Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: RyanY on August 07, 2012, 10:22:17 pm

Title: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: RyanY on August 07, 2012, 10:22:17 pm

This bow is from a piece of ERC that was a gift from PaulN/KS at MOJam this year. Started on it there and finally got it finished up.  I call it Galactus the Marvel comic book villan because of the purplish color, the knots remind me of stars, and also it's quite a stout bow and fills the hand.  The knots were almost all soft in the middle with the exception of a large one about half way up one of the limbs so I filled them with osage plugs which was a first.  The bow is rawhide backed, also a first. Tips are osage and bone.  69"ntn, 80#@29", width at handle 1 1/2", thickness at handle, 1 3/8", width at tips 5/8", thickness at tips 5/8", about 1 1/2" of set.  Knowing the reputation that ERC has I was extremely nervous while making this bow but I'm really happy with how it turned out.  The string I made is a little long for it so the brace is lower than I'd like it to be. Hope I made you proud Paul! Thanks for looking!
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1218.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1219.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1220.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1221.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1222.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1223.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1224.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1225.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1227.jpg)
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1228.jpg)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: lesken2011 on August 07, 2012, 10:25:09 pm

Nice! Those osage plugs look neat and that ERC is soooo pretty....gotta try me some for sure!!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: RyanY on August 07, 2012, 10:29:37 pm

Here are a few pics from before I filled the knots and backed it.
Back
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1198.jpg)
Belly
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1197.jpg)
Plugs before they were shaped
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1199.jpg)
Franken bow all plugged up
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1200.jpg)
What I find interesting in this last pic is that you can see the knots all point close to the same direction so I could tell which part was towards the upper half of the tree.
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k455/ryoon4690/IMG_1201-1.jpg)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: toomanyknots on August 07, 2012, 10:33:57 pm

Man, that is cool how you plugged them holes. I always just fill em with beeswax. Your way is 1000 times better though, really pretty bow. I love cedar. I love cedar guitars, I love cedar chests, I love the smell of cedar period. I bet a cedar bow is just great.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Will H on August 07, 2012, 11:00:00 pm

Very cool :)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Arrowind on August 07, 2012, 11:11:03 pm

Very nice bow!  Love how it looks! Great idea to plug those knots!  Good job dude.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: coaster500 on August 07, 2012, 11:19:55 pm

Excellent job with that ERC...  I bet it was tough to get those plugs smooth with out cutting into the ERC...  it's so soft compared to the Osage...

Very, very cool bow...  well done!!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Badly Bent on August 07, 2012, 11:30:36 pm

Very nicely done bow Ryoon, great tips, cool work on the plugs, really sweet bend and the finish is polished man but......eh eh eh 80lbs, you must be eating your wheaties every day. Great bow.
Greg

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: vinemaplebows on August 07, 2012, 11:38:02 pm

Thats pretty, and darn time consuming. :)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: PaulN/KS on August 07, 2012, 11:40:01 pm

WOW Ryan that looks great ! :)
You really nailed it with that stave. Sorry about all those knots but you really solved that problem with the plugs. The osage stands out against the cedar. Backing it was probably a prudent idea. It sure looks h*ll for stout, I can believe it draws 80#...
"Proud" , Yep I'm proud to know such a talented bow maker. ;D

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on August 07, 2012, 11:43:08 pm

Nice bend on it.  I like it, and it gives me inspiration for some of the ERC that I have waiting to be made into bows.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: KellyG on August 07, 2012, 11:53:20 pm

Wow that is a very nice looking bow.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Shaun on August 08, 2012, 12:37:55 am

You NAILED that compass tiller and the osage Dutchmen are too cool. I'm seeing one of those special BOM hats in your future...

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: RyanY on August 08, 2012, 12:46:51 am

Thanks for the kind words guys. It means a lot. :)

coaster 500, Almost all of the tillering was done with my belt sander and I didn't notice the plugs sticking out any more than the cedar while doing so.

Bradley Bent, I used to work on drawing those heavy bows a lot so this isn't too bad. Just the fact that it's ERC makes it more difficult to draw.  ;)

Paul, Thank you so much! I couldn't have made this bow without you (for obvious reasons). It was definitely a challenge and was a great learning experience. I hope you have the opportunity to see it in person next year.

Shaun, I appreciated the kind words but unfortunately I don't subscribe so I'm not in the running.  :-\

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Weylin on August 08, 2012, 02:01:28 am

That is a beautiful tiller, sir. well done.  8)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Tortoise on August 08, 2012, 03:01:35 am

Very cool bow, I love the nocks on it

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Jodocus on August 08, 2012, 03:15:12 am

That is quite a big stick, and it's bending nicely, too. Good work!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Josh B on August 08, 2012, 03:25:08 am

Doesn't get any better than that!  The tiller is outstanding!   Josh

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: RyanY on August 08, 2012, 02:46:09 pm

Thanks guys.

Gun Doc, Your advice definitely helped me keep this one together. Thanks!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: soy on August 08, 2012, 04:45:04 pm

Sweet bend on that one, and what a cool idea with the plugs ;)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Dean Marlow on August 08, 2012, 07:01:02 pm

That is a beautiful bow and the osage plugs really look good. But you be careful with that ERC. Scariest bow wood I have ever worked with. Dean

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Dvshunter on August 08, 2012, 07:18:27 pm

Sweet looking bow Ryan. I figured it was for your sister being only 80lbs.  ;)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: dwardo on August 09, 2012, 06:06:44 am

Great looking bow and good job on the patch work, tiller too :)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: mikekeswick on August 09, 2012, 07:02:22 am

Ummm NICE! I'd like to try ERC sometime.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Pappy on August 09, 2012, 07:59:40 am

Beautiful bow,love the plug idea.very cool looking bow.80lbs WOW. :)
  Pappy

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: ErictheViking on August 09, 2012, 11:41:21 am

Beautiful bow all the way around. great job on the plugs and you did an outstanding job on the tiller. full draw is awesome. ERC sure is pretty

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: ErictheViking on August 09, 2012, 11:42:53 am

btw to stick with the Galactus theme, your arows definately need to be silver. ;)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: tom sawyer on August 09, 2012, 05:45:09 pm

You definitely made the most of that wood.  You starting to specialize in warbows?  You might want to specialize in orthopedics as well, just in case.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Stringman on August 09, 2012, 06:19:19 pm

Very nice indeed! That bow had a serious challenge factor an you just danced right thru it. Well done!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: sweeney3 on August 09, 2012, 08:44:36 pm

That is fantastic!  I love my ERC I made last year.  Great bow, great wood.  Your plugging idea is interesting.  Opens up a LOT more ERC.  I've always looked for a really clean piece, but it looks like you plugged holes in the back as well, and I'm guessing made a very smooth back before adding the rawhide.  That is a great idea.  Love the bow!

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: RyanY on August 10, 2012, 12:06:39 pm

Thanks a ton guys!  ;D

tom sawyer, I'm hoping to specialize in everything! But I do love warbows so orthopedics might not be a bad idea.

sweeney3, The holes went all the way through on this piece and so do the plugs. The back follows the contour of the grain as I followed a growth ring on the back.

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Onebowonder on November 07, 2012, 04:13:41 pm

Saw this bow in the early stages at Mojam.  I'm glad to see it survived to become a shooter.  Awesome idea on the plugs!
OneBow

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Bowman on November 07, 2012, 05:08:46 pm

Cool bow. Nice colour and character. :-)

Title: Re: Galactus (ERC Bow)
Post by: Knapper on November 07, 2012, 06:10:34 pm

Well done!! What a beast mof a bow. Would have liked to seen a better pic of the raw hide layed on, beautiful work on then plugs