Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: globalmark on May 08, 2019, 11:51:01 am
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Comments - questions - critiques and suggestions how can do anything better appreciated .
OK about a year ago i cut a few 4-5" diameter english hedgerow HAZELnut - this stuff is everywhere in the UK countryside - its about 11months kept debarked , split and made large staves - ends sealed with PVA and kept in Garage roof flat (same temp as outside)
Normally you can Make a English Longbow with Hazel and is supposedly pretty good - but i had enough English longbows with the Yew ones i made on other Post - so though see how they make a Flat Bow ...
not quite finished as putting oil on then wrap Handle .. but its Surprisingly a great Bow - shoots fast and accurate , very light weight and quite springy - also very nice to work with - used a Block plane after drawknife seemed to work better then a rasp - then file and sand ..
its only a light Bow as I wanted something my friends Kids could also shoot and was a experiment 23LBS and easy 30" but i like it even for a adult ..
couple pics and more will come when finished .
Pics
Log was cut from this 1 year ago - was already a fallen over but still growing little
Bow next to one the other staves
Bow and stave
Bow - brown bits are remaining cambium - as didn't do much to this outside layer
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Side profile
Temp string
Ironwood nocks
Tillering
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Filed - sanded 120 -240Grit then sanding sealer - and used Finishing oil (bit like danish but dries faster and is clearer)
Oak Arrow rest
Oak arrow rest - cut to same profile as handle
1st coat of Oil - did this morning can get 3rd coat on tonight before bed - couple more coats tomorrow then dry and handle wrap time.
better start making string for it ..
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Looking very good!
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Cheers Mate
Actually very nice wood to work with - a fast build also - helps that UK hedgerow Hazel can be fairly straight and not to many Knots - i have more staves this was my worst one - I always use worst stave first - for practice ..
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Mark,
I can tell from your post you had a blast...Congrats on the Hazel
Don
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Hazel makes a very very nice bow, i have a 35# hazel longbow that seems to be my main goto bow. Congrats on a fine bow.
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Tller looks pretty good! Congrats on a fine bow.
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HI Guys
Thanks for all the nice comments - I had no idea Hazel was such a nice bow wood - i knew was ok longbows - will have to make a few more as Hazel is like a WEED here so many straight logs and is commonly coppiced..
Fast to make easy to Tiller - like 2 days total at the most - what more do you want - yew bow takes a lot longer ..
This one very Light weight so next maybe bit more powerful one ..
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I've made two Hazel bows and noticed the same things. Likes a plane, doesn't like a rasp. What caught me was that it takes a lot of Hazel to make a bow. It will surprise you and come under weight. They like to be fat.
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Nice...
It prefers to be that style to being a longbow :)
Makes a pretty bow.
Del
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Nice Bow! :BB Hazel is good stuff generally but also lot's of variation within species - some staves like to chrysal badly. Hazel is extremly good in tension, but no so in compression. Likes to be heat treated and also likes to be speed dried. You can cut it any time of the year...Cheers
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HI Guys
Thanks for comments thats all interesting -
Sink- maybe next bow will heat treat the Belly - did that on a couple of Bamboo reflex bows and also looks nice - dry all my wood in rafters of garage as best space laying flat - but good to know can speed dry -
Del - prefers to be a Flat Bow ? OK -good to know i originally cut the staves to make longbows but must admit i like making all different styles - so probably end up with a few types , and here in UK hazel free and pretty straight ..
Fatter - check , yes i was surprised by low weight with almost 2" wides near the fades and still is fairly thick .. - did you make flat Bows also ?
Didn't do much today but decided on arrow plate for looks mainly as might stick bit of cow hide (with hair) - so cut the slot and inset a piece offcuts IPE makes nice contrast and a very hard so should be good ..- then couple more coats oil..
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Good work! I love hazel!
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Nice bow. Ishi used hazel for arrows for sure,and maybe bows also.
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Fatter - check , yes i was surprised by low weight with almost 2" wides near the fades and still is fairly thick .. - did you make flat Bows also ?
Yes
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Having made hazel flat bows and long-bows, hazel works better as a flat bow, but the heat treat is essential - it makes a huge difference in how punchy the bow is - I reckon a hazel bow increases range by 30% from a gentle toasting - the wood doesn't need to change colour to get this level of improvement but I can't stress enough how important this step is.
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That sure is a pretty tiller. :) Jawge
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Thanks Guys -
Stuckinthemud and DC - Next Bow will be Fatter and Heat treated - (heat treat JUST the belly Right on Hazel ) ?????
Bow just finished Now (apart from the string I still gotta make)
- yes seems - i also Love Hazel so might have to start another one now hahahaha this Bow making is addictive , none of the furniture i make is as much fun a table or a chair Practical yes but not fun but Bows well fun..
Hazel yes made some hazel arrows before from smallish shoots or whatever they are called - but this first and NOT last Hazel bow ..
i did cut the leather Handle wrap a little bit short but cant be bothered to use another bit of leather up its still ok ..
few more pics
Used Hot glue to stick on the Arrow rest cut a taper in end of leather (also glue that on with spot of Hot glue)- start wrapping
when get to end i cut taper in other end Make sure correct length (not sure why but i cut to short today ?)
wrapped and then tuck end in with tiny bit glue
- I also added some COW hide with Hair on - i know had arrow Plate but i like the way the bow is protected and arrows slide over the cow hide (hair on and hair in direction of arrow travel) , this stuck on with contact adhesive (spray can , masked of areas dont want glue)
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Bow finished Pics
and Me drawing Bow - seems not holding string in centre - but gives general idea'
72" long - 2" (46mm at fades) 16mm thick
mid limb approx 32mm wide and 12.5mm thick
near tips 13mm (1/2") wide and 9mm thick approx as wood not straight
Handle 4" + 2.5" either sides to the taper
23lbs @ 30" easy will draw much further if want
Super nice Bow to shoot - seems fast for 23lbs to me and lots penetration in my Target Box .(large box with as many layers cardboard inside i can get - seems to stop arrows just great stops my 80lbs bows also no dramas)
Question - I just started with Wrapping Handles like this did the stitch up mainly before - but not 100% sure what supposed to do with final end i just tuck them in with bit of glue - not many tutorials online as many people just do a thread wrap over the Tails -
if anyone knows a good tutorial link or offer suggestions would be great .. Thanks
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The bend looks even Mark...Looks like your 3" high on your drawing hand causing the imbalance...
Don
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HI Don
yes was more concerned taking pic with camera on timer then correct Hand placement also i never Kneel to shoot just garage door is low and colour id good for showing the bend .- also with temporary string no reference of the centre
But on the Tiller the bend is pretty good ..
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But on the Tiller the bend is pretty good ..
Mark,
I think the bend is excellent...
Don
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I like it.
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Thanks Guys - yes think my wood selection helped also picked a nice straight one with less knots to start really made it tiller nice ..
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I happen to have a lovely little English hazel flatbow. Poor thing got blown off course on a spring migration and landed, of all places, in Tennessee. I found the poor little bird being batted about my a naughty Cat and rescued it. Mind you, the Cat pretended he had brought it to me, but that is how Cat's are.
I noticed your comment that you start with the worst stave. So do I. Best to do your foolish mistakes on the least of the lot! When you get enough bows under your belt you will start to reach for the least of the lot again...but with a twinkle in your eye and leer on your face! >:D
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Very nice work! 8)
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Thanks for comments Guys
yes always start with worst staves - Have approx 20 bows under belt now all different style inc couple Glass and few Bamboo laminated - English long bow and try-laminated longbows
damn Bow building addictive