Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: FRITZ 86 on July 28, 2012, 10:18:24 pm
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Finally got some time to work on a hickory staff I had been drying for my son a bow. Specs on the staff and layout: 60"ttt, 58"ntn, 4" handle, 1.75"fades, Limbs 1.5" to mid-limb then straight taper to .5" tips. Was shooting for 40# @ 26" so the bow would grow with him abit, if I was successful. Took everything really slow. Got the limbs bending on the floor, then heat tempered the belly. Ended up with about 3" of reflex. Pretty much have hit my weight limit 40-42# @ 25",so I guess tillering is about as good as it is going to get on this one. I know I will lose some weight after final sanding and cleanup. Exercised the limbs really good and shot the bow about 25-30 times, so far. Still holding about .5" of reflex. Was considering another heat tempering session to add some more reflex. Tiller ain't great, seems a little stiff in the right fade area to me, but I'm not to dissatisified, as this is my first attempt. Here's a few pics. Tell me what you think.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/braceheight.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/partialdraw.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/fulldraw.jpg)
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Looks very nice to me. Good job.
George
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I'd say that looks like excellent tiller for the front view profile you described. Should be elliptical so it will seem stiff at the fades compared to a circular tiller. Limbs are bending the same and evenly. Good job!
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Looks good to me.
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Good to go!
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Thanks guys. One question, can the back of the bow take a light sanding or should I leave it alone? Was thinking of doing some kind of rit/alcohol stain and a tru oil finish.
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TTT for the sanding question. Anyone?
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I always sand the back of my bows. As long as your growth rings aren't extremely you can give it a good sanding.
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Thanks Slackbunny.
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Excellent tiller! Nice job. Josh
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Thanks Josh. Got his leather rest done and the bow stained. Got to find some leather for his handle. After that I guess its time to put the tru oil on. Will post some finished pics when I get it all dressed up.
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That's a great looking bow - first one or 100th! good job. I think you can sand hickory till it's smooth as a baby's butt and you won't have any problems. It is pretty forgiving stuff. I have a couple that have been handled rough, big dents and scratches in the back, violated rings and all sorts of misuse, and they just keep on shooting. Hickory is tough and will last.
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Thanks hrhodes. Eric's tillering gizmo really works great along with alot of patience! I didn't sand it "as smooth as a baby's butt" as I was a bit scared. I did smooth down the bigger ridges and bumps. I used a leather stain/alcohol mixture that turned out o'k. A little darker than I like it, but it's what I had.
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Nice! I'm sure he will love it!
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Like you said,other than a little stiff out of the fads it looks good to me.Nice job. :) :)
Pappy
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The bow looks good but I must be haveing eye trouble than the others or I'm just to cridial of my tillering. Because the left limb is way stiffer and dos'nt been nearly as much mid limb as the right. And pappy right you need to tiller back in to the fade as far as you can.
Also with HICKORY when finshed put in a hot box before you seal it. To get rid of the moisture the outer wood as taken on. Sealing the bow with this moisture in the wood. HICKORY devolopes more string follow as it's shot.
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Nice bow. I love hickory. Good job.
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Thanks fellows. I'm in the process now of putting the numerous coats of tru oil on. Got the handle done yesterday and took some pics of my son shooting. He really thinks it's cool, so I guess that's what matters. Will post some finished pics in a few days.
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Well I think I'm finished with this one. 5 coats of tru oil and she is shiny! My kid is having to shoot my carbons till I can figure out what spine it likes for wood. Seems like sacrilage to shoot carbons out of a selfbow! Had a great time on the first one. Learned alot and I'm sure there will be more to come.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00243.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00242.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00244.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00232.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00233.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/DSC00235.jpg)
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Nice work!
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I like the look of the finished project, looks as if he enjoys it also...have fun shooting together!
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I think you did good.
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Good job on that one!! I like the way you finished it too.
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good job.the kid is happy.what more could you ask for.
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Real nice result. Seeing that back with the little waviness, reminds me of a pignut hickory I cut. It was the first stave wood I ever worked. Tough stuff, couldn't get it to bend much but it made some very tough bows.
You do know that boy is going to outgrow that bow before you know it?
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Thanks guys! My boy loves it! It's been a long time since I have really seen him get excited about shooting. Great father son project. He helped me pick the tree, cut it, and pack it out of the river bottom with the temp around 95 or so. He stayed with me in the shop most of the time as we worked it down and tillered. I think he learned alot; as I did as well. Got another stave for me about dry. Hope to get my summer chores wrapped up in a little while and get to work on it.
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Very well made and handsome bow Fritz. I think its great that you got your son involved in the making from start to finish.
You two did a great job on that bow, congrats and enjoy shooting together.
Greg