has really got me back on the bowyering horse.  I'd had a couple frustrating failures, that I wasn't eager to repeat.  Found this piece of Eastern Ash at a local hardwood store, and picked it up.

The bow took steam bending very well, but I lifted a splinter on one of the recurves.  You can sort of tell, one of the curves is a little bit less pronounced than the other. Some oblique grain violations so I backed it with very thin silk (7oz maybe).  After tillering and multiple rounds of heat treating I noticed a few very small chrysals forming on the top fade. Since it was all tillered and I couldn't afford to remove any more wood at the fade, I glued a rawhide patch over that area to try and take some of the compression force of the belly.  No other chrysles formed.  I thought the rawhide looked out of place so I tried some acrylic paint over that, but I am not a very fine artist. 

Anyway the bow 47 lb @ 28in, and she's just a blast to shoot.  I shot a 500grain field point arrow about 165 yards.  Life is good.  The arrow pass is rawhide. The handle is wrapped leather cord.

Thanks for looking,

Gabe

p.s Excuse the elbow,  its up cause my arm was broken and never healed right. 

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1323.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1324.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1325.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1332.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1337.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1337.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1342.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1344.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1346.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/IMG_1347.jpg)
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: Pat B on October 10, 2009, 08:09:22 pm
Nice bow Gabe. Full draw looks very good and those curves seem to be working a little.    Looks like a lifetime supply of arrows behind you in the last pics. ;D
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: Bushbow on October 10, 2009, 08:40:42 pm
That bow look great at full draw. Nice job.
Chuck S.
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: JustAim on October 10, 2009, 08:59:05 pm
That bow looks great! And so does the full draw and paint job. Great job!
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: chasing crow on October 10, 2009, 09:21:27 pm
Ya, I'll bet you're glad you got back to it. Nice bow.
Chasing Crow
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: rossfactor on October 10, 2009, 09:59:52 pm
Thanks Pat, the curves are working some.  And thats a baby redwood, not even 200ft tall. Second growth.
Thanks, Chuck the tillering was fun on this one, but pretty straight forward.
Thanks Just Aim, the acrylics are easy to paint with, but my paint brush was to stiff.
The Chasing Crow I am very glad.

Thinking about some hogs on a friends ranch.  I need about a month more time practicing. 
Gabe 
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: VenomBOWslinger on October 11, 2009, 12:22:48 am
Nice BOW and nice pics...thats one heck of a tree behind u!!! By the way is that a fred bear limited hat u got on?Glad to see ur back interested in bows I find myself overwhemed with life sometimes and lose the desire for awhile but when u read about people and what they did and what inspired them kinda get me going ...know what I mean!
CHEERS!!!
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 11, 2009, 12:25:19 am
THat is a nice bow and an excellent tiller. Congratulations! Jawge
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: rossfactor on October 11, 2009, 01:05:23 am
Thanks Venom, No the hat is just a felt hat its made by Scala, but I sure enjoy it.

Thank Jawge, I'm another one whose learned a lot from you.

Gabe
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: medicinewheel on October 11, 2009, 02:54:49 am
That's a really nice bow you made!
Great tiller, nice finish work!
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: xin on October 11, 2009, 10:05:36 am
Excellent example of the accomplished bowyer's craft.  Splendid splinter you have there.  The setting for the photos is not so bad either.
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: nugget on October 11, 2009, 11:51:19 am
looks like a winner to me. I also like the background scenery in the last picture
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: gmc on October 11, 2009, 02:01:27 pm
Man the tiller looks spot on, what a nice spread on that bow. I may have missed it, but what's overall length of the bow and how wide at the fades? I've been tripping over a few Ash staves that I may be interested in after looking at this one. I've heard that Ash does take steam bending pretty well. Again, nice job on that bow.

That is a good size sappling behind you...... :o

Greg
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: rossfactor on October 11, 2009, 04:16:52 pm
Thanks Medecine, Xin and Nugget.
Thanks gmc,  The bow is 1 5/8 inch wide at the fades (which are pretty short) and remains 1 5/8 for 2/3 of the limb.  The outer 1/3 tapers to 1/2 inch.  Its 64inch ntn. I think Ash likes steam, but takes a little extra set.  I also think it is a very durable wood, great for dragging through the brush.
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: Pat B on October 11, 2009, 05:01:14 pm
Is your handle wrap hemp cordage from Wally World?  I've been using that lately, set in Massey finish, and it makes an excellent, weather proof handle wrap.
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: rossfactor on October 11, 2009, 05:51:08 pm
Pat, the handle wrap is a leather cord, although I do like hemp. Heres an old hemp backed, hemp handled red oak bow.

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak5.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak4.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak3.jpg)

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak2.jpg)
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: gmc on October 12, 2009, 08:33:48 am
Thanks Medecine, Xin and Nugget.
Thanks gmc,  The bow is 1 5/8 inch wide at the fades (which are pretty short) and remains 1 5/8 for 2/3 of the limb.  The outer 1/3 tapers to 1/2 inch.  Its 64inch ntn. I think Ash likes steam, but takes a little extra set.  I also think it is a very durable wood, great for dragging through the brush.

Thanks, Gabe. Doesn't appear to have taken much set in the photo. Maybe a bit wider next time would solve some of the set issues. The ash I have feels pretty light, thin ringed, so proably a couple inches wide for me. I had some thoughts of a homie down the road with what I have, one day, maybe. Thanks for the response, Greg. 
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: mox1968 on October 17, 2009, 05:45:26 pm
nice bow!! I like the art work too ,looks like a keeper to me
Title: Re: Ash and Silk
Post by: brownhillboy on October 19, 2009, 10:52:26 am
Nice one, I like it!