Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: make-n-break on May 23, 2017, 09:28:38 pm
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It's been a while since I've posted one up! Here's one I finished this week. It came from a Hackberry split I've had seasoning in bow-blank form for about 2 years or so. It was a clean stave with a slight natural reflex/deflex profile. This one started out at 66" long but I misjudged the initial thickness (forgot hackberry had to be thicker!) and it came out at 38#. I piked 3 inches off each end making the final length 60 inches. Then, I heat treated it twice. This brought the finished weight up to 53# at 28" and it settled in at 50#.
The limbs were left intentionally offset making the bow nearly center-shot. Only one heat correction was made to a really wonky tip. I've been experimenting with this style and so far I like it. The arrows are bamboo with turkey feathers and 16 penny nail blunt tips. I whipped up half a dozen more but three is plenty for the pic :)
I've never tillered anything other than a flat bow so this was definitely a challenge for my eyes. It took me a while to be happy with the bend. I was still kind of iffy about it while it was on the tillering tree but once I took it off and shot it in, it was completely dead in the hand and had nice cast so I left it alone. This might be my deer hunting rig this fall. I prefer a heavier bow but this one is a lot of fun to shoot!
Heat treated Hackberry
50@28
60" length
2" width until 10" from tips
3/8 tips
Slightly working handle
String nocks are wrapped jute fiber
String is 8 strand FF
Finish is Mission Oak stain and BeesWax
(http://imgur.com/S9mpkqQ.png)
^^^ Hard to see the yellow string, but this is the string alignment pic. That little black dot is a knot, not the arrow pass. Top limb is facing down.
(http://imgur.com/euFBwnM.png)
Top limb is facing up in these two.
(http://imgur.com/2vgKq1d.png)
(http://imgur.com/8Lht9JY.png)
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(http://imgur.com/JhZ2OSZ.png)
(http://imgur.com/6prBuyj.png)
(http://imgur.com/bnSDb4m.png)
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I burned a little spot for the arrow pass with a finish nail.
(http://imgur.com/ffkX7h7.png)
(http://imgur.com/jMYPS6T.png)
(http://imgur.com/EC56M6O.png)
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And of course...
(http://imgur.com/jEKayiA.png)
(http://imgur.com/kftZksV.png)
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Nice execution on this one. I like the way the grain is highlighted by the tempering.
I've not made a hackberry bow yet. I have seen lots of good hackberry bows so I have no excuse.
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Nice bow man! I like the bend you got, and pat's right that grain is beautiful. Cheers- brendan
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Really like the look of the wood grain highlighted in the handle pic! Nice bend!
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Very nice job, love the color and tiller looks good . :)
Pappy
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Really nice hackberry ...arrows aren't too shabby either
DBar
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Your giving that one a workout. If you are keeping that unstrung profile I would be very pleased, and going out and cutting more hackberry.
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Very nice bend make-n-break. I really like the grain of that hackberry, it reminds me on ash.
Bjrogg
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The bend looks really good. Very nice job. I haven't made a hackberry bow either but need to. It looks like the grain really can pop on hackberry.
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Good looking rig. Nice job on the tiller and holding the shape.
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Good work on the hackberry.It held up very well.Good tiller and poundage.Good starting so wide I'd say.I've never worked the wood but do have staves seasoning now.It must really take the heat treatment good.
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Great looking bow MNB, tiller looks very nice
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Love the simplicity! Bet it shoots really nice! (SH) (SH) (SH)
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Thanks for the kind words gentlemen. I appreciate the positive feedback. I like the way the grain popped out too.
Pat B and Swampman- You guys should definitely give hackberry a try. It's easy to work and makes a pretty snappy bow IMO.
rps3 - the unstrung profile pic was taken after final tiller. It had more reflex at the start. It also lost little bit more after shooting a couple hundred arrows but settled back out to an acceptable amount of set. I felt like I was stressing it pretty hard so I was ok with it! I've got a few more really nice staves seasoned and ready! This is my third hackberry and I'm a fan.
Beadman - Start wider and thicker than you think you'll need. Heat treating is a must in my experience. A couple thorough heat treatments take it from so-so cast to nice and snappy. It also smells like buttered popcorn when you heat it, which I enjoy! haha
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Nice . . . and, given wt/draw, soooo short! Hope to see it at MoJam.
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Very nice hackberry bow the arrows looks good to.
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Great job bud. pretty looking bow.I love making hackberry bows..
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Now that's primitive!!
I love it man-great work!
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What's the deal Pat B? Aint ya got no hackberry wood?
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nice bow, I like the simple design,, (AT)
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Really nice
x2 on what everybody said.
(SH)
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Spot on tiller, I need to try hackberry one day
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Thanks again guys! I appreciate the positive feedback!!
Mike... I have unfortunate news... I will miss MoJam again this year. Luckily this time it's not under such extreme circumstances, but instead a 10 day backpacking trip in Wyoming. I'm gonna have to catch one of the fall events this year!