Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mikekeswick on March 23, 2013, 01:32:20 pm

Title: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on March 23, 2013, 01:32:20 pm
I decided I needed to make myself a new bow the other day. It's been a while since I made one for me and it was quite fun to search through all my staves until something jumped out.
The one I settled on was a 64 inch black locust stave with about 2 inches of perfectly balanced reflex. So I roughed it out and recurved the tips. The reflex then stood at about 5 inches....too much for a self bow in my opion. I then heat treated it a bit and bent in some deflex at the handle. It has the sweetest side profile ever! It looks like a lam bow form the side  ;)
I have tillered it to 20 inches so far, aiming for 26 draw. It hasn't lost any string tension at brace yet , if I could keep the belly this fresh out to 26 it would be smoking fast....but that is pretty much impossible....however I think this one has the potential to be my fastest bow yet....
Pics to follow.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: nathan elliot on March 23, 2013, 02:17:49 pm
Sounds nice, what lb you looking for?
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Del the cat on March 23, 2013, 02:40:51 pm
Oooooh ooooh pics pics you teasemonkey ;D
Del
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Cameroo on March 23, 2013, 03:09:13 pm
Yes, without pics your story didn't happen ;)
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: dwardo on March 23, 2013, 03:49:27 pm
Urry up with the pics then!  ;D
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: ionicmuffin on March 23, 2013, 03:52:19 pm
yep all of us hear cant believe without seeing lol
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: nathan elliot on March 23, 2013, 04:03:45 pm
OK I think we have all waited long enough, keep this up Mr Keswick and you will get a reputation as a pic tease 8)
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Josh B on March 23, 2013, 06:19:07 pm
OK I think we have all waited long enough, keep this up Mr Keswick and you will get a reputation as a pic tease 8)


Pic tease he says!  Now that's funny! ;D. Josh
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Dvshunter on March 23, 2013, 07:45:02 pm
Hey man got any pics?

No man. I don't.

Be a lot cooler of you did.

Lol still waiting for some black locust pics.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Badly Bent on March 23, 2013, 08:54:14 pm
Got my interest peaked, being a locust lover and all I'll be impatiently waiting for the pics like the others. >:(
Sounds like a sweet bow.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Cardboard_Duck on March 23, 2013, 09:18:42 pm
Hey man got any pics?

No man. I don't.

Be a lot cooler of you did.



Best. Movie. Ever.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on March 24, 2013, 03:58:29 am
Hey man got any pics?

No man. I don't.

Be a lot cooler of you did.

Lol still waiting for some black locust pics.

Like it!
Just hang on guys......this bow is shaping up so nice....camera on charge as I type.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Gus on March 24, 2013, 04:54:18 am
Watching...

-gus
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: keef on March 24, 2013, 06:31:02 am
 Mike
 Is that from one of those Scottish Black Locust staves? I have one in the garage left and plan on making a bow with it soon.
I have a load of BL trees growing on too that I plan to distribute in favorable spots around the countryside

Cant wait to see the pictures..All the best
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 01, 2013, 05:28:57 pm
Mike
 Is that from one of those Scottish Black Locust staves? I have one in the garage left and plan on making a bow with it soon.
I have a load of BL trees growing on too that I plan to distribute in favorable spots around the countryside

Cant wait to see the pictures..All the best
Good to hear from you again.
Yes it is one of those black locust staves. I've only got one left now after this one...it's brilliant wood! Maybe my favourite, I made my fastest ever bow from one of those staves but it was made a little too close to the edge (narrow) and after a good few hundered shots devolped the slightest crysal, I should have unstrung it straight away but I pulled it once mosr and heard a 'tick' pulled it a few inches to see if the cause was obvious and boom...it really blew  :o
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: blackhawk on April 01, 2013, 09:00:49 pm
I love the bend resistance in locust...and yes if you can keep it as healthy as possible it will make a smoking fast bow...you know executing design and tiller are the KEY to unlocking locusts awesome potential...I love black locust ;) hope you have enough width for 5" of starting setback ...that's a lot for locust,and the most I'll go with it
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Red Tailed Hawk on April 01, 2013, 09:55:29 pm
come on pics!!!! This sounds like a sweet one.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: soy on April 01, 2013, 10:25:44 pm
come on pics!!!! This sounds like a sweet one.


X2
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 02, 2013, 03:37:51 am
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010208.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010209.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010211.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010201.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010205.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010206.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010207.jpg)

So here it is (finally!!), black locust reflex deflex recurve , 51lbs @ 26, suede handle from my ex girlfriends horse riding chaps, cocobolo overlays, round horn arrowpass, finished with a 'customised' mix of oils.....and boy oh boy is she fast fast fast!
The limbs are 1 3/4 out of the fades for 6 inches or so then tapers into 1 inch and then to 3/8ths for the nocks.
I'll do a chrono test later on today  ;)

Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: nathan elliot on April 02, 2013, 04:32:58 am
You mean your ex girlfriend is walking around with a handle shape hole in her chaps?! About the bow though, I can see why you said it was your best stave! Really clean looking, you really did it justice! Is this one for keeps?
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 02, 2013, 04:37:19 am
Hehe! No, one day she said 'can you use these?' 'yup' was the reply!
Yes I think this one is a keeper, it shoots soooo well you barely even know you've let go of the string  ;D
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Del the cat on April 02, 2013, 04:46:35 am
Nice one Mike, I always think 50# is a good useable draw weight and she's pretty too :-*
Del
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: dwardo on April 02, 2013, 06:09:55 am
Great profile and full draw Mike very nice!
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: blackhawk on April 02, 2013, 07:40:03 am
Cool...looks smooth to me
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Pappy on April 02, 2013, 07:44:32 am
Good looking bow,should be smooth and fast. :)
  Pappy
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Badly Bent on April 02, 2013, 08:22:31 am
That is one smoking hot curvy locust bow there. Real nice and no doubt a pleasure to shoot.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: lesken2011 on April 02, 2013, 08:55:22 am
Nice bends on that one! ;)
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: johnfolchetti on April 02, 2013, 09:53:16 am
Beautiful......
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: richardzane on April 02, 2013, 09:07:21 pm
hey Mike,
THAT is a real beauty for sure. I'd be totally unnerved doing that much extreme steam bend at the tips,
but your end result is awesome.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Carson (CMB) on April 03, 2013, 12:11:44 am
That looks like a sweet shooting bow.  It is nice when they finish up shooting like that.   Very nice work. 
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: robtattoo on April 03, 2013, 03:44:59 am
Beautiful!
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....chrono results added
Post by: mikekeswick on April 03, 2013, 06:48:33 am
Here are the promised chrono results...... :)
To recap the bow is 51 lbs @ 26 and the arrow I was shooting is 450 grains so I make that 8.8 grains per pound
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010217.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010216.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010215.jpg)
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010214.jpg)

Sorry for the dodgy screen readout....a mis fired .22 caused that!
209.6
208.0
212.0
212.0
I think that's pretty darn speedy!
I will have to make up a 510 grain arrow and see what this bow does at 10 g.p.p. 
Anybody good at maths to work it out?
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 03, 2013, 07:07:54 am
Just weighed the bow and it is 18 ozs with handle and string. Floaty light in the hand  ;D
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Pappy on April 03, 2013, 08:24:02 am
That's almost unbelievably fast. :-\ Beautiful bow and a very exceptional shooter for that weight and draw. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 04, 2013, 04:12:57 am
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010237.jpg)

Thought i'd just add another picture. Can't have too many pictures! ;)
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: nathan elliot on April 04, 2013, 04:49:00 am
One day I would love to give that bow a try, just so I can see how slow mine shoot ::)
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: dwardo on April 04, 2013, 05:48:06 am
Lightning quick bow, very nice indeed.
Where did you say Mike lived again Nathan? Any idea what times he is out of the house ;)

Would be great to see a profile shot of the back of the bow if you ever get chance.

Thanks.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: ionicmuffin on April 04, 2013, 11:53:07 am
Looks can be deceiving, it looks simple at first glance, maybe nothing special, But then it sneaks in those extra 30+fps and just devastates the playing field lol  :laugh: Nice bow and sounds like nobody will be able to keep up with this one!
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: okie64 on April 04, 2013, 12:07:47 pm
That is a beautiful bow! Black locust has to be the prettiest wood in my opinion, besides osage of course.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: rossfactor on April 04, 2013, 01:13:59 pm
Schweet!  Seems close to perfect. You outta try a 10 gpp I bet she's pushing 190.  Which for a recurve self bow is off the charts!

Gabe
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: nathan elliot on April 04, 2013, 04:41:11 pm
Lightning quick bow, very nice indeed.
Where did you say Mike lived again Nathan? Any idea what times he is out of the house ;)

Would be great to see a profile shot of the back of the bow if you ever get chance.

Thanks.

Yeah I bet he has a secret stash of Osage too, lets do a raid >:D mind you with a bow that fast we don't stand a chance of making a getaway :o
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: BowEd on April 04, 2013, 07:49:53 pm
Very nice bow Mike.Like everything about it.Congrats on breaking the 200 fps barrier and then some.Seeing is believing although string weight etc. is not stated.What I really like about bows like that is that you can shoot a 600 to 650 grain old dogwood arrow in the mid 160s' at least for that added punch on a good shot on a deer.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Del the cat on April 04, 2013, 08:05:10 pm
Wow that's quick.
Del
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Badly Bent on April 04, 2013, 08:12:32 pm
 :o :oWOW :o :o
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Squirrelslayer on April 04, 2013, 08:29:05 pm
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/mikekeswick/P1010237.jpg)

That tree in the background looks like it has alot of reflex  >:D lol I cant look at a tree without seeing some kind of bow in it  ;D great looking bow
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Hamish on April 04, 2013, 10:09:19 pm
A fine piece of craftsmanship indeed.
                                                          Hamish.
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: simson on April 05, 2013, 02:10:52 am
You did a good job on a extraordinary stave! And that is pretty fast!

Great bow, Mike
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: mikekeswick on April 05, 2013, 03:58:39 am
Thanks for all the kind replies.  :)
The string weight for those shots is 192 grains. Single loop flemish twist with a bowyers knot. 8 strands of d70 (fastflight/dyneema).
I could make an endless string and get another couple of fps out of it..... ;)
I really will have to make that 510 grain arrow and she what she does with it. I think it's going to be high.
I might also dig out my bundle of flight arrows and go down the club....the field is 400yds long.....and it's a nice windless day here....
By the way Nathan i'm working on this bows sister at the moment...out of osage....lets see what the 'King' does with the same design! But no
I don't have an osage stash  :(
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Groza on May 06, 2013, 06:23:00 am
Mr Mike that is one heluva nice looking bow. I'm in love. I'm still total amateur when it comes to bow building, but black locust is my favourite wood. I can hear that one hissing through the air..My vote is definitely for this one. Deem, what a bow :'(
Greetings from Split, Croatia
Title: Re: My best stave so far.....
Post by: Buffalogobbler on May 06, 2013, 03:38:17 pm
Nice bow, I like the full draw pic.

Kevin