Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: swamp monkey on September 10, 2012, 05:29:54 pm

Title: Mulberry milestone
Post by: swamp monkey on September 10, 2012, 05:29:54 pm
This is my first mulberry bow and I enjoyed it immensely.  It was easy to debark, enjoyable to work , took virtually no set and shoots well.  Its reputation of being a lot like Osage orange is true it is simply less dense. 

This started out as a bow for my daughter.  I had it tillered down to 35 pounds at her draw length.  But she spied a black locust bow I that had tillered to a hunting weight, but had not finished.  She wanted that one instead. 

What’s a dad to do?
So I cut an inch of each end.  Re-filed the nocks and checked the tiller.  Here are the final stats
TL =68”
NTN= 67”
Handle is 1”x1”
Fade width = 2”
Nock width is Ύ”
Limb thickness is ½”
43# @ 28”

A little minwax stain and three coats of tru oil to seal it.
Leather and flannel trim with dicron wraps to dress things up a bit. 

Now I need to finish that black locust bow.   ;)
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: swamp monkey on September 10, 2012, 05:34:50 pm
a few more pix. I will try to get a better full draw pic once the sun is not so harsh.  By the way this was all done with hand tools.  hatchet, drawknife, spokeshave, file and scraper.
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: rossfactor on September 10, 2012, 05:54:09 pm
Great bow, classic pyramid shape. Nice tiller as well.

Gabe
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: boughnut on September 10, 2012, 06:16:17 pm
sweet bend on that on and all around very nice.
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: lesken2011 on September 10, 2012, 08:33:18 pm
Nice job, SM!  8)
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: Deo on September 10, 2012, 09:21:08 pm
That is a very nice bow as well as some pretty wood. If my plant tax class paid off I believe that fig, Osange orange and mulberry are all in the same family.
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: Fred Arnold on September 10, 2012, 10:04:44 pm
swamp monkey, I like the looks of the mulberry. Are the limbs width tapered from the fades through the entire length and did you maintain the 1/2" thickness or slightly taper to the nocks?
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: Arrowind on September 10, 2012, 11:06:59 pm
Looks good! Nice work!
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: Pappy on September 11, 2012, 08:30:17 am
Beautiful bow,very fine work. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: BowEd on September 11, 2012, 04:08:11 pm
Beautiful bow.Mulberry has been my huckleberry in the past.Good job and with hand tools.
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: swamp monkey on September 11, 2012, 09:48:14 pm
Quote from: Fred Arnold on September 10, 2012, 10:04:44 pm
swamp monkey, I like the looks of the mulberry. Are the limbs width tapered from the fades through the entire length and did you maintain the 1/2" thickness or slightly taper to the nocks?

I did taper the limbs straight down from the fades to the tips.  The grain was straight enough to allow that.  The bow is equal in thickness all the way down both limbs.  Just a smidgen under 1/2",  even the tips.  I let the tiller be the guide for thickness.  I think the pyramid design makes tillering work equally like that - all other things being equal.   


Thanks for the the many kind words ya'll.
Title: Re: Mulberry milestone
Post by: Sidewinder on September 12, 2012, 02:01:43 am
Nice job on that Mulberry stave Swamp Monkey. Tiller looks excellent.  Danny