Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: outcaste on May 16, 2007, 12:18:58 pm

Title: Grow to Bow
Post by: outcaste on May 16, 2007, 12:18:58 pm
Hi,

This posting may challenge a few perceptions on how long yew should be seasoned for. I have recently completed a new self yew bow that weighs in at 112@32 made form Welsh Yew, no great shakes in itself. Only to say the wood was part of a tree just seven months before if was shot! I have recently shot at a BLBS competition in Wales and it made 242 yards of ground with a 52 gram arrow with six inch fletchings. I feel that this out performs what would normally be expected from this weight of bow.

Has anybody else had similar experiences?

Here are the pics showing it to have what I would call an eliptical tiller.

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/Outcastebowman/?action=view&current=Dscn7257.flv

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/Outcastebowman/Dscn7258.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa82/Outcastebowman/Dscn7259.jpg

Cheers, Outcaste


 
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: DanaM on May 16, 2007, 12:22:11 pm
I don't know a thing about warbows but thats a nice bow outcaste.
Also welcome to the PA site.

DanaM
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: Asiertxu on May 16, 2007, 12:54:39 pm
Hi Outcaste!!...
IŽm not a warbow expert yet but IŽd say that shoot of yours is AWESOME mate!!...and a very cool bow too.... :)...
Is that true???...only it has been drying for seven months since that Welch yew stave was harvested from the tree???... :o...
Have you "heat treated" or something like that to get the moisture content down from your bow stave in that "reasonable" drying time mate??.....REALLY REALLY NICE!!!...
I have also some "Basque" yew seasoning at my workshop since was harvested about allmost a year now!...cant wait to make a warbow out of them... ;)...
Cheers...
Asier. 
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: Kviljo on May 16, 2007, 12:55:09 pm
That tiller looks fast :)

How long is it?
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: stevesjem on May 16, 2007, 01:30:30 pm
Hi outcast (Al), yeah that was going to be my question, what is it's length, it looks very short in the pici, well done on your distance though, nice one.

Steve
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: duffontap on May 16, 2007, 01:48:50 pm
My first Yew warbow was made about five months after felling the tree.  Not my standard practice but it worked fine.  I got it down to bow proportions and put it in a drying box while I tillered it. 

                     J. D. Duff
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: outcaste on May 16, 2007, 04:47:41 pm
Hi,

Thanks for the compliments guys.

To answer your questions the length nock to nock is 73 1/2 inches and it was cut and lashed to a piece of metal angle and stored inside initially in a warmish storeroom then in a suspended rack in a large well ventilated workshop. I must say this was not design but the way it came to pass. I tried a moisture meter on it and it was good to go! Can't argue with the science!

Due to the weight/length it has about 2 1/2 inches of string follow.

I (and Yeomanbowman) have been lucky as we have come across a small supply of Welsh yew that does seem to have some 'magical' properties! I am looking forward to using some more of this stock but I might just wait just a little longer! 

Cheers, Outcaste

Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: Loki on May 16, 2007, 07:41:15 pm
Nice Bow Outcaste,very nice work!

Quote
I have also some "Basque" yew seasoning at my workshop since was harvested about allmost a year now!...cant wait to make a warbow out of them..
Great!cant wait for the Pics Asiertxu,i like your bows  ;D.
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: Asiertxu on May 16, 2007, 08:51:03 pm
Hey Loki!!... :)...
Thank you mate!!, nice to hear that from you, youŽre really glad fellow!!... ;)...
Cheers...
Asier. 
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: sagitarius boemoru on May 17, 2007, 07:09:29 am
Pretty wood. The bow is quite stiff handled though....



Jaro
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: SimonUK on May 18, 2007, 07:28:58 am
Hi Outcaste ...you've worked miracles with that wood. Could I ask how small the wood was cut when removed from the log? e.g. 2 by 2 inches? And did you leave the bark on?

I think there's a catch 22 situation with leaving the bark on - you don't know the best place to cut the wood until the bark is off, but if you remove the bark it might split.
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: outcaste on May 18, 2007, 06:45:33 pm
Quote from: SimonUK on May 18, 2007, 07:28:58 am
Hi Outcaste ...you've worked miracles with that wood. Could I ask how small the wood was cut when removed from the log? e.g. 2 by 2 inches? And did you leave the bark on?

I think there's a catch 22 situation with leaving the bark on - you don't know the best place to cut the wood until the bark is off, but if you remove the bark it might split.

Hi,

The log was around 4 inches in diameter, split in half straight away and bark removed with the ends covered in PVA to stop the ends from drying too quickly and producing splits/shakes. After all this the stave was lashed to a metal angle.

Hope this answers your questions.

Cheers, Outcaste
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: sagitarius boemoru on May 18, 2007, 07:18:44 pm
Outcaste please, what is the physical mass of the bow?

Jaro
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: outcaste on May 28, 2007, 07:13:15 pm
I don't know the weight at the moment as I haven't got the appropriate device but I could supply other dimensions if that would surfice?

Also of note at Batsford this weekend it made 225 yards with a 75gram arrow with 7 1/2 inch fletchings.

Outcaste
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: Loki on May 29, 2007, 03:15:53 am
Nice!
Who won the John Holder challenge Outcaste?
Title: Re: Grow to Bow
Post by: sagitarius boemoru on May 29, 2007, 04:59:18 am
Jolly good distance. That will be more like 250 with standart.
I was asking about the weight because of badgerŽs formula about physical bow mass and its relationship to bow performance.

Post the dimension please, if you can.

Jaro