Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: straightarrow on March 21, 2012, 10:53:55 pm

Title: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 21, 2012, 10:53:55 pm
Just finished up this linen backed maple board bow for my father in law, Clark. This was my 15th bow and believe or not my first board bow. It finished out 53#@27"and is 65" long. I had some fretting issues on the lower limb so I did a rawhide patch then a decorative wrap.  Seems to be holding out well. I wasn't sure how i wanted to finish the bow because I have never dealt with linen before. With spring gobbler season  just around the corner I was inspired to give feather backing a try. I was fairly satisfied with my first attempt.  It took about four hours to put well over two hundred feathers on....I have alot of patience and it tried every bit of it....lol.  Anyhow the tips are ebony and cedar. The finish is tru-oil.

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: lesken2011 on March 21, 2012, 10:56:40 pm
Definitely unique. Really good lookin' tips and tiller too. Good job!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: blackhawk on March 21, 2012, 11:09:10 pm
heck yeah buddy...thats some classic straightarrow bow porn right there ;)  8)   
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 21, 2012, 11:20:12 pm
Thank you lesken...

Thanks Chris..... only you would call it bow porn.... Lol... your to much
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: cougarbob on March 21, 2012, 11:35:52 pm
Wow the pictures of this now came out nice and the tiller looks great Im lucky enough to have seen this bow close up and the feathers look awesome especially when the sunlight hits them another great now jon.      Bob
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: HickoryBill on March 21, 2012, 11:42:12 pm
Man did that turn out sweet!!! Can;t wait to see it in person!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 22, 2012, 12:19:56 am
Thank you bob....I wasn't able to capture that color change with the camera.

Thank you bill and thank you again for the maple!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Keenan on March 22, 2012, 12:30:26 am
Love it. Very nice colors with the feathers and great looking tiller
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Pat B on March 22, 2012, 12:43:56 am
Very nice bow Jon and the feather backing sure does set if off.  8)
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: ErictheViking on March 22, 2012, 01:26:26 am
That looks really cool. great job and sweet tiller.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: PAHunter on March 22, 2012, 01:40:09 am
that is awesome man, awesome!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Pappy on March 22, 2012, 07:30:54 am
Beautiful bow,very nice work. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: dwardo on March 22, 2012, 07:58:18 am
Great looking bow, would be great to see some more detailed shots of the back, can barely see all your hard work.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 22, 2012, 08:39:56 am
Cool bow Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: tattoo dave on March 22, 2012, 08:55:46 am
That's sweet!! I love that feather idea. Can we get a close-up pic of the back. What kind of glue did you use on the feathers?

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: MWirwicki on March 22, 2012, 09:57:35 am
Very unique bow with the feathers, and all.  I like it when we are creative with decorations.  Very nice.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Parnell on March 22, 2012, 12:19:16 pm
Very cool!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: criveraville on March 22, 2012, 01:24:10 pm
Very nice eye candy. How did you apply the feather backing?

Cipriano
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Sidewinder on March 22, 2012, 02:16:00 pm
Very nice. I echo the request to see the back some more. I too want to know how the feathers were applied. Very cool idea.  Danny
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: druid on March 22, 2012, 05:35:34 pm
Good work man!!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: coaster500 on March 22, 2012, 05:44:29 pm
Never seen that done....   looks fantastic!!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: HickoryBill on March 22, 2012, 09:47:38 pm
I believe the feathers were layed down like shingles from the tips down the limb...and glued with regular ol' Elmers white glue...With a coat of glue over the feathers,as it dries clear
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 22, 2012, 10:18:11 pm
Thank you guys for the compliments. I did use Elmers to glue them down. Not as easy as it may sound. I can offer a few pointers that may save you guys a headache and a few cuss words. I use the word "may" loosely. After some trial and error this is what i came up with. First lay down a size coat of elmers. I only worked on a quarter of the limb area at a time. It took a hour for each session. Next I watered some elmers down. Do this in a conatainer that is long enough to drag the feather thru. Make sure the feather is completely coated and give a little shake to get the heavy stuff off. Now lay the feather down on the bow. The feather has a natural cup so be sure to get the air bubble out. I kept a glass of water and a towel handy for my hands. It helps a bunch if your finger is wet when your trying to lay them down nice. Just a a word to the wise....the more you mess with it the worse it gets. Get them laying nice and leave them alone. I made the mistake of coming back later to try to fix a few areas and only made it worse....I ended up taking that layer off because I really messed it up. Now just continue laying them down like shingles on a roof. The next day I watered some elmers down and brushed a coat over the feathers. After the bow is completely backed a put a few coats of spray poly over the feathers then top with several coats of tru-oil. You definately want a good seal because the elmers is water reversable....Never had a problem....I use it on my snake skins too. I would recommend putting a dark coat of stain under the feathers to hide any separations. You'll see in the pictures that i touched up with a sharpie. At a arms length you don't even see where i touched up. Hope this helps....I'm no expert at this but I can say this method worked for me

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: coaster500 on March 23, 2012, 12:07:54 am
Really a great Job....  beautiful!!!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: DRon knife on March 23, 2012, 12:14:33 am
ya man ya,nice stick!! nailed the tiller!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: dmc on March 23, 2012, 12:56:52 am
I'm always amazed at the creativity of people on this forum! Great job, enjoyed the close up pics.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Judo Point on March 23, 2012, 01:12:09 am
That is awesome man!! I love it. What a great idea! That really looks nice thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: rps3 on March 23, 2012, 01:24:40 am
I thought that full draw picture was great until I saw the feather work. Spectacular.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: soy on March 23, 2012, 07:30:38 am
That is really cool  :o do you get the color change on the feathers when you move the bow?man i would love to see that one in person...great job ;)
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 24, 2012, 08:18:45 am
Thank you Coaster,dron, dmc, judo point and rps3

Thank you soy...The colors do shift in the light....pretty cool effect

Maybe next I try this I'll do a step by step tuturiol and post it in the "How to section"

Thank you for looking

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: soy on March 25, 2012, 04:30:20 am
Sick, keep returning for one more look if you do a buildalong pm me so i dont miss that one
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 25, 2012, 01:03:57 pm
I'll be sure to do that soy. I think I'm going to incorporate some feathers into my next bow
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Kolton on March 25, 2012, 04:38:51 pm
cool bow ive never seen a bow backed with turkey feathers befor


     Kolton
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 26, 2012, 07:56:42 am
Thank you Kolton. I have seen two feather backed bows on here. I'm not sure if mine looked like theirs but that's how I knew about it. I'll have to do a search to see if they look the same
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Adam on March 26, 2012, 12:01:42 pm
What a great looking bow! Nice work.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 27, 2012, 12:08:23 am
Thank you Adam ;)
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Arrowind on March 27, 2012, 02:29:02 am
 SWEEET!  very nice bow!  Good job!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: crooketarrow on March 27, 2012, 10:38:36 am
  I've built 2 bows useing gobbler feathers are your just the feathers or in you add a coating over yours.
  SWEET EITHER WAY.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 27, 2012, 12:36:48 pm
Thank you arrowind. Thank you crookedarrow. I got several coats of finish over the feathers. I'm anxious to try some other feathers besides Turkey.

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: doggonemess on March 27, 2012, 12:54:02 pm
Very cool idea - it gives me some ideas for my future projects as well. Great job!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Canoe on March 27, 2012, 02:28:42 pm
           "...classic straightarrow bow porn right there."


Howdy Straightarrow,

That bow is beyond COOL 8)!!

As my teen-aged girl would say, (in her high-pitched whiny tone) "OMG!  That's totally... (something)".

Anyway, I think the bow is terrific and that it looks really well tillered.  I love those feathers.

Congratulations!

All the Best,
Canoe
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Josh B on March 27, 2012, 05:21:45 pm
Whoa!!! Wow!!! Whee doggies!!!  :o. That is beautiful! I can't even feather arrows correctly most of the time.  Did I say wow!?!?  Josh
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: flungonin on March 27, 2012, 06:36:41 pm
    :)WoW, tiller, feather backing. Wow again.  :)
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: ircherokee on March 27, 2012, 08:35:40 pm
 the skys the limit great idea looks great
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Ifrit617 on March 27, 2012, 11:11:32 pm
Very cool! I remember seeing this backing technique when I first joined the forum 2 years ago and haven't sen it since. very nice.

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 28, 2012, 07:04:04 pm
I should say wow and thank you...... dog, canoe, Josh, flungonin knottybillet, and Jon. Wonderful comments guys..... thanks again. Makes a guy feel good about his work

Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Cameroo on March 28, 2012, 08:10:45 pm
I never knew turkey feathers had all those colors in them - greens, blues, yellows... that looks really good man!  Makes me wonder what peacock feathers would look like on a bow.
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Carson (CMB) on March 29, 2012, 01:48:23 pm
That is a beautiful bow.  Meticulous work, I bet that feather backing was!  Beautiful!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Del the cat on March 29, 2012, 02:14:38 pm
That's beautiful...
Now there are some Peacocks in a big stately home near me... hmmm  O:)
Del
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: straightarrow on March 29, 2012, 10:06:32 pm
Thanks guys.... I've already started experimenting with pheasant. Not sure how peacock would look..... it may look gold in the light.  I know from fly fishing it looks gold under water.... not sure. Guinea feathers may look cool also?


Jon
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Knapper on March 30, 2012, 10:39:17 am
WOW !!!!!!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: jebrasher on April 18, 2012, 10:28:47 pm
Fantastic.  Beautiful.  One of a kind.  Never heard of or seen anything like it.  You should be very proud.

Simply Beautiful.

Congratulations.
John
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Steve Milbocker on April 19, 2012, 01:52:05 pm
Really pretty, I like that feather backing!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: MoNative on April 19, 2012, 01:57:31 pm
Noe that is awesome!
Title: Re: linen/turkey feather backed maple finished pics
Post by: Muler44 on April 20, 2012, 03:19:24 pm
I have also admired the colors seen in the feathers from a wild turkey.  The only way I've thought to display them (other than fletching arras with em) was stuck in a hat.  Even if the idea wasn't yours, it was put together in a most creative way.  Great job!!

 :laugh: