Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Del the cat on January 03, 2010, 10:39:38 am
-
Yesterday I walked in the wood and cut a few Hazel wands for arrow making, I saw this straight Hazel branch on the ground, probably cut down by kids. It was only about 2 1/2" diameter but it was a good 6' long.
I split it last night and it had some disscolouration...I was about to throw it away and I though...
Can I make a shootable bow in 1 hour using only my axe (well ok a saw and knife for the nocks)....well see for yourselves.
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/discolouration.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/1hr_strung.jpg)
(http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/1hr_full.jpg)
It's a bit close to hingeing on that left limb, but not bad for 1hour with an axe... (I was blindfolded too O:) ;) )
It's 40# at 26" not very fast as the wood is green, I'll probably leave it to dry out and re-tiller it.
I made it to fit a string I had lying around (I hate making strings ::) )
Del
-
No wonder you are called the "cat".....damned if you aint quick, even when yer blindfolded >:D Just goes to show what a guy can do when he wants to....pretty neat
half eye ;)
-
not bad at all for an hours worth of playing
if its green yet,dont pull on it anymore
if it was me i would clamp it down on a form with a little reflex untill it dries completely
then shoot the hell out of it
-
Nice idea Sailordad, I'll tidy it up a tad, clamp it to a form and hide it away.
I don't like the look of the discolouration, but I daresay I could spend a little more time on it ;D
Del
PS. I've shown it Mr Rasp and bound it to a bit of 2x2 with a couple of bits of 1/4" under the tips and some 2x2 under the handle. All strapped down into RD shape with rubber strapping.
It's on the radiator in the spare room which doesn't get too hot.
Is it done yet?
Is it done yet?
Is it done yet :P
Del
-
Is it done yet?
Is it done yet?
Is it done yet :P
Del
del remember the old addage "patience is a virtue" ;D ;)
-
It will pick up a lot of draw weight when dry. Pulling a green bow sometimes ruins it before you get a chance to finsh it. Bow looks good hopefully it will be ok. Steve
-
Looks pretty good for a one hour axe bow. God Bless
-
Brilliant Del! I might just have to pop round for some lessons soon- Once all the Christmas crap has been cleared out of the conservatory I'm going to get started on the hazel stave I got from you a while back-don't think I'll be doing it in an hour though. I'm going to go on a forage in the local woods to pick up some ash soon too. See you at the weekend. 8)
cheers
Allan
-
Brilliant Del! I might just have to pop round for some lessons soon- Once all the Christmas crap has been cleared out of the conservatory I'm going to get started on the hazel stave I got from you a while back-don't think I'll be doing it in an hour though. I'm going to go on a forage in the local woods to pick up some ash soon too. See you at the weekend. 8)
cheers
Allan
Lookin' forward to getting some fresh air and shooting. One of the reasons for trying it was to see what sort of time scale was possible for demo's/tutorials. It'd be fun to do a day at the camp sometime.
'Have we all bought our staves and axes? Are we sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin... ::) '
Del (Is it done yet?)
-
Very nice tiller. jawge
-
i think ya done a great job. very nice i would shoot it with pride. i wish i could turn em out that fast and peps be happy with em.
-
Very cool Del. I love this kinda stuff! Tom
-
Got to love this bow! Exemplifies what Primitive Archery is all about. Bookmarked, too!
-
Got to love this bow! Exemplifies what Primitive Archery is all about. Bookmarked, too!
Cheers, I'll be sure to add updates, when I take it off the radiator...
Maybe I'll rawhide back it as I've not done that before...it's all about trying new stuff...I saw some nice long knotted rawhide dog chews at the petshop...I only went in to look at the cute fluffy critters, those Gerbils always make me smile.
Del
-
That looks awesome! I'm doing the same thing with an osage stave I had...kind of. I've been at it for about two months, now, but, when it's done, I'll probably only have a couple hours of hack-time in it lol. I'm going to cut down into a bow then clamp it in a recurve form to cure for a few months.
-
Very cool I like it. Gonna have to give it a try now.
Thnks
n2
-
Looks like fun just doing something different. I guess now you could try for an one hour stone tool bow. Kenneth
-
Very nice, The tiller looks Real Good for a 1 hour hatchet bow. Fine work.
-
yeah, good for an hour...beats spending days working on one just to have it snap in half
-
yeah, good for an hour...beats spending days working on one just to have it snap in half
It's now rawhide covered, it shoots pretty fast (152 fps) but has a load of crysals up the belly. I'm using it as my regular bow at the minute as I've got a nasty bit of tennis elbow in my right arm and the 75# longbow is a bit tough on it in this cold weather. (Or would that be Archer's elbow ??? )
I may make a 'good' version of it sometime, a bit wider and longer with more RD set into it....that's when I've completed the ten thousand other projects.
Del
-
Del, incredible work. I'm green with envy( i think Freud calls it Hazel envy) And you did it so Fast!!! Faster than a jackrabbit on a date. Dismount
-
what is patience?
-
great job my man! 8)
-
How much weight did it gain with the drying and rawhide??
-
How much weight did it gain with the drying and rawhide??
Hard to say really, as I tidied it up a bit with a rasp & file to even the tiller, and I'm also drawing 28" now so it's not a fair comparison.
I think it's about 45pounds now.
I don't think it gained much weight, but it gained cast...that might sound daft, but it felt faster and less rubbery, but not really heavier.
I s'pose I could pop out into the garage and weigh it...
Hang on, I'll go do it...Yeah, it's about 42, it's braced rather high and taken a good bit of set, plenty of crysals on the belly, I'm treating it mean and shooting it a fair bit.
I like the way it shoots, I was field shooting last weekend and handed it to one of the guys to try out, gave him one of my arrows ...thwhack...inner kill at about 25yards. ;D
Sometime I'll make one like it but with some built in safety margin, tad wider, whisker longer smoother tiller.
Del