Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: barebo on March 24, 2011, 09:04:20 pm

Title: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 24, 2011, 09:04:20 pm
I hope my pic is the correct size. I started this recurve - my first, about a month ago, and am pretty happy with the results. it's 65" ntn and draws mid 60#'s. Limbs are just shy of 1-3/4" tapering to 1/2" tips. Shoots where I look and with great speed and little handshock. It's now stained and the first coat of Tru Oil is on. Grip wrap and strike plate to follow. I want to try a true 90 degree static bend next.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: John K on March 24, 2011, 09:06:28 pm
Looks good, how about some more pics ?
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 24, 2011, 09:10:00 pm
One more flipped around !! Been awhile since I've posted - we had a NASTY virus that caused us to lose most of our files.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: osage outlaw on March 24, 2011, 09:58:35 pm
Looks good.  Got any full draw and unbraced pics?
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 24, 2011, 10:06:08 pm
It's a beauty! Jawge
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: ErictheViking on March 24, 2011, 10:19:49 pm
looks like a keeper. good job on the tips, looks like you got them bent evenly.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: NTD on March 24, 2011, 10:54:18 pm
Looks like a nice bow barebo.  Good job.  Looking forward to more pics and a FD ;)
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: medicinewheel on March 25, 2011, 07:29:09 am
Looks great!
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 25, 2011, 07:40:18 am
I love this site but had problems with pics, so I will "come clean" and admit that I did my start to finish on the Leatherwall, under the same title. Now that our computer is back to 100%, we have a new program for editing photos, and I can post here again -HOORAY!!!
So rather than try to put all of my info from stave to bending to this braced bow up now, you can see how it started at Stickbow.
I know that a lot of folks frequent both sites, and for me it's a wealth of information on traditional archery.
Got the Tru oil on - few coats, and will be wrapping the grip tonight - hopefully full draw pics tomorrow!!??
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: Pappy on March 25, 2011, 08:49:05 am
Good looking bow,can't wait to see her all finished up. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: Del the cat on March 25, 2011, 08:50:56 am
Looks really pretty, gotta see her at full draw...
Del
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 25, 2011, 09:33:54 pm
Put a finish and wrapped a leather lace grip on it.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 25, 2011, 09:40:14 pm
Here's the full draw . I'm satisfied with this one, as it's my first attempt at bending tips. Unbraced it has the typical deflex recurve shape. I didn't induce any reflex, and let the wood bend the way it wanted to. It shoots VERY well. I've been shooting traditional bows since 1970, and have a fairly good sense of what is or isn't a dog , and this one AIN'T !!!!
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: Acutus on March 25, 2011, 09:56:35 pm
Looks great to me! Love the finish really sets it off and I ain't an expert but it looks as good at full draw as any reflex bow I ever saw! I'll need to get a few more bows under my belt before I try doing something fancy like that. :)
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: PeteC on March 26, 2011, 12:16:23 am
Nice recurve Barebo. I just cut a very nice eastern Hophornbeam on Monday myself. ;)  God Bless
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: hammertime on March 26, 2011, 12:32:58 am
Looks real nice to me Barebo,that finish really makes it stand out,cool boots to 8)-Hammertime
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: sharpend60 on March 26, 2011, 04:37:07 am
Nice lines on that one.
I'd like to try some
 hop hornbeam one of these days.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: Dean Marlow on March 26, 2011, 10:33:13 am
That is a nice bow. Ironwood is a top whitewood in my book. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: Arrowind on March 26, 2011, 12:05:46 pm
That bow is awesome.  I really like the shape / lines / style.  It looks really cool.  I have some questions for you:

Did you tiller it out and then bend the tips? Or did you bend the tips and then tiller?

Did you leave the tips a little wide just in case the wood twisted to one side or the other while bending?

Steam or dry heat? 
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: barebo on March 26, 2011, 12:44:45 pm
Thanks all for the kind words. I had a really nice stave to start with, and it made it easier to get a bow from it. I floor tillered it and left the tips 1" wide and 3/4" thick. Coated the tips with polyurethane up 12-13" on the limb. Put it in a tall stockpot with water 1" from the top and made a skirt/tent around it with heavy aluminum foil to seal fairly tightly. Put it in cold and let it boil for an hour after it came to a boil. I was told not to put bare wood into already boiling water and it was good advice !! When I took it out, I quickly put it into the form and made one deliberate smooth bend with the metal band laying on top of the belly and clamped it in place for 24 hrs.
Now, I'm going to reshape the form and make a true static tip - close to 90 degrees - or at least give it a go. It was a lot of fun actually bending the wood and having it retain it's shape when drawn.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: JustinNC on March 26, 2011, 07:15:11 pm
Very nice!
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: mullet on March 26, 2011, 08:02:58 pm
Well for a first attempt at flipping tips for a
recurve you did a heck of a job! That bow
came out nice and love the profile.
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: ken75 on March 26, 2011, 08:38:59 pm
beautiful full draw love the lines !
Title: Re: First Recurve Hop Hornbeam
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on March 26, 2011, 11:08:09 pm
Good looking bow and nice full draw.