Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: half eye on June 27, 2015, 08:58:33 pm
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Needed to get away from "logging" for a bit so decided to build me a bow. This is dead standing Ironwood with a big list of defects. The finished bow is a very hard shooter at 59"ntn, 65# @ 26" (my max weight and draw). One of the members stopped by and seem very impressed after shooting it some....anyway enjoy the pics, and while your checking them here are some stats to look for.
HHB with red heartwood and really thin sapwood (very rare around here) so it looks sort of like Yew
The lower limb sets 5/8" ahead of the upper limb (messes with your tillering eye). The upper limb lever had a severe deflex at mid-lever (steam corrected) otherwise there were no corrections.
the following defects:
1. 9 knots
2. 6 checks
3. 18 bug track defects
4. 5 powder post beetle holes or cavities.
The only thing on the bow is some melted in bees wax.
rich
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close-up pics
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few more
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Great work on a shorty bow with that many defects, and a Mollegabet at that........ :o
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Awesome bow! I am in awe!
Also, you are able to draw a 65#er.
Good for you.
Jawge
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Thanks 101
George, ya notice it says "max". Takes a better man than me to hunt with it or do a 3-D course....about 4-5 at time is all I can muster (then I get to pay for it >:D) thank you for your words ....means a lot.
rich
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Nice work brother that is amazing with all the defects. I have never seen any hhb with that color scheme looks amazing.
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Awesome indeed! 8)
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Hey Rich, looks like you made yourself a "silk purse out of a sows ear"......sweet! And thanks for sharing. I've definitely got to try another one.
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So what's the ratio on that one Rich? Looks like about two refreshments / full draw to me :P
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Nice work Rich
:)
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Rich,
Damn fine job on that piece of wood, dead standing iron, knots, beetle tracks and checks! That takes talent bud :o...You had better have a good back stop if you plan on launching some Wild Rose from that monster...Beautiful character ridden bow man ;)
Don
P.S. by the way, shoot'n 65lb bows ain't what I call taking a break from logging bud...
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Strong bow out of a beautiful wood, I like the grain patterns of the heart wood. You did a fine job on that non perfect stave.
Would like to see the front profile, esp. the transition from limb to lever. I'm currently working on a lever bow too - I will try to kink the levers a bit in reflex.
Congrats on that bow, Rich!
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Thank you fellas, appreciate the comments.
Always....The area I'm cutting ironwood seems to have a few of these. I dont know why they are colored this way. The wood seems even more dense than normal and if it has the red heart wood it is usually not this far out toward the cambium. It was just too pretty to not try it.
Bushboy, Drewster....thank you gentlemen
Idaho, means a lot, thank you
Jon....ya hit the nail right on the head bud...except it takes 2 just to get stupid enough for the old man to think that jerkin it back is fun...and whole bunch more to keep doin it >:D this one may need a home
Don, you got no room to talk mister !!!! I seen that monster you created and you would have to scrape on it for a year just to get DOWN to 65#
Simon, thank you for the nice words....I will get those pictures posted later today sir.
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I like that bow rich....like the name even better. It looks like you could lighten those tips up a bit.
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Thanks ajooter...probably could but right now at the weight it's at doesn't seem to be an issue.....for me gettin it back is the issue >:D
Here are the pics you asked for Simon...2 posts w/ the last 2 pics being grip fades
rich
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grip fades
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Nice work with a rough stave. Really got away with some flaws on the back with that one! I also named my first hop hornbeam bow 'Iron Maiden'...haha
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Thanks bowmo....I called it that because it is an implement of torture when I shoot it ::) Personally I dont believe the bug damage goes below the cambium (except powder post beetles) and in nearly all cases I've run into they seem to have no ill effect of the bow so I dont look at it like "getting away" with something. The wood is really tough in my opinion.
rich
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Thanks for the great pics , Rich!
Do you feel handshock? I'm not familar with what you American guys call Molly, but always think the excess mass transport while drawing such a bow would kick in the hands ...
Let me hear your thoughts and experience Rich
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Glad you posted this one Rich! It was great seeing you again.
I'll witness to this one being an awesome bow from a piece of wood that most would burn, probably myself included. I shot it, and it shoots like a house on fire. Looks great with all that character too! Nice work Rich!
Tattoo Dave
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Really nice Molly Rich.....................
DBar
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Thank you DB....Dave glad ya like it.
Simon, I have never had any hand shock on any of these Mollegabet styled bows. I think most folks call them "Molly" as a nickname for Mollegabet. This style bow was found after the "Holmegaard". That bow was similar to an American Flat bow with stiff tips. The Mollegabet has well defined seperation between the working limb and lever elements.
The names come from the way the Scandinavian scientists name their finds....they are named for the nearest town to the dig. I'll post one other picture from the other computer with the artifact reconstruction for you.
(My opinion about the bows and working principles is) I believe that the levers being 50-50 or 60-40 working to lever length acts the same principle as a trebuchet where the working limb is the weight and the lever is ....well the lever. There is also the matter of the lever tip moving considerably farther in it's arc than does the working limb so the stresses are not as bad as one would think. ( this is like an arrow spine tester, the weight and arrow move very little but the tip of the indicator moves a long ways by comparison) Since the lever is notably thicker and heavier at the fade and quite narrow and thin at the tip I believe there is a very powerfull transfer of energy into the arrow just like a trebuchet does and actually the bows works a lot like that because it will give great cast to heavy arrows on the one hand and does not self destruct with light arrows. Like I said I have never had any issues with shock with any arrow weight...cast is very strong. One added advantage is that the levers if made long like the originals....give some advantage to the bowman to draw more weight than with a full compass, the longer levers also give greater safe draw length on somewhat shorter bows because they increase string length. All of my bows are for hunting primarily, and I have made some with reflexed levers....I dont do that anymore because if you reflex a couple inches you will not have string lift off at brace (more noise and vibration) so If you can make the levers reflexed in such a way as to gain speed but have the bow string lifted off the limb/lever at brace you avoid a lot of shock/vibration when the string comes back to battery.
Like I said just an old mans opinion so please take it with a grain of salt.
rich
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Simon, Here is the photo of the artifact (mollegabet) and also a picture of a molly I made long ago with flipped tips....notice that it had to have the working limbs deflexed to achieve the string " lift-off" at brace even as moderate as the recurved levers are.
rich
hope this helps
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Nice bow Rich. I don't have any experience with molly bows having never made one yet but I do have some experience with knots, bug tracks and borer holes. The few times I've attempted to fashion a bow with the two latter defects didn't work out to well for me, other than the fact that I wasn't injured when the bows exploded. ;D I think if I had tried what you just did I would have aimed for a 35# draw bow and I still would have flinched each time I drew it back another inch while tillering. Impressive work getting a bow out of that defect ridden stave, says a lot about the wood and the bowyer.
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Rich, I'm never disappointed with your posts. Thanks again
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Good work getting that kind of weight out of that stave. That ironwood is good stuff!
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Very nice from what looks like a questionable piece of wood. Good save. 65lbs Yipes!!! Maybe 20 years ago for me. ;) :)
Pappy
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B2...thank you but ya aint fooling me none I got one of your bows and it is all that I want (2-grunts)
Thanks chuck, means a lot from you.
Howard, my friend that is all about the wood....even a old blind pig can find a truffle with that stuff
(ya know I'm a 1960's registered truffle hound got my papers during the riots)
I hear every word of that Pappy, It took 4 beers just to get the pictures took, then everything got real funny....or was I drunk? oh well....I'll find her a good home.
Thank you fellas for the nice comments.
rich
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Rich, Thanks for the good explanation and the additional pics. I will come back to that post and study intensively. You know I'm just working on a lever bow / Mollie.
It's great to have you all here and getting that info.
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Rich,
gotta love it. Mine at 68" is fun. Now to do a 60"er fer sure.
I need to get pain in arms down first.
Dog