Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Del the cat on November 12, 2015, 12:26:38 pm

Title: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 12, 2015, 12:26:38 pm
This Yew was a nightmare. The log had been supposedly seasoned for 3 years, I sawed the cleanest most reflex half of the log, but it was like limp celery, the reflex rapidly pulled out to become deflex and one end felt damp under the drawknife. I steamed it, heat treated it, stuck it on a radiator and did all sorts. Despite being a reasonable size log the central pith was rather close to the clean face. On the top limb there are two big knots coming out the side.
Here's a link to me talking about it on Youtube:-
https://youtu.be/DXsgUfNAqP0 (https://youtu.be/DXsgUfNAqP0)
There are other videos of it work in progress on there.
Here's a post on my blog showing some of the tricky features.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-longbow-detail.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-longbow-detail.html)
The leather for the grip is from a ship that went down in 1786! See this post:-
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-full-draw.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/knotty-yew-full-draw.html)
It's for a left hander, so there is masking tape round it above the grip where I've been shooting it in right handed.

74 1/4 ntn   76 1/4 ttt
50# at 28" but the guy who I'm making it for wants to be able to take it to 32" for roving shoots (I haven't taken it to 32" yet, I'm reluctant as it may only get taken to 30-31)
I've left it long and allowed some deflex at the grip to allow for the 32" draw requirement.
Del
PS I've added a pic that shows how there's a knot either side on that upper limb. It's two separate knots which come out from the centre.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: DC on November 12, 2015, 12:32:44 pm
Very nice Del, I always enjoy your bows. The leather is very cool. That top knot would give me the willies but I'll be a little braver now that I've seen it done.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 12, 2015, 12:47:35 pm
Cheers.
Jamie (Ravenbeak) saw the stave as I was working on it while he was over here.
Be interesting to hear his take on it.
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Pat B on November 12, 2015, 01:37:01 pm
She looks good in the pic Del. What is the draw weight?
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 12, 2015, 01:43:38 pm
A whisker over 50# at 28"
It's made for a guy who wants it to be capable of pulling to 32" (I suspect he'll only pull about 30-31")
It's at about 29.5" in that pic.
I'll add some stats to the post.
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: simson on November 12, 2015, 02:05:08 pm
Del, looks nice to me. But, hard to tell without unbraced, braced pics -  so don't be that lazy show us whole beauty. 8) 8) 8)

I'm interested how you position your bows on the tree, I assume it is the pivot point on the bridge and finger position at string. Do you watch the height of the tips when pulling or do you not worry about that and let the bow balance out?

This bow is assymmetrical (as it should), how much positive tiller did you?

I'm visiting your site from time to time, thanks for doing such great info!
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 12, 2015, 03:18:48 pm
If you look at the youtube vid you'll see the unbraced, and the braced etc is on the blog...
It's all there linked in the original post.
You want me to come over there and click on 'em for you? ;)
..OK here you are... just copied off the blog
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: sieddy on November 12, 2015, 05:49:14 pm
That looks like a grand bit of wood to me.Seems like you're making a load of fuss over nothing!  :P
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Bryce on November 12, 2015, 05:51:42 pm
Very nice mr. Cat 8)
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Carson (CMB) on November 12, 2015, 06:28:14 pm
Beauty! Gotta love a little character in yew.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: wizardgoat on November 12, 2015, 07:15:43 pm
Slick stick Del!
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Cloudfeather on November 12, 2015, 07:29:41 pm
Very nice, love the contrast of yew sapwood and heartwood. Speaking of, I was looking at a big auction site at some yew staves and saw some staves that looked to me like mid-grade at about 45 plus shipping. Any suggestions on what to look for as far as sapwood thickness, ring ratio, etc? Thanks.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Aaron H on November 12, 2015, 07:47:42 pm
Very cool Del, I would like to see some close ups of that leather, or is that in the link also?  ;)
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: dylanholderman on November 12, 2015, 07:59:28 pm
Nice work del, I have been following this on and off on your blog glade to see you got it behave  :)
And that leather is pretty wild, I never would have thought that a piece of hide that old would still be usable at all :o
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: riverrat on November 12, 2015, 08:37:39 pm
nice bow, nice tiller. Tony
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: bowandarrow473 on November 12, 2015, 08:53:20 pm
Very good!
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Tillstave on November 12, 2015, 09:37:04 pm
Del, Please help me contact other Bowyers here in the PNW. I'm not finding it easy to find others that are like you and I.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: JW_Halverson on November 12, 2015, 10:06:30 pm
That English wood is useless. Can't see why you persist with it.   >:D

Apparently Del is knot afraid to take a risky piece of wood to the tillering tree. But then, in his hands it's a measureable bit less risky than if I was messing with it.  Good work, Mr. The Cat.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: ravenbeak on November 12, 2015, 10:31:04 pm
I was fortunate enough to see this one when it was still mid build in England a couple weeks ago.  It was just onto a short string at low brace and tips were still temporary.   I saw it on the tiller pulling 50lbs at maybe 19 inches,  the tricky part is,  we were standing maybe 5 or 6 feet away.   It has come a long ways since!   I have seen my share of yew longbows,  and those two knots had me sitting a little uneasy.  One would have been one thing,  but the matching one on the other side was almost two much.    I think you did well to leave that area a tad stiff. 

I have to give a big hats of to you Del,  you really do some amazing work with some borderline questionable wood,  and though that,  I think you a master of the making it work,  and fixing it before it breaks.  I really do enjoy seeing your work.


Great story behind the leather -  I did a bit of research and it sounds like a bunch of it was reindeer hide.  that is just too cool,  and the tips,  be it pale bison or yak look stunning.

all the best,
Jamie
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 13, 2015, 03:00:29 am
Cheers Jamie,
I've added a pic to the original post showing the pair of knots from each side, for the benefit of those who haven't seen it first hand.
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Pappy on November 13, 2015, 06:44:32 am
Very nice bow Del with what looks like a very challenging stave. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 13, 2015, 09:09:37 am
Very nice, love the contrast of yew sapwood and heartwood. Speaking of, I was looking at a big auction site at some yew staves and saw some staves that looked to me like mid-grade at about 45 plus shipping. Any suggestions on what to look for as far as sapwood thickness, ring ratio, etc? Thanks.
I think that ideally you want about 3/16" to 1/4" of sapwood.
I don't worry about ring count, a good clean layer of sapwood is the most important thing IMO, with no nasty blue grey discolouration, bug holes knots etc. A few pin knots through the back is no prob' and knots on the belly aren't too much of an issue.
Thicker sapwood can be reduced, but it's a bit of a pain trying to get it down evenly to somewhere near a single growth ring (it doesn't need to be exactly single ring, but it's a nice aim)
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Del the cat on November 13, 2015, 09:10:33 am
Del, Please help me contact other Bowyers here in the PNW. I'm not finding it easy to find others that are like you and I.
Sorry, I'm in the UK, so I have no real idea about who is in the PNW.
This forum is the best place to be, maybe start a thread asking who is around.
Del
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: Ruddy Darter on November 13, 2015, 06:10:17 pm
Good going Del,
Great to see you prevailed through the problems to produce a crafty bow. 8)
Love the 'Poldark' period leather hand wrap and really suits this longbow, the history of it is fascinating, comforting to know the crew made it to shore...be something warming to reflect on if ever an arrow were poorly loosed.  :)

Ruddy Darter.
Title: Re: Del's Latest Knotty Yew ELB
Post by: TimothyR on November 14, 2015, 01:47:42 am
Well done Dale!  Beautiful work!