Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: John Scifres on January 25, 2017, 08:56:13 pm
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I didn't record any of the prelim work but the bow is 69" NTN, 1-1/4" for half the limb tapering to 1/2". Looking for 40-45 at 28".
At this point it was 43# at 28", maybe 1" of follow right off the string. It started with 1-1/2" of reflex. It's decent hickory, cut as a small tree last year, taken to near bow dimensions and been drying in a reflex form since. It seemed dry. The plan is to heat-treat after tillering.
https://youtu.be/5tDXvPD3IP8 (https://youtu.be/5tDXvPD3IP8)
It's a little stiff in the outer thirds and I had a stubborn stiff spot midlimb on the right (upper limb). I gave it about 20 scrapes and here's what happened.
https://youtu.be/RlCoazYoRjk (https://youtu.be/RlCoazYoRjk)
Still about the same. 20 more scrapes.
https://youtu.be/ie4KMY6oNyE (https://youtu.be/ie4KMY6oNyE)
Getting better. Maybe 10 more scrapes in the same spots.
https://youtu.be/CN5xZEtSAew (https://youtu.be/CN5xZEtSAew)
Left (lower) limb looked pretty good to me but I wanted to finesse that stiff spot on the right. 10 more scrapes.
https://youtu.be/7VgOgezfYu0 (https://youtu.be/7VgOgezfYu0)
Not bad, maybe a touch more.
https://youtu.be/6otxPXV1n3c (https://youtu.be/6otxPXV1n3c)
That's about as good as it's gonna get on the tree. Off to toasting:
https://youtu.be/27y_u6nsNfA (https://youtu.be/27y_u6nsNfA)
I gave it three days and then got it back on the string and pulled it by hand. She gained 7# and is at 50# at 28" now. She's 46# at 27", my draw length.
https://youtu.be/JiBpgsZoqT8 (https://youtu.be/JiBpgsZoqT8)
I'll shoot her in some and see how it goes. Feels really good just drawing her.
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I'm not a bowyer yet, but it looks good to me.
WA
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Is nice. Didn't have to pull it so much on the tree when it was bending too much near the fades, not enough in the outer limbs. But if it didn't take set or if it just shoots sweet with no handshock, you're good.
There's been discussion by the mods about how links are forbidden if they might have ads from those not paying PA for ads, but you could wrap them in [ code ] tags. It's kind of a grey area though, if those ads are not archery related... (you're most likely fine.. just in case..)
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Thanks.
Loon, ads?
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ie if youtube has ads...
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Oh. I see. I don't think my YouTube has ads. At least it never does when I look at them.
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Bending pretty nice John.
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Looks good, John. Brings back memories. :) Jawge
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Thanks for sharing your progress with us! Looks like it'll be a pretty sweet bow. I know the sapwood doesn't smell nearly as nice as the heartwood, but toasting the limbs most have made your shop/garage smell great!
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Good to see. Now I have to go sharpen my scraper after watching yours cut.
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Thanks all for the nice comments. I haven't made a hickory bow in probably 15 years. I forgot how nice it is to work. I love osage but man does it fight you compared to whitewoods.
I put a black dye on it to night. It looks pretty cool. I get some visuals up tomorrow. Got a knarly osage stave out of the attic and chased a ring. I love chasing rings! Very therapeutic.
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You used a stave? Or a board?
Makes me want to work with hickory
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This started out as the other half of a small tree. Here is the text from a post on TG from last year about it. I sort of forgot I posted this somewhere before:
I am helping a young man out with his 4H Senior Project to build a wooden selfbow. This weekend, we met at my family's lakehouse in Western IN to find a suitable tree. We ended up with a 6" hickory that yielded enough for 4 bows, 2 from the butt end and 2 from the next 6' section. Michael and I split the butt end and he is working one stave while I am doing the other half. We are doing this instruction remotely since he lives an hour away.
Here is my half, peeled of the bark, coated with wood glue, and ready to start. The first goal is to get it down to the smallest size I am comfortable with to let it start to dry. I start by squaring off the ends.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00237.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00238.jpg)
Measure and cut to overall length of 68".
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00239.jpg)
Mark Center from end to end.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00240.jpg)
Mark centerline along the entire length using a weighted string.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00241.jpg)
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Lay out and cut the bow.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00244.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00246.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00248.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00249.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00252.jpg)
Scribe a line for a 5/8" thickness.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00255.jpg)
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Cut to thickness. Carefull not to go to deep on the bottom. Angle the stave a bit as you cut.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00257.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00259.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00260.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00262.jpg)
Clamp it in reflex to a strong board and then wrap with thick packing tape.
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00266.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00268.jpg)
(http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r607/jdscifres/Laines%20Bow/DSC00269.jpg)
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Now that most of my synapses are firing on this bow, I remember some other things. This bow was supposed to be a lighter weight one for my daughter. It is 1-1/4" wide (I erroneously posted 1-3/4" above earlier) for half the limb. In accordance with my 'just do it' philosophy, I took this back up without regards to earlier plans. My daughter will forgive me, she knows who I am :)
It is now fairly well shot in, 50# @ 28" with 1-1/4" of set right off the string. It surprises me since I always made hunting weight whitewoods 1-3/4" wide. But I have not made a bunch of them so haven't really tested the limits.
I have pretty much concluded that if I* get a bow to near finished thickness before bending it, I get a lot less set. My ideal would be to never have to sneak up on tiller again. In other words, I wish a piece of wood could tell me exactly the thickness it wants to be for the weight I want. All along the length and width of the limbs. *Your results are quite likely to vary.
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nice to see you posting here John... miss spending time with you at MoJam. Great job on the bow BTW!
Bob
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Life is calming down for me with my kids mostly off to college. I'm really hoping to get back to mojam soon. Good to hear from you Bob. Take care.
I got one coat of poly on the bow and finished chatting the ring on a new Osage project. Been a fun day.