Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on April 02, 2017, 03:01:07 pm

Title: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on April 02, 2017, 03:01:07 pm
You may be asking yourself, "Why did he make a BL bow with nothing but sapwood?"

Well, the answer is, I wasn't going to. I had a 8" diameter log with only enough heartwood to make 1 all-heartwood bow so I split away the sapwood. I was getting ready to cut it up and through it in the woodpile when I thought, "There's plenty there to make a bow and I wonder how it would perform." So I made this one. It's certainly not the best bow ever, but I'm glad I made it. Here are some observations...

-takes a lot of set when it's unstrung after shooting, then looses a lot of it within 30 minutes or so
--the unstrung pick was taken 30 minutes after shooting when it had had time to recover
-feels kinda sluggish, but definitely shoots fast enough to hunt small game and/or target shoot
-heat treating the belly improved its performance fairly dramatically

stats...

58" ntn
40# at 27"
1 1/4" wide through the handle and out to mid limb tapering to 3/8" at the tips
tips flipped a bit with dry heat
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: osage outlaw on April 02, 2017, 03:08:38 pm
Nice sliver bow!
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: Stick Bender on April 02, 2017, 03:59:38 pm
Nice bow nothing wasted  :OK
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: JonW on April 02, 2017, 04:40:16 pm
Bending too much in the handle will make any bow sluggish. I know it's hard for me to get rid of something I think has a bow in it.
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on April 02, 2017, 04:55:48 pm
Thanks for the responses guys.

Jon, thanks for pointing that out. I can see it now  ;)
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: selfbow joe on April 02, 2017, 05:26:45 pm
Very nice looking bow.
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: DuBois on April 02, 2017, 05:45:19 pm
So would you do another one if you had another piece to work with?
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on April 02, 2017, 06:48:16 pm
So would you do another one if you had another piece to work with?

Probably not. Maybe if I was desperate  :-\
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: gfugal on April 02, 2017, 08:01:45 pm
I like the tiller shape! Well done for a less satisfactory material
Title: Re: all-sapwood BL D-bow
Post by: jeffhalfrack on April 02, 2017, 08:21:10 pm
Great looking bow,,as all ways!,,,let's watch this bow awhile?  Bl makes a great bow but if you don't get that sap wood off it could ruin the whole log!,,,,it's like two different trees not getting along!,,,unlike black walnut ,,,,thanks jeffw