Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: leonwood on February 02, 2018, 08:00:48 am

Title: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: leonwood on February 02, 2018, 08:00:48 am

This stave has a few knots on one limb and had a sideways bend in the middle but the other side is really clean. After roughing out I corrected the sideways bend in the handle with steam. It also has some twist but I could not get that out. The grain curves down in the handle section (still visible in the handle pic below). Because of this grain dip the stave was thinner at the handle so I glued some maple, walnut and bamboo on the belly.
Started the hollow limb with a large gouge and bent the recurves with steam just after first stringing.
The original plan was a 70/75 lb bow but halfway during tillering the large knot on the side split from the side (which I left extra wide for safety). I thought the bow was ruined! Examined the bow the next day and decided to fill the crack with superglue and rasped of as much of the knot and crack as possible. Now there is half a knot on the side, will see how long this lasts...
Lowered the draw weight about ten lbs for safety because there is stil a little of the crack on the side. Shot about 50 arrows to see if it holds up and then fumed it for 4 days.
Kinda liked how the handle glue up turned out after fuming so decided to leave it without a handle wrap.
 
// specs
Length: 64” ntn
Draw weight: #63@28”
Max width: 1.8”
Mass: 560 grams
Nocks: ipe
Handle: maple/walnut/bamboo

// side profile
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4711/40038809011_b793438034_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2416mZi)

// top profile
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4617/39140462315_acf32dc669_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22CH6Pa)

// braced
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4655/25167434107_9d5dc1ab4b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/EkXFkH)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4764/26165865918_6e006604fc_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FSbUkh)

// belly
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4702/28259790969_b6d1b4e4e9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K4dPik)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4678/39140653345_bd2dc90f8d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22CJ5AM)

// handle
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4723/28260191909_a99fb1f9b8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/K4fSu6)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4608/39329140584_75b05db3aa_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22Vo8hL)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4615/39329168624_a9e62f84f6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22VogCd)

// details
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4702/40039579271_4acf8c2381_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/241aiXD)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4759/39329582814_fa46a2e31a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22VqoKq)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4668/25168054097_95965d88fe_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Em1RDc)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4603/40006930102_b72b8d86d4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23XgYuW)

// full draw
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4620/26166725228_21a86d6d13_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FSgiLY)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4715/40039858221_a5f3dc2878_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/241bJT8)
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: tattoo dave on February 02, 2018, 08:28:50 am
Great looking bow. I love the handle as is also.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: bjrogg on February 02, 2018, 08:35:38 am
Another beautiful bow Leonwood. Looks like it has some life in it yet to me. Nice job not giving up on that one. Seems I have to do the handle like that to to save some staves. I think it looks nice. Those are some pretty narrow tips to keep the string lined up on. Interesting notch. I haven't noticed. Have you used that before? When I don't put overlays on I'm always afraid to violate the back for my notch. Maybe I don't need to be.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Trapper Rob on February 02, 2018, 09:17:15 am
Beautiful looking bow.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: ohma2 on February 02, 2018, 09:55:13 am
I dont care for the fumed look but that is one great lookin bow ,really like the accents in the grip area.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Pat B on February 02, 2018, 10:45:16 am
I love that color!  The tiller looks good too. Very nice.   :OK
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: High-Desert on February 02, 2018, 11:28:12 am
The finish makes this simple bow look so outstanding. Another great looking bow leonwood.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Hans H on February 02, 2018, 11:50:27 am
very nice bow! bend looks pretty good
Hans
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: osage outlaw on February 02, 2018, 11:50:33 am
That is a beautiful bow.  Great work!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 02, 2018, 11:55:48 am
Very nice bow.  Well done
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Aaron H on February 02, 2018, 12:47:28 pm
Awesome!  Very pretty bow
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Will B on February 02, 2018, 02:34:10 pm
That is a great looking bow!  Love the curves and the color.  Excellent!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: k-hat on February 02, 2018, 04:34:50 pm
Purty! I like the grip too
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 02, 2018, 06:00:56 pm
That's a beauty for sure. Congrats!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 02, 2018, 07:36:24 pm
Beautiful bow as always! Love color color the fuming gave it, how long did it fume?

Kyle
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: vinemaplebows on February 02, 2018, 09:12:45 pm
Very nice bow!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: BowEd on February 02, 2018, 10:32:26 pm
That's a sweet bow leonwood.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: kbear on February 02, 2018, 11:32:48 pm
Yup..... she's a beauty!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: leonwood on February 03, 2018, 02:43:00 am
Thanks for the compliments everyone!

Those are some pretty narrow tips to keep the string lined up on. Interesting notch. I haven't noticed. Have you used that before? When I don't put overlays on I'm always afraid to violate the back for my notch. Maybe I don't need to be.
Bjrogg

I do all my recurve tips like this and never had a problem. On this one I got lucky and the tips lined up perfectly after first brace despite having some twist in the limbs. On my previous bl recurve I had to heat one tip about six times before it worked out. Have shot that bow a lot in cold and hot temperatures and it is still perfectly aligned. I really love narrow tips on recurves, the combination with HLD and narrow tips makes them really quick  ;D
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: leonwood on February 03, 2018, 02:49:53 am
Beautiful bow as always! Love color color the fuming gave it, how long did it fume?

Kyle
Fumed it for 4 days with normal cheap ammonia. (Not that high concentration stuff)
Black locust really turns dark quickly, will try another one for longer to see how dark it will get.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: simson on February 03, 2018, 04:51:41 am
Love it, super nice bow. The surfaces are really smooth and the fuming does its part.
Congrats Leon!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Jan de Bogenman on February 03, 2018, 05:27:49 am
You did it again! Great.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: bjrogg on February 03, 2018, 05:45:06 am
That is a really nice combination Leonwood and certainly does look quick. Your recurve looks just right to. String seems to be coming off curve just right at full draw. Once again beautiful work.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: leonwood on February 03, 2018, 06:43:31 am
Love it, super nice bow. The surfaces are really smooth and the fuming does its part.
Congrats Leon!

Thanks, and yes this fuming really helps smooth the surfaces. You said it in your fuming thread but it is seriously cool to see it happen every time 8)
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Philipp A on February 03, 2018, 09:05:33 am
Like everything about that bow and the handle turned out awesome as well. I hope the knot is not causing you any trouble! You do great work and I enjoy all of your bows.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: Tuomo on February 03, 2018, 10:18:57 am
A very nice bow!

You should chrono this one. And do you have a image of the problematic knot? How much it took set? Is black locust native there or imported wood?
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: leonwood on February 03, 2018, 03:34:36 pm
A very nice bow!

You should chrono this one. And do you have a image of the problematic knot? How much it took set? Is black locust native there or imported wood?

Will chrono this one if the weather clears up a bit, no set yet but has only about 200 arrows throught it. On the other hand, it’s sister stave is a 66” long hld recurve drawing 60@28 and has no set after a few thousand shots.
Black locust grows around here and I have great success with heat treating in combination with a hollow belly.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: wizardgoat on February 03, 2018, 04:20:44 pm
Very nice lines, super clean work. Great job!
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: selfbow joe on February 03, 2018, 05:45:04 pm
Beautiful bow. Like the color.
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: M2A on February 03, 2018, 07:00:50 pm
Very nice bow! All around, from color to full draw pic.
Mike
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: timmyd on February 03, 2018, 07:59:54 pm
I tried to look up the fuming process and still can't visualize this. Is the bow immersed in the ammonia in a tube? or is just the fumes from the ammonia going into the sealed tube?
Title: Re: Fumed black locust recurve
Post by: DC on February 03, 2018, 11:34:30 pm
Fumes in a tube.