Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Scott Gray on June 27, 2010, 01:40:15 pm
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I want to give a big thanks to all the folks here at PA. Though I don't ask a lot of questions I do a lot of searching and reading to make up for it. The amount of knowledge to be gained here is amazing.
I started out with a roughed out hickory blank that I purchased from Mike McGuire at the Howard Hill Shoot the first weekend of this month. One limb had some twist to it that I took most of it out with dry heat. The blank was cut using a band saw I imagine because the limbs were thicker on one side and thinner on the other. It took a while to tiller due to the humidity here in Alabama. I would work a while then put it in the hot box 'till the next round. I still have to finish shaping the handle, stain it and apply some tung oil. It is approxiamately 66.5 inches NTN. 1 3/4 at its widest point tapering to 5/8 at the tips. Draw weight feels like low to mid 50's.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Palehunter/img1277507546416.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Palehunter/img1277507546945.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Palehunter/img1277606027805.jpg)
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Congratulation on your first bow. Could you give us a full draw picture also?
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very nice bow, but them damned bow buildin bugs is everywhere....and now that ya been bit, it's probably gonna be terminal, eh?
Rich
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Rich,
I haven't even finished this one and am already talking about the next one :D
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Rich,
I haven't even finished this one and am already talking about the next one :D
Aye... he's one of us... ;D
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Here is a full draw pic. Tiller may need tweeked what do ya'll think?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Palehunter/img1277659605834.jpg)
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Sweet... Are the limbs equal length? I think I'm used to seeing the lower limb a tad shorter that the upper, so it looks a whisker unusual. Tiller looks pretty good to me, smooth!
There's something V satisfying about a self bow.
well done
Del
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Del, the limbs are equal length. I figured tillering limbs of equal length for my first would be easier. But, what do I know, I am a newbie ;D
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Nice work, especially for your first. Both limbs are bending very gracefully. However, the bottom limb is bending more, especially out of the fades. You shoot with a really low wrist, which will cause the bottom limb to travel further, and therefore bend more. Flip the bow and take another picture of the tiller. That could fix the problem simple as that without any wood removal or loss in draw weight. If not, you'll need to tweak the tiller ever so slightly. Alternately, you could simply take a few scrapes at a time off the inner third of the top limb in the picture to get it bending more. That will cost you a few pounds, but what the hay? Again, fine work! :)
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What are you going to do with all that osage you got squirrelled away? Break it out and get to work. To me, the bow looks great. I noticed you were taking notes at the HH. Bill
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Generally Mike McGuire's wood is fairly fresh so you might find this bow increase in weight over the next year as it cures out. ;) 8)
Excellent first bow. I started making asymmetric limb bows years ago because that's what all the books taught. Now I like them with even limbs because it is easier for me to see good tiller with even limbs. ;)
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Nice looking bow Scott. Congrats!
The good folks here have helped me out a good bit. I am sure that will continue as I stumble my way through figuring out how to make a good primitive bow.
Some folks will tell you hickory doesn't work well in the south. My buddy Don shot a hickory bow I made at the last Hill shoot and it did wonderfully even with all the humidity. It may affect it some, but if you get her sealed well, it ought to last a long while.
After doing a few hickory bows and a couple of osage ... NOT chasing a ring makes the white woods seem easier to make.... just from a time standpoint. I just found a patch of osage in South Montgomery Co last week the farmer is going to let me pillage ... but I always keep an eye out for a good clean piece of hickory while I am cruising timber.
As much hickory that exists in central and northern Alabama ... its hard to ignore.
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Thanks fellas, and Bill I was paying attention ;) I was watching Mike help folks build and was soaking up the info he was giving out.
I learned a lot on this build and hope to apply it to my next one.
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As much hickory that exists in central and northern Alabama ... its hard to ignore.
My brother John and I were talking last night and agreed to harvest a hickory tree or two next spring
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it spits an arrow pretty dang good,i was amazed when i went over there last night ,and its very quiet too.
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Scott, any time during the growing season the bark will slip so if you have time now is as good as spring time...except for the temps, bugs and snakes.
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Excellent work! Jawge
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hey scott did you hear what pat said??? LETS GO TO THE WOODS .!!!!! you know just as i do where some good ones are.
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Scott, any time during the growing season the bark will slip so if you have time now is as good as spring time...except for the temps, bugs and snakes.
I ain't skeered of no bugs and snakes but the temps kick my butt ;D John get the chain saw ready. Looks like we are gonna haul some hickory out of the woods next Saturday!!!!!!
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I had pretty good luck with a 8 - 10 inch diameter hickory my Pa-n-law and I cut behind his house. Straight grain (the bark didn't twist) and it had very few knot scars.
I quartered the log and had 4 beautiful attempts at a good hickory bow. These were the ones that come out of that size tree. Just about the perfect size! I did mess them up somewhat. I sealed the backs with wood glue (not knowing any better) and had a heck of a time trying to scrape that stuff out of the depressions the 'rollers' made across the back. Never again will it be wood glue!!!!!!
You all are getting me fired up about a small patch of osage I found in Montgomery Co last week. I was going to wait till the winter to go back and get a few pieces as the mosquitos nearly carried me off while I was evaluating the timber there. I don't have a problem with a few errant cottonmouths ... but if you stand still for a few minutes in that swamp, you'll be a quart low!
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Nice job,congrats on you first,nothing like that.Nice looking staves Scrub. :)
Pappy
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Very nice bow Scott.
All us Alabama folks need to get together some day.
There are 5 or 6 of us here on PA.
David
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that's a great Idea David. Awesome first bow Scott! Especially for a first. :)
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Looks great, congratulations on your first!
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My wife Val and I made the 4 hour drive from Pinson Alabama to the Mississippi State Traditional 3-D Shoot in Brandon hosted by the Central Mississippi Traditional Archers. I figured I would take Ol' Hickory with me to show my buddies. They talked me into shooting a round with it. I had one cedar arrow that flew good out of it so I said what the heck. Ended up shooting 258 out of 300 with it and took home the first place trophy in mens self bow. Val took 3rd in womens longbow too!!!!!!
Ya got to understand how my Mississippi buddy Billy is. He comes to Alabama and wins 1st place trophies and takes them home then sends me pictures of them so I can remember what they looked like :D So, as soon as we crossed the Alabama State line my wife pulls into the rest area and takes this picture of me to send Billy ;D He got a kick out of it. Its all good fun
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Palehunter/img1278908251034.jpg)
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You are now Hooked.
Good shooting and a nice bow.
Pete
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OH NO! Things will never be the same in the selfbow class at the Tannehill shoots. Us old guys better get to practicing.
Great bow Scott!
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...that's awesome man! I wish I could shoot a 258... :-[
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Eric,
There are three things in life I know are true....
God is good all of the time
Grandchildren are a blessing
and Eric Krewson not only builds outstanding bows but shoots them just as well ;)
I think I am the one that needs to practice
Thanks for the kind words
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Congrats on that,Come on up to TN. this weekend and show us what you can do. :)
Great bow and great shooting. :) :)
Pappy
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I don't know if I like the pics of the bow or the trophy and cheezy grin for your buddy more ;D
Way to go!