Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Bushbow on October 24, 2009, 09:03:24 pm
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I wondered if I could make a bow from a Yew Bush, Illinois grown in this case. So I did. The properties of the wood seemed the same as mountain grown billets I have mail ordered in the past. One limb had about 5" of deflex (as it had grown) along with a snakey turn. I used a heat gun to take out the deflex, the snakey turn is still there. Turns out about 1-1/8" wide tapering to 1/2" wide nocks, flattened D-section, 65" nock to nock, #46@28".
I am satisfied with the way it shoots, pretty good cast for a #46 bow. I know the tiller is not great, but I left it a little stiff thru the snakey turns. So I would say you can use a Yew bush for a bow. Pics below.
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/lb1fr.jpg)
What became the upper limb
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/lb2sd.jpg)
The lower limb
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb017.jpg)
braced
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb018.jpg)
snakey turn belly side
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb019.jpg)
snakey turn back
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb020.jpg)
full draw
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Very nice bow. Congratulations. That was a tricky set of billets and you did real good on the tiller given the dip that you had to deal with.
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Thanks Keenan. It seems like I never end up with a straight piece of wood. But then there are always make board bows.
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beautiful bow looks like a killer , nice job !!
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Nice bow Man..whats up ken almost done with one had a few explode on tiller but lookin like theres hope for one.. call me Anyway sorry Bush...looks like u got a winner and no matter what if it works u did good..the little snakiness just gives it some character...If everyone made the same old thing life would be boring...Excellent shape and tiller! i once made a bow froma piece of plywood, from all types of shrubs, and from boards of all species including hemlock...lol good luck in ur endeavors!!!
Cheers!!!
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Now that's a fine job.
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very nice!
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Nice! I like to see a bit of a wiggle ;)
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Thanks to all for the comments. The thing I like best about the bow is because it is from a bush. I did not think it would work, but that is some good wood. I posted the bow so if anyone else was wondering if you could make a bow from a yew bush, it is on record you can. My thanks to Radius with all his great Yew bow, seeing the knotty yew he has made into fantastic bows pushed me over the edge to try this piece.
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i really like it. Haven't had much luck with using yew in stiff-handled designs, but you obviously have! Did you use the 4in1 rasp alot on this one? With these yew bows i find that is the tool i have in hand most often.
I want to try the ornament irish yew. (I think that's what it's called). I cut a big branch from one a month or two ago, but yesterday I gave all my useable or semi-useable wood away to a guy i turned onto bowmaking recently. He'll do it, and we'll see what that stuff can do.
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Very nice bow! jawge
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very nice brother...
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cool bow and primitive looking as well. Nice
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Hey Bushbow
That is an awesome looking bow. Do you think you could get a close up shot of the hand splice for all of us novice bowyers like me. :)Looks like a killer. Marlin
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Excellent job, I like it!
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nice bow man! I love the snake in the top limb. :) :) -josh
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Thanks again guys for checking out the bow. Radius, as a matter of fact I did use a Stanley 4 in 1 rasp on a good part of it. For the bulk of removal I used a Stanley 8" coarse rasp, flat on one side half round on the other. I think it was Dean Torges that wrote " use a round tool to make a flat, and a flat tool to make a round", that works for me. I also used my Mystic river scraper, 10 gauge stainless steel shaped like a popsicle stick, only bigger.
Kerbinator pictures of the splice below. I used a V-splice on this one since it is only 1-1/8"wide, usually I use a W pattern. Glued with titebond II. Your cuts do no have to be super accurate, just put wood blocks on each side and c-clamp the hell out of it.
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb021.jpg)
Belly side
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb022.jpg)
Back
(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/mxred91/bb023.jpg)
Side view
I am putting the finish on thew bow now, then a stacked, shaved leather arrow rest (yes I am a wus, no off the knuckle for me), and will finish with a leather grip.
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no knuckle shots? ya big baby!
cool wood and good splice, bro
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Very nice job on a challenging piece of wood. :)
Pappy
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Thanks for the pictures. Very inspiring bow. Marlin
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Nicely done. Got your fine weapon bookmarked for Oct Self BOM fun, too.
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Very nice bow!
Looks like tillering wasn't a piece of cake on this one!
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Medicinewheel, a funny thing about tillering. After the initial rough shaping I measure the thickness every 4", figuring I was going to be really precise. After about two minutes of work I realized the bow was not impressed with my precision measuring job, it was going to bend where it wanted, when it wanted. Back to my eyeballs and a 4" scraper held against the inside curve for gauge. I am taking the caliper back to work.
Radius, I like being a big baby with the arrow rest, Shootin off knuckle; Phffft,Ouch!..., Phffft,Ouch!..., Phffft,Ouch!... >:D
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Excellent looking bow, no doubt a tough job all the way through.
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i agree with you about not bothering to measure this stuff! Man, when i made laminates, everything was so precise! Now, i choose a center, draw a centerline, trying to follow the wood, then use a sharpie to mark a rough outline for the bandsaw. Then, it's all about the bend and nothing to do with the measuring tools. I only use them for the tip overlays and string grooves, pretty much.