Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Parnell on February 02, 2015, 03:16:49 pm
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I've got my first Elm stave finally going and I really love this wood, so far. It is definitely tough stuff and the stave has some whoop-dee-doos but putting in my recurves went beautifully. I built two new forms like in this photo but I hardly had to put much pressure on the bends and the wood just "noodled" into it without any splinters or even stress fractures. Really impressed with it.
I'll keep this thread going with the progress on the bow. I hope it shapes up nicely.
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Hi, did you use steam or some other heat source for assisting in the bending?
nice bend
Garry
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Nice hook Parnell
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Dang! That is some really nice looking basil you got there. ;D
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Hi, did you use steam or some other heat source for assisting in the bending?
nice bend
Garry
Crisco and a heat gun for the heat.
Thanks, Bub. The other side went well, also. Not quite as neat because of the kink in the wood but that being said, I'm super happy with it. I'll post the progress soon. Got welding class tonight so maybe tomorrow and it'll be later in the week 'til I can get back to it.
Falcon, we got that picnic table for Christmas and it's pretty nice to sit out there and eat in the evenings and pick the basil while you eat. Gotta love winter in SW Florida. ;D
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That is going to be sweet Par Par!
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Nice!!
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That's the way to make a recurve ;). I'm a fan of big hooks. The smoothness of draw is unequalled
How wide did you make the working limbs,and how much length of working limb do you have? Hope ya got enough to take all that stress ;)
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Looking good so far........looking forward to the next pics.
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That's the way to make a recurve ;). I'm a fan of big hooks. The smoothness of draw is unequalled
How wide did you make the working limbs,and how much length of working limb do you have? Hope ya got enough to take all that stress ;)
This is real similar to an Osage I did last spring, Chris. 70 inches long so there is lots of room. 1.25" currently out of the handle. Haven't really defined fades yet. I gave the Osage away as a gift but missed the design...like you said...smooth!
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I ain't your boss or anything Steve-o, but at that width Id keep that 68" ntn you have brewing.
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Think she'll run too narrow? That's all I could pull with the stave...we'll see. What do you think would be ideal for Elm at that length?
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Its not too narrow IMO if you keep your length. I like 1 5/8" plus for whitewood bows in the 64-66" range.
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Very nice, I like winged elm a lot, it makes a very tough bow, just keep it dry, It is as bad or worse than Hickory in the taking on moisture aspect. :) that should make a beauty.
Pappy
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Very nice, I like winged elm a lot, it makes a very tough bow, just keep it dry, It is as bad or worse than Hickory in the taking on moisture aspect. :) that should make a beauty.
Pappy
Very interesting, Pap. Good thoughts guys, thanks for the feedback.
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In for the show :D
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Think she'll run too narrow? That's all I could pull with the stave...we'll see. What do you think would be ideal for Elm at that length?
I know you didn't ask ME, but I work with elm a ton. To me, that 1.25" would be pretty narrow if you factor in the wood and how long/big the recurves are. Skinny bows with big recurves are often hard to get stable. BUT, leave the length to avoid excessive set between the recurves and the handle, and to prevent breakage.
You are right about the feel of the draw on those, though! LIKE BUTTAH!
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Very nice, I like winged elm a lot, it makes a very tough bow, just keep it dry, It is as bad or worse than Hickory in the taking on moisture aspect. :) that should make a beauty.
Pappy
That's interesting. I haven't noticed this in other elms, but maybe that's due to where I live, too.
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Where are you Springbuck?
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I thought it odd myself, but pappy lives in Humidsville, TN.
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Utah. Not too hard to dry wood here.
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Lucky. Dry bows are happy bows.
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That's correct pd ;) happy happy dry dry
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I would have bet good money that those hooks would have had to be steamed in. Shows what I know. When I start working more of my elm I look forward to it being so pliable. Will be watching.
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I would have bet good money that those hooks would have had to be steamed in. Shows what I know. When I start working more of my elm I look forward to it being so pliable. Will be watching.
Impressed me, too, but you can do a lot if you get it thin to start with, slowly heat it well, and crank into position at the same time. I bent the heck out of some black locust once that was 3/8" thick.
Yeah, we had a humid spring two years ago that lasted into June and it really threw me off. I couldn't figure out why I suddenly was havinjg a whole different set of problems.
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Hi, did you use steam or some other heat source for assisting in the bending?
nice bend
Garry
Crisco and a heat gun for the heat.
Did you use Crisco all the way around and heat all the way around, or just the back of the bow while clamping it down?
Thanks, Mark
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SW Florida is a different beast from Utah in the humidity department'. It'll be interesting to see how it does.
Russell, I do coat the whole limb in Crisco before I heat it.
My heat gun has a temperature dial and I set it medium and slowly work in the heat all around the limb so it penetrates. Certainly, I don't concentrate the heat too much on the back of the bow but I do glance over it and the sides, but the belly gets the lion's share. Make sure the limbs aren't too thick, as stated. That was my biggest mistake when I was starting out. Sand everything perfectly SMOOTH and go!
Did a little more scraping last night to get the blank closer to ground tiller now that the recurves have changed everything.
Here are some pictures. Also, you can see how the whoop-dee-doo influenced the recurve, but it looks pretty good to me.
Check out my neon pink and chartreuse arrows with tamarack shafting. Should match up well.
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NICE!
OneBow
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Looking good Steve. :)
Pappy
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Look'n good can't wait to see it finished.
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This has me wanting to try elm. Looking good Parnell.
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That's a mean looking profile. :)
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Those are some amazing hooks you put in with a heat gun. I have a hard time just flipping the tips with white wood. Going to try dialing the heat down on the next one after reading your post. That's going to be a great bow.
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looking good buddy, looking good. danny
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Like the looks of those hooks. I've worked with some winged elm and can vouch that its good stuff. Reminds me a lot of a heavier version of hackberry.
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Nice hooks steve!
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Oh my! You got some serious hooks on that baby. I'm looking forward to seeing her yanked all the way back! Josh
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Watching with interest, looking really good so far
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Buffalo horn overlays.
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Lookin good!..... Brian