Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DirtyDan on May 30, 2010, 10:54:04 am

Title: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: DirtyDan on May 30, 2010, 10:54:04 am
My friend, Doug Bell, just completed this nice 68" hickory sapling bow.  This is one of about twenty bows he has made this year.  I unleashed a monster when I showed him a little bit of what I know about bow building.  Anyway, this one is 52 # @ 28".  Unlike many hickory bows, this one has no stack, no string follow, and shoots sweet and fast.  I was very impressed with its performance and beauty.  The sapling was about 4" in diameter.  We cut it about a year ago.(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/Doug%20Bow%20II/DSC_0178-1.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/Doug%20Bow%20II/DSC_0171.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/Doug%20Bow%20II/DSC_0173.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/Doug%20Bow%20II/DSC_0177.jpg)(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm219/spiermo/Doug%20Bow%20II/DSC_0175.jpg)
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: aero86 on May 30, 2010, 11:06:26 am
that is just beautiful!
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: J05H on May 30, 2010, 11:36:12 am
Very nice.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Rain Man on May 30, 2010, 12:06:32 pm
Do you know any details?  How wide are the limbs?  I'm getting close starting a hickory sapling myself. 
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: DirtyDan on May 30, 2010, 12:44:50 pm
I would say about 1 1/4" wide down to 1/2" at the tips.  4" handle, 2" fades.  We always start with 3/4" thick at the fades and go down to 1/2" thickness at the tips and then start tillering. Don't worry if the pith channel starts showing up.  It does not affect the strength of the limb in the least.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Bullitt on May 30, 2010, 03:16:37 pm
Dirty, that's is a truely, sweet looking bow! Loved to hunt with that one. Do you boys heat treat? Did it have some reflex when you started? How about the orther side, split or sawed?

Definately one for BOM!  Good shootin,
 8)
Steve
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Dave 55 on May 30, 2010, 04:37:20 pm
Very nice looking bow,with no handschock or set is a very nice bow for sure.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: cracker on May 30, 2010, 04:51:10 pm
Cool bow.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: david w. on May 30, 2010, 05:17:03 pm
sapling bows are my favorite stlye of bow.  love it 8)
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Dean Marlow on May 30, 2010, 05:52:52 pm
That is a very nice Hickory bow. I am surprised you have no string follow. Seems like I get a-lot of set in my Hickory bows for some reason. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: hillbilly61 on May 30, 2010, 05:56:07 pm
Sweet I like the design +1 for BOM
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 30, 2010, 06:02:18 pm
looks real good
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: DirtyDan on May 30, 2010, 07:56:48 pm
Thanks, guys.  Steve, no, we did not heat treat it, but we always put the bow in the heat box and get it completely dry (10% or less) before we ever start to bend it.  You must keep hickory dry all the time you are working on it, or it will take a set.  We leave the handle area and cut away the fades on a band saw, leaving the rounded back just under the bark.  If it is crooked, we will straighten and clamp the bow on a form to keep it straight while it dries.  Then we put it in the hot box, and generally, when the clamps get loose, it is dry and ready to work.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Bullitt on May 31, 2010, 12:11:47 pm
DD, thanks for the response. Made a few oasage sapling bows, my favorite! I cut a pignut hickory sapling back in Feb. just curious. What ya did, split or saw,was the other side rough , knots, cracks, etc.?Any reflex when dried?

The piece I have is a little over 2" in dia. With my osage staves, when sawed, usually release tension, and take reflex.

Thanks and great looking bow!

Steve
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Hillbilly on May 31, 2010, 04:06:17 pm
Really nice little bow. That's what it's all about there-that's pure primitive archery. Love those sapling bows.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Bullitt on May 31, 2010, 04:47:55 pm
Right on, Hillbilly, right on!
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 31, 2010, 09:41:47 pm
Well done! Excellent bow. Jawge
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: NTProf on May 31, 2010, 11:25:36 pm
Beautiful bow!!! Makes me want to go out and cut down a sapling! Is it 68" overall length or nock-to-nock?
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: Pappy on June 01, 2010, 10:40:35 am
Very well done,I like everything about it  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: DirtyDan on June 01, 2010, 01:50:59 pm
NT, 68" ntn.  Thanks, for all the good words.  Doug will be very pleased.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: gmc on June 01, 2010, 09:52:01 pm
Hickory is a lot fun to work with, you did that one up right. Nice Job.
Title: Re: New Hickory Sapling Bow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on June 01, 2010, 10:01:44 pm
Very nice that is one clean looking bow.  Good job.