Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Matt S. on November 13, 2011, 09:14:55 pm
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I finally finished up my first backed(laminated) bow, a Hickory backed Maple. This was the bow mentioned in my thread here http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,28912.0.html (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,28912.0.html).
First, the bow's stats:
40#@28"
63 3/4" tip-to-tip
1 1/2" wide until mid-limb, then tapering to just under 1/2" nocks.
mass: 15 oz with silk backing (about 14 without silk)
backed with raw silk
glued in about 2 1/2" of reflex, maintains about 1 3/4" of reflex
finished with boiled linseed oil and shellac
I have learned a lot with this bow. I think it turned out rather well, though there are some things I would do differently with my next wood laminated bow.
And now for the photos!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lgjH-A9R75I/TsBTpiFF9XI/AAAAAAAABTU/lnubuh0zPkM/s800/29_unbraced.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jrdC-Xm8jSI/TsBTrc1lahI/AAAAAAAABTU/PQ_M9W9jCIA/s800/29braced.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X-yjpJi-atU/TsBTrJaUDSI/AAAAAAAABTU/QDErAodDUd4/s800/29_unbraced2.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cdhv2NvrT7w/TsBTjQdpmaI/AAAAAAAABTU/p1vvUSuRjMc/s800/29_braced2.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Iv3-iUo44JU/TsBTmMduo_I/AAAAAAAABTU/4223QN0D7Mo/s800/29_braced3.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yBJVEVWUURg/TsBTi8xSb6I/AAAAAAAABTU/EhLciClYW_4/s800/29_nock-detail.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TBht2LB8alM/TsBTlrwUoBI/AAAAAAAABTU/ArsIMqPvakY/s640/29_fulldraw4.jpg)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VYZ4d4tXh6w/TsBToecg9-I/AAAAAAAABTU/Mc2sD2LEE38/s640/29_fulldraw1.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
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Jeeze Matt, that's a damned fine lookin bow right there, well done sir
rich
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Nice one
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I'm gonna have to say I am impressed. You made that silk backing look ultra sexy. Picture perfect tiller. Hell yes.
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There is nothing like your first, and for your first backed it looks amazing, one would not be able to tell had you not informed us...job well done ;)
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Sweet bow Matt! I've got some maple and hickory in the shop, was thinkin about put them together. I like that reflex you glued in, might have to try that myself.
Tattoo Dave
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real nice bow Matt, that maple makes a snappy shootin' bow don't it, Bub
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Very nice Matt, as TMK pointed out you did a real nice job on the backing. and tiller is sweet
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Really like this simple stick matt! Great job and tiller!
Jon
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Very sweet. Backing looks great.
Lane
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Nice One Matt, I like your wood combo. I also have some in the shop might have to give it a whirl. What would you do different if you don't mind me asking?? Well done ,Chuck
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Very nice! Great job.
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half eye, ozzy, toomanyknots, soy, erictheviking, ifrit, johnston, turtlecreek... thanks for the very kind words!!
tattoo dave, the hickory and maple worked really well together, better than I expected.
bubby, this is the first maple that hasn't chrysalled on me, but the other ones might have been soft maple. I have a love/hate relationship with maple. I love its light weight, diffuse porous rings, but I hate working it. I use surforms and rasps, and maple seems to want to leave low spots when working the whole limb. I have to be extremely diligent to avoid hinges.
higheagle, here are the things I would do differently for next time:
1 - When I cut the hickory backing strip it was 3/16" wide. At the time I thought it was pretty darn thin, then I did a little research and got scared that the hickory was too thick. This was AFTER I had already glued it to the maple! So I sanded it down to 1/8" thick and "crowned" it (trapped the back, but with a rounded profile, like a natural stave). It would have been a LOT less work to cut the backing strip the correct thickness from the beginning.
2 - You can see most of the reflex is near the handle. The unbraced bow looks like a shallow V when I think the reflex should be spread through the whole limb, so the unbraced profile would look like a shallow U. I should have tillered the maple BEFORE gluing up.
A little more about the handle, it is suede fabric stitched with black cotton string. The back and belly sides of the handle are padded with a cut up old sock and the suede handle wrapped over top, glued together (but not to the bow), and wrapped with waxed leather cord.
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Hi. Matt , very nice bow, great job, congratulations
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Very nice looking bow,bet that's a sweet shooter. :)
Pappy