Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: GB on August 30, 2015, 12:45:58 am
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Last fall I made this bow from a red elm board. It didn't turn out great, took too much set midlimb. I heated some reflex in it and was flipping the tips when I noticed small cracks along the wood. So I stuck it back up in the rafters. I couldn't bring myself to toss it because I'd backed it with cherry bark and I liked the way it looked.
A couple of weeks ago I rasped the elm down and glued a 1/4" Osage lam on the belly. It's 65" long and draws 45 pounds. Pretty average speed wise, but it's a nice shooter when I can manage to get my form together.
The handle is maple with a little curl to it.
(http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/cbarkbow4_zpsttoznzrp.png)
(http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/cbarkbow3_zps03dhwojz.png)
(http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/cbarkbow2_zpsuwr04enh.png)
(http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/cbarkbow_zpsuqqdgqcu.png)
(http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/cbarkbow6_zpsy3wwefl7.png)
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Nicely done sir. In my experience red elm tends to take lots of set. I didnt know it would handle an osage belly however. Looks like you done it and done it good at that. Nice craftsmanship. I like it.
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Nice save... :)
Del
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Very nice job on your part, I have never had luck with red elm. Beautiful tiller job!
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That's a nice bow... regardless of how it got there.
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thats a beautiful piece of work right there!
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Nice bow and wood combo. Red elm will take some stretching and osage will take some compressing.
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I like the cherry backing.
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Nice save!
I've done this a few times with good results. The cherry bark is helping with the tension.
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Very well done......
DBar
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Awesome bow, nice save! Patrick
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Nice save!
I've done this a few times with good results. The cherry bark is helping with the tension.
Does it really?! Seems weid to menbark has a viable tension strength. It seems so thin and brittle.
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Looks great, nice save.
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Way to see it through. That turned out really nice.
Nice save!
I've done this a few times with good results. The cherry bark is helping with the tension.
Does it really?! Seems weid to menbark has a viable tension strength. It seems so thin and brittle.
Sleek, cherry bark has incredible tension strength.
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Thanks Carson. I've found that out first hand. I think it even adds a bit of performance...but it is a specific cherry bark, not just cherry bark in general.
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Thanks for the kind words everyone! It means a lot to me coming from this group. I don't know how many times I've looked at the bows you guys have posted and thought "Man, I wish I could craft a bow like that."
I was surprised by how strong and elastic the bark is, too. I got it from Carson @ Echo Archery and the cane handle wrap as well. I put aniline dye on the wrap to give it a bit of a weathered look.
Thanks again! :)
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Carson has high quality products, his cherry bark is very good. He is highly recommended as a supplier by me.
Grady
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This is an approach that should be considered anytime a belly fails less than catastrophically.
We always hear "You can take wood off, but you can't put it back." That's not true. You just have to take some more away and then put back more than you took, and retiller.
I've got a lot of Osage that is not good enough to make a bow, but works perfectly as a belly lamination. I've backed it with elm and with hickory. Almost any wood is three times or more stronger in tension than in compression. So, Osage can be a new belly on lots of woods.
Jim Davis
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Uh oh, this is giving me ideas...I was just thinking of ways to fix a nice elm bow I screwed up!
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Nicely done
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good job on that. I like to play around and try to fix things and make things work as well.
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That rework paid off nicely, looks like a fine bow.
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Thanks again, guys, it's very much appreciated!
I like your thinking, Jim, especially because it's so hard for me to throw in the towel on a bow that I really like. I know that I probably could have made another one in the time that I spent rasping, tapering, and getting this one glued up, but I'm glad I went this route and am happy with the way it turned out.
Good luck with yours TimBo!
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good save. i have one standing in the corner of shame that i will do up the same way, eventually ::)
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Good save, looks like a fine bow now. :)
Pappy
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Well you just took the long way around to a beautiful bow. Well done