Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PAHunter on February 16, 2012, 03:26:36 am
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Hi all,
First thank you all for the incredible support you have shown since I recently joined this site and posted my first bow! It is sincerely much appreciated!
My Story:
My first bow ended up being 26# and was a lot of fun. It fell short of my goal of a suitable hunting bow however. Since then my next serious project is an Elm selfbow with Blackhawk as my mentor and HickotryBill providing some instructional and motivational support via text message. I honestly learn more in a day with Blackhawk than I did in months on my own! My next planned bow is with a stave of Osage orange generously provided by Russell. Just looking at the beautiful wood intimidates me but is also exciting because I can already visualize the beautiful bow that exists deep inside.
Now in-between sessions with Blackhawk to keep from going stir crazy I stated mucking with a piece of red oak from Lowes. I decided to just have fun with it and learn as much as I could along the way. That Red Oak bow is the subject of this post.
Quick Stats:
• Nock to nock: 65.5’’
• #s: 42 @ 27ish
• Handle: Red Oak / TB 2
• Backing: Linen / TB 3
• Grip: leather strip / TB 3
Any suggestions on things I can do better or try are much appreciated! Some lessons I noted are:
• I got to aggressive trying out my new tools during floor tillering and took it too far. This produced some hinges that lowered the overall weight potential. Patience, patience…
• Painting / coloring the linen after gluing it on is way easier.
Thanks!
Rob
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small34052576.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small74768448.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small64384179.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small51630337.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small72944175.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small44524144.JPG)
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BTW the symbols are Kanji for Bow Hunter
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Nice lookin' bow, good job.
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Looks good to me. Would love to see a full draw picture. Anybody who builds a hunting weight bow out of a red oak board is a bowyer for sure.
George
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Nice bow!! Ive been lurking in this section for a while now, I need to get off my can and start my own! Just need the tools first.
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Good job rob... I knew you wood get a shooter out of that board. I almost told you to chase a ring on it cus it was so perfectly straight flat sawn. The only suggestion from me is to post the most important thing....THE BEND. How much string follow did you incur...that will also tell us if you overstressed it during the tiller phase.
So far it looks like you don't need me around anymore ;)
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Very nice job on your second bow,wished my 2nd came out like that. Congrats. :)
Pappy
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Very nice bow. God shooting too. Did you cut through the back to make a nock? Jawge
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Lookin' good! I really like that wrapped handle with braids and the artwork on the back.
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Very nice. In my very humble opinion red oak makes a sweet shooting bow.
And it looks like you built yourself a nice one.
Lane
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Rob - "Now in-between sessions with Blackhawk to keep from going stir crazy".
Thats your first mistake buddy!......just kiddin the hawkster can build a mean bow! Nice oak bow.
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Rob - "Now in-between sessions with Blackhawk to keep from going stir crazy".
Thats your first mistake buddy!......just kiddin the hawkster can build a mean bow! Nice oak bow.
Na...your right....its the blind leading the blind over here :laugh:
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Sweet and it's a shooter!!!
Congrats :)
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Congratulations, That is very good for your second bow. Looks like you are well on your way.
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looks great to me i would love to see a full draw pic. Very good of you Blackhawk.
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@TutleCreek: thanks much!
@gstoneberg: haha thanks man, this bowyer is just glad it has not broken… yet
@Jimbob: You just need an axe bro, the rest is icing! After that I suggest a decent rasp, sturdy vice, and draw knife in that order. I’ll stress sturdy vice because my new heave duty vice is a dream compared to my original that needed constantly retightened.
@blackhawk: Sensi of bows and brownies *bow* ;) At least one of us was confident it would be a shooter. I got it with intent to chase a ring until I realized that the one side ran off. Hopefully the backing will do its job. It follows the string about 1.5 and 2.5 inches. On a positive note that’s about ½ my first bow. I assume the wood is dry this time, so how can I minimize that more in the future? I did notice that I had almost no string follow until after 22 inches draw or so. I drew 20-30 times an inch (too little?) and was only doing light tillering with a shave (the flat piece of steel) because it over floor tillered (the new tools were just too shiny, couldn’t resist). After the offense I somehow remembered all your comments about patience.
“you don't need me around anymore ” – ah ya. Before I met you and Bill (and saw the bows on this site) I pretty much visualized an ideal bow as one that flung an arrow and didn’t break. I don’t know if you guys could tell but I was sincerely blown away from what you have done. They are highly functional, I’m sure, but they are works of art as well. A quick glance at the BOW entries on here and I bet anyone would be instantly humbled. What’s really appealing to me is that there is so much variety. It really seems to be a way of expressing yourself through your work. Hunting is still, and may always be, my priority but that aspect of this speaks to me as well.
Any success on this bow is a direct result of your help, thank you!
@Pappy: That’s much Pappy!
@George: thanks George! To be honest I was only about 12 feet away but that’s still better than my first bow was doing.
@lesken2011: Thanks much, I’m happy with the handle for a first attempt but I can think of ways to improve the back painting next time.
@johnston: Thanks Lane!
@PearlDrums: haha
@coaster500: Yeppers! though I’m hoping to build one around 50# for hunting season.
@Keenan: thanks, I’m just enjoying the process.
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small13236268.JPG)
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small20465628.JPG)
Set difference in first 2 bows:
(http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small22601134.JPG)
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Looks good to me. Would love to see a full draw picture. Anybody who builds a hunting weight bow out of a red oak board is a bowyer for sure.
George
Done it! ;)
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Did you cut through the back to make a nock? Jawge
Yes I went straight in from the sides and then angle it 45 degrees across the belly and downward. So the sides of the back of the bow has small crecent cuts into it. Is that an issue?
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Your too kind rob....ok...do you want the gods honest truth...?? 8)
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@blackhawk I'd expect nothing less! I'm a tough MMA fighter remember? I can take it. haha
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Well then you'll have to grapple it outta me the next time ya come over ;)....sooooo you making it over tomorrow eve?
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For sure, that hunting bow ain't gonna tiller itself! I can swing by earlier if that's cool, maybe 4:00 ish. I'll get to see you place in daylight for once.
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Leanr alll you can from Chris, just dont start building those super skinny sissy tips like his.
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seriously you did a really good job for your second bow,and you learn and listen well. some folks go thru several attempts before getting one to shoot. so count your blessings. :) your string follow is average for a red oak board,and nothing to be concerned with. your tiller is good enough but theres a few small minor things that could make it better. ill go over with you about them in person. 4ish sounds good to me.
and dont mind pearl drums...hes just envious of my bows and only wishes he could make a bow as sweet as mine >:D
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I agree with Chris. Your bow is great for a first, second or tenth. My guess is you will be shooting it for years, not everybody can say that after the first full draw.
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That is a great tiller you should be very proud of that bow.
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I'm wondering if some of the lost draw weight might be possible to get back on that bow if you were to flip the tips a bit? They look thick engough to handle it without fear of causeing any twist.
BTW - I'm not an expert here, just another "novice plus" with a question...
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Nice job. Like the detail on the artwork keep em coming ;)
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That bow turned out sweet Rob..Good Job...So is the wife hating your new found hobby???LOL Glad I could help ya out...So you gonna make it to the Classic this year with me and some PennsylTucky guys?
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@Dazv: thanks I am and it was another great learning experience
@Onebowwonder: I’d be interested in the answer as well but I’m gonna call this bow done. Nothing wrong with having a 42# er. I’ll build some heavier ones soon I’m sure.
@soy: thanks, will do!
@HickoryBill: thanks bro and thanks for the idea of making a board bow from Home Depot! My wife has been with me a long time; she knows I go 100% or not at all. She has been understanding and I only work on my bows after our daughter goes to bed. BTW sorry for my daughter’s texts, she likes to play with Daddy’s phone. I’d very much like to go but I’ll have to work it out with my wife. I am already going on 2 hunting trips this year (Clarion and IL) so if I go somewhere else I’ll likely have to bring her. We’re discussing it…
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The more the merrier.... ;D ;D
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Nice bow - congrats and good luck with the next one- good to see some guys from the 'burgh on here!
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congrats on your second shooter , your way ahead of some of us
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@Postman: Ya I’m an inner city red neck, if there is such a thing. I'm diverse, that sounds better. ;D Thanks for the compliment!
@ken75: Thanks man, I appreciate it! In life it doesn’t matter where we are at only that we are improving and having fun. Being perfect is probably boring as hell (not that I would know). :) The journey is what matters not the destination.
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I can only repeat what others have already said. Great looking bow. Enjoy the addiction >:D
Dustin D.