Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: JonW on August 25, 2012, 04:22:52 pm

Title: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: JonW on August 25, 2012, 04:22:52 pm
I really didn't like this piece of wood after I got the bow roughed out. It seemed kinda weak for its mass. I went ahead and kicked the tips a little and tillered it out. It came in at 48# @ 26" but I thought I would heat treat it a little to see what it would pick up in draw weight. I know this may be hard to believe but the bow picked up 14 lbs!! Now it pulls 62# @ 26". I think I will hunt with this bow some this year as it shoots really good. The bow is 62" NTN. I have a couple more staves from this tree and I will definately be heat treating those as well.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 25, 2012, 04:25:28 pm
Holy wah!  Ya nailed that tiller!  That bow should be a poster child for heat treating! 

Love the osage nocks, too.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: ErictheViking on August 25, 2012, 04:29:19 pm
Gorgeous full draw. and the braced pic aint bad either. good job love that style
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: lesken2011 on August 25, 2012, 04:46:21 pm
Nice job, Jon. What's that width...about 2 in.?
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: rossfactor on August 25, 2012, 04:55:04 pm
Just had a similar experience with a piece of plum. Came in under weight 42 and overbuilt. I reduced tip mass, added recurve and heay treated the belly. Now she's pulling 50#, flat profile and launches an arrow. Heat

Great work on your bow.

Gabe
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: TRACY on August 25, 2012, 05:03:12 pm
Man I'm liking that a whole lot! Heck of an increase with tempering too. I'd be proud to hunt with a bow like that.

Tracy
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: JonW on August 25, 2012, 05:09:42 pm
Thanks guys. JW, I have made so many short bows that now I think everything I make comes out with a circular tiller :-\Kenny the bow is 1 7/8" at the fades. I have done some heat treating in the past on whitewoods but never had the results like I had with this bow.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: Badly Bent on August 25, 2012, 05:25:55 pm
That sure looks to be a killer to me Jon. Very nice tiller on that bow and those tips seem to have just the right amount of curve to them.
I like that bow from every angle, braced, unbraced and full draw. You made a dandy and I bet it's a smooth shooter too. Real nice!

Greg
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: coaster500 on August 25, 2012, 08:50:47 pm
Wow I'd say elm like the HEAT!!!!!

Sweet bender there :)
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: blackhawk on August 25, 2012, 11:12:31 pm
Sweet....some elm responds very well with heat treating and improves reduced set big time.how much reflex did you induce while tempering? If so,then that explains why you gained so much weight. Adding the reflex will gain you approx 3 pounds per inch. And flipping the tips increased your weight as well. Which explains the big weight gain.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: half eye on August 25, 2012, 11:37:01 pm
Jon, cant say nothin about the heat-treat or none of that other stuff. I have used a lot of Elm though, and that bow is as fine they come. I believe that elm is an underrated bow wood. Very nicely done sir!!!
rich
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: tattoo dave on August 25, 2012, 11:51:46 pm
Thats one sweet bow Jon!! Nice work pal.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: JonW on August 26, 2012, 12:43:58 am
Thanks Rich. I know you use a lot of Elm and I am liking it the more I use it.
Thanks Dave

Chris I didn't reflex it much at all. I just clamped it in the form I used to do the tips and heat treated it. It was fairly flat limbed to start. I flipped the tips initially before tillering. The gain was solely from the heating.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: Josh B on August 26, 2012, 01:37:43 am
That came out sweet!  Great tiller and the profile is very graceful.  Well done Sir!  Josh
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: H Rhodes on August 27, 2012, 05:03:33 am
Fantastic.  Your tiller looks great.  I had a similar heat treating success with winged elm.  It picked up ten pounds just from the heat alone.   
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: Pappy on August 27, 2012, 06:21:37 am
Very nice work,love everything about it.
   Pappy
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: Dvshunter on August 27, 2012, 11:50:34 am
Sweet little bow. Those are some nice looking curves too.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: Jim Davis on August 27, 2012, 03:09:52 pm
Very nice work. I have several elm staves nearly dry and just cut some more a couple of weeks ago. I have really liked the staves I have worked with. I have lots of elm on my land, so am in good shape for bow wood.

Jim Davis
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: mullet on August 27, 2012, 03:40:33 pm
Jon, sweet looking bow, I like everything about it. I think I need to play with two Elm staves I have.
Title: Re: Elm with a little bit-o-'curve
Post by: JonW on August 27, 2012, 05:37:59 pm
Thanks for the comments guys. I have used Elm in several different styles now and I can say it's good for any type of bow you wanna make.