Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on November 30, 2016, 09:28:30 pm
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Here's one I finished up in August of this year. This was my first attempt at this style of bow, and I didn't research much so by all means, feel free to tear me a new one if there are things I could have done better. For me making mistakes is how I learn best. So here it goes:
65" ntn
1 6/8" wide from the fades until levers (20")
levers are 8" long, 1/2" wide at lever fades tapering to 3/8" at nocks
levers are 6/8" thick at lever fades tapering to 3/8" thick at nocks (too thick?)
65# at 27" (a little too much for me)
the wood was quite snakey, especially on the upper limb which is obvious from pics, which made tillering a challenge
the bow shoots quite fast- I was sinking arrows deep in the target bag from 50 yards (missing a lot too)
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a few more...
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I think it looks good. But I'm a beginner on making a bow.
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It looks a bit hingey near the handle, you should use a tillering gizmo? though the parallel limbs on molly bows might be better off with an elliptical tiller? Pretty much all my mouthing is theoretical though, very little experience :p good job, you actually made something that shoots! No handshock?
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Never made a Molly , buy I like the charechter in that bow @65 lb I would bet it spits a arrow pretty good congrats nice looking bow.
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There's a lot I like about this bow. Challenging stave. Levers not overly thick. Tiller looks good considering the side-view profile. I think the tips could be narrowed a bit. How much set did it take?
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I love the way the growth rings feather out in your handle area. I know its a molly but the limbs seem overly stiff midlimb towards the tips..it seems really apparent at brace. I noticed the same brace shape in your beech flatbow. Seems like you could get a lot more movement out of the outers on both bows.
Another ?...do you sleep..ever?!?! Or just make bows 24-7?!?! Im jealous...i havent been in the shop in awhile!
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It looks like most of your bend is happening just out of the fades. You might want to work on getting the rest of the limbs bending evenly on your next one. What is the brace height on your bow? It looks like it might be a little low. That looks like a challenging piece of wood. Good job getting a bow out of it.
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No malicious intent here but I see you've left the wood be what it was as far as undulations etc. before tillering and that's ok,but it looks like to me this stave would have been pretty easy to completely balance out heat shaping on a form before tillering,and still can be as far as I'm concerned.No propellers either to mess with.
The fade transition to your levers could be longer and a touch more streamlined look maybe even eiffel towered width reduced over a stretch of 4" for sure.Making it a little thicker as you do this but still working to compensate.That takes some tweaking and testing to get these right.These type bows are actually a little more work than a straight tapered type limb.Getting it to work more from midlimb to the transitioned base of your lever would give you a more rounded look bending.
Your cranking bows out I see and making different styles.Good.Your learning in high gear now and doing great,but mistakes will be made if considerations before wood removal are'nt completely thought out first.Just a normal learning curve everyone has to go through though.
Keep it up your doing great!!!
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Thanks to everyone for the feedback. :)
loon, aaron, ajooter, outlaw, and bead- I really appreciate your honest and thoughtful feedback. I knew there were/are things I could have done/do better and you folks have given me a lot to consider. This is why I love PA. How else would I ever get to learn so much from so many experienced people? I am truly grateful.
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I have stick I'm working on now that is similar in design and it was wavy in some areas a little more then yours and a u shaped whoopitidoo I tried form straitening for the first time & it came out fairly well your bow looks like a good canadate for it but have to say I like the charechter look of yours also.
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For some reason there are times when I just want to make a bow from the stave as it came from the tree, no heat bending, or straightening as you have done, and by my eyes it looks like you have it tillered fairly well.
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It's fun to see how bad you've got the bug. X2 on what Beadman's advice is regarding tiller and handlework. Try to find a way to get "in person" time with a mentor. Not sure about your area but you should plan on taking a vacation in the spring and drive to the TN Classic! It's worth it.
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Thanks again folks.
ajooter- I never would have seen that the outer limbs could work more if not for your observation. I'd like to attempt remedying this. Think it might work to taper the width towards the levers a bit?
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nice fine point suggestions on the tiller,,
you can see from the unstrung profile, you are not far off,, if the bow is a bit heavy,, you could fine tune the tiller as suggested without "missing the weight",,
I always feel like if the bow shoots great and does not break you are on the right track for sure,, nice bow congrats,, :)
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I think tapering your width on the levers will help but you will need to focus on tapering the belly of the working portions of the limbs before the levers to really round out your tiller. I would leave that kink in the top limb alone and just make a slight belly reduction after that kink. The kink os already giving you a natural deflex/bend. The lower limb you can work on a belly taper in a larger portion of the working limb. Im sure you will still have plenty of draw weight even acter tillering.
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^ Sounds like a plan. I really appreciate your suggestions. :)
Parnell, I most certainly have the bug, just ask the Mrs. :D You should see how many I've broken! :o
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I posted this bow a while back and decided to go back and rework it. It was pulling 60+ back then, so I had alot to work with. I tried to straighten out some of the wonkiness and get more bend in the outer portions of the working limbs.
I'd really love to hear what you think of it now, especially Osage Outlaw, bradsmith 2010, beadman, ajooter, aaron and loon, as you all gave me such great suggestions. All feedback is welcome though!
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That looks a lot better. I bet it feels better at the shot too. It looks real good.
Kyle
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The tiller looks much better.
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Thanks guys. It still pulls over 50#. I replaced the backing w/ cherry bark, touched up the shape of handle, and made the lever fades way more gradual.
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Looks a lot better.Nice job.Good thing you had plenty of wood to stream line it more.Looks great.
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Looks a lot better.Nice job.Good thing you had plenty of wood to stream line it more.Looks great.
Cool, thanks Bead. I think it's gonna look sweet with cherry bark and a new handle wrap. This bow helps me see how much I've learned in the past few months and it's all from getting feedback here on PA. To anyone who has yet to post their work here... don't wait to long... there's no better way to get better then to ask for feedback from these awesome bowyers!
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Looks better to even my untrained eyes. I hope you don't mind me asking but Earlier in the post you said "ask my wife how many I've broken" I'm wondering if you have made more shooters now than broken ones. It seams like recently you have put one pretty bow on this site after another. Your posts have been super encouraging to read for this cny guy. Shows there is some light at the end of the tunnel for me. Probably because I'm guessing your on the new side of this too, but turning out some impressive work. Thanks man
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Howdy Mulch. I still break them, but the ratio of failures to shooters is improving ;) There's definitely a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train ;D Just keep posting your work, think hard about the feedback, and take your time! Thanks for the encouragement. ;)
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Looks nice Im wondering how its shooting now probably just as fast but 10 lb lighter with all the improvments ?
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Ditto on Stick Benders question.
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Another reason I wish I had a chrony, but it certainly feels just as fast and way, way more comfortable in the hand. I'm way more accurate with it as well.
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I like it, although I still can not finish understanding that style
8) 8)
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Chronys are real usefull tools in my book they give you a real reality check & are fun watching your arrow speed pick up as your draw weight decreases do to improving tiller & lower mass !
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I like it, although I still can not finish understanding that style
8) 8)
I guess it is a "molly" so I'll change the title. There's info in TBB vol.2 on this style
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Personally upstate I don't really pay attention to styles really or any concern of it myself.That's just me.I can appreciate the effort of others who do though.I make it.I shoot it.I know what I like.That's why when I make these type of bows I just call them a bow with stiff levers.They make pleasant and accurate bows to shoot for obvious reasons.
Nice job on yours again except the top limb mid to base of lever could bend a scooch more but I bet it's where ,ore reflex is in and it's holding but still working some and I see it's where some natural reflex was too.It's something that really can't be seen at brace but only shows itself at full draw.Bottom limb to me looks good.
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Nice looking bow. Loos like it should shoot well.
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You make a lot of sense Bead. I know what you mean about the upper part of the top limb. Midlimb is right where that wavy part that I straightened was and it's been messing with my eye. As a result I've been hesitant to go too thin up there.
Thanks Bob. Absolutely love that HHB you made that's up on the board right now. Gave me a whole new appreciation for what a good finish can be. :)
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Okay, I hope you're not too tired of this post, but I finished her up and I thought it looked nice enough to share once more.
The backing is cherry bark
The handle wrap is seagrass
The overlays are cow horn
and... the bowstring is real!!!!!!!
oh yea, and it pulls 56# @ 27"
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two more
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Well done. I really like the look of that cherry bark. Those bark backing are starting to grow on me.
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I like the cherry bark also nice touch nice bow !
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Thanks to my NY homeboys 8)
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Wow nice, the bark looks great, contrasting well. Bet that bow shoots. Well done
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Love your work man...the bark and the handle wrap are killer. Bend looks good as well. For some reason your Brace heights always seemed really low to me. If that's a five inch feather on that arrow I would think you could up that Brace height. Of course this will boost your draw weight as well.
I made my first successful string tonight as well! It was a good feeling for sure.
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Great looking bow! Nice work.
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nice, like it
Hans
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That's a beaut bud.The style and the backing.
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Thanks again friends. Especially to Ed and ajooter, as your suggestions when I first posted the bow really helped me to understand this style. :)