Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: coaster500 on August 25, 2011, 04:38:22 pm
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Hello I'd like to introduce myself as I am a new member to this forum. My name is Kip aka coaster500. I have been learning from you folks for a while now. With your help I've build a couple of boards and want to take a crack at a stave.
Maybe someday I can actually contribute to your great forum?
I have this Mulberry stave and am hoping not to reduce it to kindling. I'd like to see what direction some of you folks would take. I draw 27"s and shoot in the 45 to 50# range. I realize the stave is a bit short for my draw so this may end up a bow for my wife’s shorter draw and less weight, that is if it doesn’t end up in the fireplace. The stave has a slight twist but is pretty straight.
Should all the light wood be removed or?
What design? backed?
I've been reading like crazy and have seen one of the members Utube where he built a 58" Mulberry and draws 29"s!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsZCurqyRUI
Thank you
Here is some info about the stave...
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow001-1.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow002-1.jpg)
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(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow006.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow004-2.jpg)
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(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow007.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow003-1.jpg)
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That is a very nice stave. Your right about the length, it's a little short for a stiff handled design. I personally would go for somewhere between a proper d-bow (bend in the handle) and a stiff handled bow with fades. If you allow the handle to 'work' somewhat you will take a lot of stress off the limbs. A little movement in the middle of the bow translates to a fair amount of tip movement. Leave the width as wide as you can when squaring up the sides.
You'll have to remove the sapwood and chase the first ring of the heartwood.
Just go slowly and follow the shape of the back when working in the thickness tapers.
Good luck.
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58 1/4" is a bit short but it is doable! In this case I would remove all the sapwood(white wood). The heartwood rings are plenty thick enough so get a good clean back ring chased and lay out your bow. For such a short bow I would go with a bendy handle to spread the stresses out across the entire bow...and don't worry about the twist. Selfbows can handle some twist without detrimental effects.
Check out George Tsoukalas' site. Lots of helpful info there.
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I have no experience working with mulbery, but I do agree that I would make a d style bendy handle bow. Your stave is plenty long for that if your draw is 27".. Good luck!
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It's good to see another rookie here Kip. ;)
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Thanks, Pat. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
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I agree with Pat, it is doable but you might get a few more stave bows under your belt before trying it. A bendy handle or D-Bow is the way to go.
That is a very nice mulberry stave. Take your time with it. Do you know when the wood was cut? Has it seasoned for some time?
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Well I chased a ring for the first time, I chased those little suckers around the world and back. Never used a draw knife and cut the heck out of myself. Is Mulberry good in a smoker? I got a pile of it. Took me three rings so the bows going to be narrow, about an inch and a quarter? I may still have a bow but not by much. Good learning how a draw knife works. This one will definitely be the wife's is it makes a bow and bendy it is.
Question do I need to seal the back now that it's down to the finished back ring?
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow003-2.jpg)
A little crooked on one end...
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow004-3.jpg)
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first of all yes mulberry is great in a smoker , it will give the meat a sweet flavor .
second dont give up yet your at an inch and a quarter but you have plenty of depth left. if you build a bend through the handle design like has been suggested and build it with a stacked or rounded belly your weight will remain high and the belly will reduce strain on the back making it safer. now lay your handle area out about 8 inches long and your belly about 3/4 thick. bring your belly right into your handle marks without any dips just fade it right in . reduce your belly thicness till it will flex about ten inches on the floor and then tiller the rest on the sides of the belly forming a D. i think this will give you a servicable weapon and still come in at the weight your lookin for
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Good advice from ken...take it and make a bow.
If your stave is dry and seasoned then you do not have to seal the back.
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thats a very nice stave u have u have plenty of wood to work with i say make a bend thru the handel d bow and make it about 1 /5/2-1 5/8 at the fades and u should be fine maul berry needs to be a just a lil wider than osage if u followed a ring ur set to make ur bow keep pic s coming good luck brock
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I agree with everyone else on this one. Build a D-bow.Your stave should yield a beauty. God Bless
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Did a bit more after work today. She's bendy on the floor :) Time to put a string on and try to get-er-done ... I hope :o
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow003-4.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow004-5.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow005-4.jpg)
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Ken is a short bow expert for sure. The floor tiller looks great. Now put a string on that one ASAP. Looks like you're close to a low short string bend already. Need to have that one on the tillering tree. Try to keep the center of the bow a little stiff. My tendency is to put too much bend in the handle too early. I love mulberry, would have been nice if that top ring was as thick as the ones above it. Looks like you did a nice job chasing it. I'm anxious to see it bending with a bowstring. It takes less wood to make weight when the bow is short like that. You might come out better than you think.
I've also done a lot of smoking with mulberry. Works great.
George
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Yes George I agree completely I wish I would have caught one of the thicker rings earlier but what you going to do. I am a desk jockey and a wanabe bowyer. This stuff is all new to me.
Haven’t used hand tools for a while!!!! Desk jockey + Hand tools =
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow-2.jpg)
I looked at Ken's threads and he looked to be the go to guy for a short bendy.
I've got three tuna loins in the smoker ...thought it would be a good test for the Mulberry chips..
It's going to be a while before I get a string on it and start working on the tree. Work schedule is “thankfully” heavy right now.
Thank you all for the help and keep it coming.
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Wait till you start flint knapping. I bleed all the time with that. I love the draw knife, my favorite tool. I would say that Rich (aka half_eye) and then Ken are the most prolific short bow builders on here. Lots of people build them well tho. Me, not so much. I've been working on a short yew bow and had a brain freeze tillering it...removing too much wood at one time. Finally got it to where I could pull it to full draw. 32lbs at 27"...good grief, I was hoping for 60. I just heat treated it and flipped the tip on the weak side. Need to do that other side and we'll see where she is. I suspect a local youngster is gonna get a very nice kids bow. I'm sure your luck will be better. The fish sounds great, I'll be putting a couple chickens on the rotisserie here in an hour or 2.
George
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Did a little floor excercise, then a bit on the tree and stepped back to take a look.... I'm starting to think I can make weight with the little Mulberry Bendy... I wish I'd have left a little more handle as suggested. I just need to keep it from blowing up!!!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow-1.jpg)
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It did not take any set (I think that's the right word) but maybe I'll let it dry a bit longer just to make sure?
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looks like your on the right track work those tips down and get them movin. lookin good
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You're on your way. That bow looks straight enough to use the tillering gizmo on. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,23134.0.html That might be easier to get good tiller with on your first bow. Good luck, George
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Thank you guys for the advice and support... and thank you Mr Krewson for my Gizmo ;)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Myfirstattemptataboardbow-3.jpg)
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Well I finally had some time to play at it again. I still want to put a grip on it and do a little more tillering but I came in quite a bit under weight so I may settle for less than perfect. I am happy the little bow has held together in spite of my lack of talent. It has about 2 1/2"s of string fallow as I'm sure that the stave was not completely dry but the little bow is a great little teacher and shoots to boot. The tips were over kill on a first time try but the bone is from the first Whitetail I shot with a bow (he wasn't much to brag about either but I was ecstatic non the less)....
Got a scrap piece of leather and need to know what kind of finish I should put on the bow?
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow008.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow002.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow001.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow005.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow012.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow014.jpg)
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Shooting the Mulberry....
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/?action=view¤t=Mulberrystavebow002-1.mp4
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Well, well... Looks like you did okay! The full draw tiller on the stick doesn't look too bad. Might be a bit skewed or maybe your tillering stick isn't quite in the center of your bow. If that's the case, your tiller looks very good. What did you end up with in pounds and at what draw? Don't worry about the 2+ inches of set. It's your first one. You'll get better with every bow you make. Allowing the wood to dry is key. Be sure you post pics when you have a finish on it and a grip, if you choose to add one.
I also noticed in one of you pics all of the bandages on your toes. Were you draw knifing with your feet too? LOL.
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coaster that is an excellent looking bow. bendy handle is well executed . wish my first 50 had looked that good . video looks like its spittin them arrows out pretty fast. great job and enjoy your work
bend it !
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Looks good. Great job on that one.
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Thank you guys it ended up 54" 38/39@27... I did missed the weight a bit but the little bow is a great teacher. I was a bit worried about such a short bow at my 27"s but it feels and shoots good. It's sure fun to shoot one you cooked yourself........
MWirwicki, I sliped a while back and snapped two toes.... and I mean snapped hurt like the H*** and made walking a tough for a while. Me and flip-flops don't get along real well :)
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Beautiful bend on that bow. Bet you learned a lot in the process. Good job.
George
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That is a very fine bow sir....Your arc of circle is "perfect". Dont get too excited about some sting follow with any bow that short pullin that far....like the other fellas said, go shoot it and enjoy it.....it's a beaut.
rich
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Thanks Rich.. you are one of the reasons I thought it could be done... you are a short bow factory!!! Maybe next time I'll hit weight?
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Coaster I am late to the thread but really like your bow . Turned out pretty and hey, everyone needs a lite bow on hand.
As to short bow kings well the old yankee and the Georgia boy are at the top but let us not forget Zoltan.
I too have smoked mulberry. Kinda strong and hard to keep lit and well that's all I remember.
Lane
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Nice bow coaster! I like the video but it would be nice if it was a little longer, maybe a few more arrows shot ;D ;) sorry I just like videos. Again nice job! and it does look like it spits an arrow out pretty fast. Thanks for shareing with us!
Josh
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Elktracker have you ever tried to download a video with photobucket? With my old computer it takes forever. If I make them very short it really cuts the download time :)
I haven’t finished the little bow yet and am trying different handle Ideas. I used a thread and I want to apologize upfront as I can't remember who posted it :( ... anyway that person build the back of a bendy handle with pieces of leather and crazy glue. They them shaped it and wrapped it with leather. Well it works pretty well. I am trying to make a rest out of the same antler from my first whitetail. I don't have it shooting as well off the rest as my knuckle but I think it's a height adjustment or the fact I'm trying to get it to work with the natural point (probably won't work but I though it would look cool), we will see.
The only thing that is permanent at this point is the build up on the back….
Still experimenting……
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow003.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow002-2.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Mulberrystavebow001-2.jpg)
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Very nice work. Enjoy your bow in good health. Jawge
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That last picture is really nice. Very attractive bow. You've done super.
George
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Took the little Mulberry to the range.... These arrows are way to stiff but the flu flu feathers helped.... Need to get some lighter arrows........
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Picture001.jpg)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Bow%20projects/Picture004.jpg)
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Thank you Scott for your observation.... you are 100% right the rest did not work well so I changed it to a flat rest and it still did not shoot that well. It is now without a rest at all and shoots off the knuckle much better. When I get some arrows that are spined right I am really interested in seeing how it shoots....
Thanks again