Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 10:52:39 am

Title: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 10:52:39 am
     This bow is my first attempt at buckthorn.  I was given this fine stave by Mr. Badly Bent at the Classic last May.  Buckthorn is a delightful bow wood.  I had been admiring the buckthorn bows posted by Cody and Greg for some time now.  I was anxious to try one of my own, but had some things come up this past summer that kept me out of the shop for a while.  I really enjoyed building this one.  This bow hits hard with good manners.   Bow has limbs 1 1/2" wide tapering to 1/2" tips.  It is 65" nock to nock and draws 58lbs. at 28".  The bow weighs 18.25 ounces including the 12 strand B-50 string.  Thanks for the good stave Greg.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: DuBois on October 05, 2014, 11:01:59 am
Very Nice!
Is the back chased or just under the bark?
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: johnfolchetti on October 05, 2014, 11:07:33 am
Very nice work.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on October 05, 2014, 11:10:32 am
Real nice work Howard. I love a good piece of buckthorn as well, great wood to work with.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 11:18:34 am
Thanks guys.  The back is what's just under the bark and sanded smooth.  I started to flip the tips on it a bit, but it has a scary looking knot right where I would have attempted the bend, so I just left well enough alone. 
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: burchett.donald on October 05, 2014, 11:21:53 am
Howard,
             You done that Buckthorn stave justice...I like the pin nocks and your tiller looks excellent...
                                                                                                                                                  Don
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: osage outlaw on October 05, 2014, 12:25:29 pm
Very nice looking bow Howard
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 01:11:29 pm
Thanks Don and Clint.  I hated to finish it since we don't have buckthorn around here.  It is really pleasant wood to work.  I was amazed at how much belly wood you can remove and how stiff that stave remained.  Seems to have good compression strength. 
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Badly Bent on October 05, 2014, 01:19:26 pm
Man Howard you did an outstanding job on that stave, looks like a real fine bow brother.
Actually if I'm remembering right I'm pretty sure that stave had most if not quite all the sapwood removed and chased to a heartwood ring or very close to it. I did a day or two after cutting it and sealed it good with shellac. I cut about 4 trees that day and got around 9 staves, 5 of which checked beyond being any good.
3 I left the sapwood on and they survived, your was the only one I chased down. Think I'll try that on the next one I cut.
Again nice work Howard, glad you got a bow out of that sometimes finicky wood species. :)
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 01:25:50 pm
Thank you Greg.  I didn't do much to the back other than give it a good sanding.  Buckthorn is good stuff.   I have one more piece that you gave me that has a lot more character to it.  It may have to wait until after hunting season though.  I have been making up for lost time in the shop these days, but that will come to halt on the 15th!  I can't wait for the season to start.  :)   
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: simson on October 05, 2014, 01:58:29 pm
And another fine classy bow, you're a busy guy
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 02:47:54 pm
Thank you Simon.  Yeah, I was suffering from withdrawal symptoms since I had to take four months off for a surgery on my shoulder.  I didn't get into the shop all summer, so I have been making up for lost time. :)
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: bubby on October 05, 2014, 04:11:26 pm
nice , I love me some BB buckthorn although I had to chase the ring on mine and with my eyes that was a chore :laugh: great looking bow greg's a great guy aint he ;)
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 05, 2014, 04:40:26 pm
I hear you Bubby.  The rings on this stuff play tricks on my eyes.  Greg left me a nice ring of sapwood on this one and it was such a good stave, even a gorilla like me couldn't have hurt it much. In fact, I was confused by it.  Having never worked it before, I didn't know he had done that till he told me so! ;D  He is a very generous guy.  I got two staves from him.  This one was the clean beginner model.  We will see how I come out on the next one. 
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: missilemaster on October 06, 2014, 08:10:19 am
Me likes Howard, me likes bunches!
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Pappy on October 06, 2014, 08:35:43 am
Nice one,very well done. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: SLIMBOB on October 06, 2014, 08:49:52 am
Like this a bunch!  Very nice.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: lesken2011 on October 06, 2014, 09:26:05 am
Sweet bow, Howard! ;)
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on October 06, 2014, 09:41:30 am
Very nice bow Howard.  Great job,  buckthorn is on the list for things to try for sure.  You did a great job. 
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Stringman on October 06, 2014, 10:01:26 am
That looks sharp, Howard! Glad to see you stayin busy and workin out the kinks in that shoulder.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Klondike on October 06, 2014, 02:56:38 pm
Great job on that one!
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 06, 2014, 03:58:05 pm
Thanks a lot guys.  I sure had fun working on it.  Buckthorn makes a heckuva of a bow. 

Cody, if you like it I love it!  It was your buckthorn bows that started me to hankering to build one in the first place.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Arrowind on October 07, 2014, 12:20:14 am
Awesome bow!
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 07, 2014, 12:21:28 am
Thank you Arrowind.
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: Parnell on October 07, 2014, 09:24:36 am
Looks real nice.  I got got a couple pieces from Cody 2 years back, gotta give one a run for it's money!
Title: Re: First buckthorn bow
Post by: H Rhodes on October 07, 2014, 09:12:00 pm
Looks real nice.  I got got a couple pieces from Cody 2 years back, gotta give one a run for it's money!
Heck yeah, give it a go.  That would be a great way to break in that new shop.   :D