Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: cadet on September 21, 2015, 08:46:29 pm

Title: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: cadet on September 21, 2015, 08:46:29 pm
(http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt146/cadet450/IMG_1496_zpsqxoxtznn.jpg) (http://s606.photobucket.com/user/cadet450/media/IMG_1496_zpsqxoxtznn.jpg.html)

Red oak board, 70" ntn, 55 50lbs at 28".  3/4" x 1 1/8" at its thickest and widest, tapering down to 3/8" x 1/2" at the tips.  The last one I made from a similar board feels like a sluggish brute - much wider through the hand, and heavier limbs; this feels light, lively, lithe.  After roughing with a draw knife, I did most of the work using a concave-bladed spokeshave, so it has a rounded belly.

My latest toy - a Shinto saw rasp - came in the mail yesterday.  I'll see what I can do with it next.

I also had a quick and rough play yesterday with some Murray pine/white cypress/Callitris glauca, making a wide, flat, short bow (more like a crossbow prod than a bow) from a fence picket that drew a lot of weight at a short draw - 4' long, pulling 60+lbs at 15" - just to see what it - and I - could do.  It's lovely stuff to work, and smells beautiful.  I made it explode this morning, but it's a timber with some promise, I think...
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 21, 2015, 08:49:53 pm
Great job, you are getting the hang of it!
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: paco664 on September 21, 2015, 08:55:22 pm
looks awesome to my very untrained eye... congrats
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Badger on September 21, 2015, 09:01:03 pm
  Beautiful ballance on the tiller, a slight flat spot about mid limb in both limbs. Still a beautiful bow and very well balanced.
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Ardent on September 21, 2015, 09:10:43 pm
Good work on getting so much weight from a 3/4" thick board. I tried my darndest to make the heaviest I could and managed 45# on my most recent one. Really nice arc of a circle bend on yours. I look forward to seeing more of your work! I am also a fan of ELBs, so keep 'em comin'!
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: DC on September 21, 2015, 09:11:39 pm
Good job!
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: cadet on September 21, 2015, 09:14:48 pm
Thanks for that feedback.
Now that you say it, Badger: yes, it does look a little flat there.  I had terrible trouble with a hinge about 3/4 out on one limb as I approached full draw; I think once I'd sorted that out I was loathe to do too much more; I wanted to keep the weight up.
Now that I've said 55lbs, Ardent, I better check my scale; my crappy little spring balance may be getting a little slack?
The other thing I forgot to mention - and I'm very pleased with - is that once unstrung, it relaxes to under 1 1/4" of set.
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Ardent on September 21, 2015, 09:26:32 pm
I didn't mean to question you about the draw weight. I've only just made my fourth bow, so I'm no master at coaxing every last pound out of a board.
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: cadet on September 21, 2015, 09:27:40 pm
No, I'm happy to be questioned: I just went and checked, it is running about 5lbs slack, so more like 50lbs...
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 21, 2015, 09:33:01 pm
1 1/4 in set! Great!
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Badger on September 21, 2015, 10:15:51 pm
  I would be very happy with the tiller you have. I was just looking for something that would make it not perfect. LOL>
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: George Tsoukalas on September 22, 2015, 04:15:35 am
Very nice! Jawge
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Del the cat on September 22, 2015, 05:05:31 am
Nice :) Just held a CD up in front of the pic.... lovely full compass :)
That's good from a relatively short (for an ELB) bow.
Del
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: Pappy on September 22, 2015, 05:22:06 am
Very nice work, nice bend and I bet it's a sweet shooter. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: I think I'm getting the hang of this...
Post by: sweeney3 on September 22, 2015, 10:54:30 am
That's a hunter.  It looks like it will well comport itself in the woods.  Nicely done.