Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DanaM on August 13, 2007, 05:04:05 pm
-
Here's some pics of the fine piece of Tennese Hickory Pappy sent me, he actually sent me two. This one is destined to be a wedding present ifin I don't mess up.
My sister-in-law approached me about building a bow for Scott her daughters fiance, they are both in the US Air Force stationed in Iraq. I believe this is his third tour now.
I haven't met him yet but from what I'm told he loves to bow hunt. He's a compound guy but I'm hoping that when he gets this bow it will bring him over from the dark side ;D Anyway I asked on the forum looking for a straight dry stave as everything I have is recently cut. Pappy being the southern gentleman that he is sent me two pieces of sweet hickory for shipping only. Thanks Pappy. I'm going to do a build along so you can all help me not mess up :o I haven't been at this all that long and this will be my first adult bow from a stave, I've done about 20 from boards. I'm keeping the stave in the hot box at 85 degrees and about 40% RH. Please feel free to offer any advice that you can. I won't be rushing this and will post pics as I go along.
Hope you all enjoy my adventures ;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
One other thing is the stave is dated 7/4/06 I'm guessin this when Pappy cut it, could say its birthday
how appropriate for a serviceman. The wife took the pics of the deer out of her rifle blind last weekend.
-
Darn you Dana!! >:( >:( I can't be getting all worked up like this. Stop with the pics of wildlife! >:( ;)
possum
-
Wow! That wood is some of the cleanest I've ever seen! Are there any knots at all? Pin knots?
Sean
-
Not that I can see Sean.
-
Nice piece of Tenn hickory, Dana. Almost too damn straight. ::)
I'm looking forward to your build-a-long. You are already collecting medicine from Pappy and the lucky serviceman the bow is being made for. ;) Pat
-
You are making me hungry with the deer pictures ;D Can't wait to see the bow in progress
I know you will turn out a good one. :)
Pappy
-
Nice gesture, Pappy. DanaM, that is some nice wood which you certainly putting to good use. Good on you too. :) Jawge
-
Got her cut to shape now the fun begins rasp and scrape,rasp and scrape ;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Looks like ya got a good jump on it Dana.....That Pappy's a purty nice feller. Good luck....Brian
-
Looking good so far,won't be long now. :)
Pappy
-
Floor tillered and added a little reflex, will let it rest until tommow.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Still looking good.Looks like it might make a bow. ;)
Pappy
-
If I squint my eyes, I can see a bow in that piece of wood already! :)
-
I probably should make a new caul with a bit more bend to it. Hope to get er on the tillering tree today.
-
I took a few days off this project to work on some arra's but I got er on the long string today.
Heres a few pics first one is at rest second is with about a 4" pull on her.
Any advice at this point guys?
Last pic is fer fun.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Looking good,maybe a little off the outer 1/3 of the left limb,it is trying to bend a little more
right between there and the fades,one thing about Hickory is try and fix ALL problems almost
before they start if that makes sense,if you get a hinge it is almost already to late.So just go slow.inch at a time and fix anything you can as you go. :)
Pappy
-
Thanks for the advice Pappy, knew I could count on you for good advice. I'm taking her real slow like I said
this is my first real stave bow and its for a special occasion so I don't want to mess her up.
At this point its about 1/2" thick and I'm using a scraper only. I'll work on the stiff limb tonight.
-
Its really looking good so far. :)
Pappy
-
OK.... just call me nosey!! :D
What is the stack of material behind your tillering tree??? It looks like a pile of my neighbors brain tanned deer hides ???
Also enjoying your pictures and your progress.
Good work!!!!
-
lowell you refering to my trash bin piece of cardboard? I drew lines on for it reference points.
none to fancy, but free.
-
No not the cardboard, I ment the white material above the cardboard??
My neighbor makes deer hide look just like, white and soft as flannel. Thought maybe you did that too.
Sorry for the stupid questions :-[
-
No Lowell not stupid, the white stuff is the wall my basement is old the walls are made out of slabs of
limestone that were hammered out for the basement. Its a really crappy basement/workshop ;D
-
Dana, you probably are doing this already...but I would make sure I worked the limbs quite a bit between scrapping sessions never exceeding what you want your final draw weight to be. This will allow the wood to accept the changes from each scrapping session and allow you to trust what you're looking at. If you don't work the limbs enough, it can show up all of a sudden in the form of a hinge which you definitely don't want. I flex the bow on the tillering tree maybe 25-30 times or more between scrapping sessions. :)
-
Greg thanks fer the advice, I do exercise between scrapings but will make sure not to forget.
-
Didn't get to her today, up at 3am home from work 6pm, toough day. maybe tommow eh
-
Great job so far Dana. Can't wait for more. ;D
-
Lookin' good...just keep going like you are and that bow will be flinging arrows in no time! ;)
-
Managed to get a few minutes on her today.
1st At rest
2nd Small pull
3rd 50 lbs pull
Looks like the left limb took some set. Please give me yer opinions eh.
dang phone just rang gotta go back to work >:(
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Dana, Leave the inner 1/3 of each limb(near fades) alone and concentrate more on the middle 1/3 and out a bit from there. Pat
-
As the becoming bow is from hickory which is an excellent backing material, but not so good with compression I would maybe put some reflex into it with a heat gun so then the minor set will dissapear and the MC will drop dramatically which is good with hickory, and the belly will get harder and thus handle the compression better.
at this stage I would scrape a LITTLE of the midlimbs and tips and then go for the short string. When changing the string to a short one it will obviously bring the tips round more due to the pull on them.
of course I don't have to tell you to be gentle wit the bending after the heat if you will go for it.
-
Lookin good Dana - don't know how I missed this one. Wasn't online first part of this month. I've only built the one hik from a stave - didn't do any drying or heating, just let it ambiate in the house for a few months - seems like it takes a tad more set every time I shoot er. I'm learning right along beside ya ;D.
-
I induced a reflex initially do you think I should do it again at this point? My caul puts most of the reflex in the tips, after looking at
the bow again its regained what it lost. thanks fer the input I will work the mid and outer limbs a bit more.
-
Dana looking good so far,I usually put them back on the form at about 20 inches and heat the
belly then ,some say that is to late but I have found for me it helps.I will say with Hickory I
tiller in several stages and let it rest in between.I will get it braces and rest.Then out to 10/12 and rest then about 20 and rest and then finish to draw being sure to keep it in a hot box or
really dry place in between.Then when it is out to draw and I have shot it a few time I will let it dry again and put a few coats of sealer on it before I shoot it in.Doing all this I have never had any problem with Hickory and moisture and will keep set to a minimum.Tiller is looking good,What Pat said. :) :)
Pappy
-
I've been keeping her in a hot box Pappy, have to so humid here it would be a noodle by now.
Going to take half a day off today so I will get a chance to get it to brace, I hope. So much to do and so little time.
I decided to make a ladies bow with the second stave you sent Pappy it will be a matched set for Sarah and Scotts wedding,
which isn't likely to be until spring now. Thjanks for the input guys.
-
when i was almost done with my last hickory pyramid, i gave it a good belly tempering inducing reflex, starting at the fades but predominantly at the tips. let it recover for a week and finished the tiller. it gained a few pounds and still has some of the reflex. i'm quite happy with the outcome. just mentioned it, in case you want to try it.
-
Ok I will try reflexing it again after its closer to done.
No day off today one of my operators called in with a fake sickness >:( He will pay next week dont get mad get even eh ;D
-
Dana, don't get to worried about a bunch of reflex if this is your first. I know how bad you want it to come out, and it is already the start of a great bow. Just make sure you keep it dry. You can put it on the form and use a heat gun like others have said. But you can make a good bow without. I guess what I am saying, is do what you feel good about. If you are nervous about it, or if you get to preoccupied with it, it can take all the fun out. Enjoy it, there is no formula to follow for a good bow. Justin
-
Finally got her to low brace about 3.5"
Last pic is right after un bracing.
Any and all advice welcome. I don't wanna mess up.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
this is what my eyes tell me: the left limb is doing a little too much work at the near fade. the right limb has a tiny hinge at approximately the second third of the limb from the handle, and it should do more work at mid limb. just a little scraping and you'll be done mate. 8)
-
Looks perfect to me. Justin
-
I agree exactly with a Finnish native above. But nice job, it's coming along well.
Sean
-
Thanks guys, sure wish I had a better area to take pics, the lighting really sucks in my basement(dungeon)
I agree they are bending the same amount but not quite in the same places, not sure if I see a hinge though.
won't get back to it for a few days, I need to finish some huntin arra's.
-
Looking good, Dana. Just take it slow and steady.
-
Dana, I think what looks like a hinge is actually an illusion caused by the junction in the lines and the X right above the limb. You arent at a full brace height yet. Keep moving and do like Hillbilly said, "slow and steady." Justin
-
She's looking nice Dana, I want to agree with Justin about the hinge being an illusion, keep at her she's gonna be sweet.
VB
-
looking at the unbraced pics and the drawn pics tells me your doing real good. peace
-
I recieved an e-mail from Scott today and he says he has a 29" drawlength even after explaining to
him how to measure, I guess it just adds to the challenge eh :-\
-
I have 5 days off starting now ;D ;D ;D no hunting seasons open yet, forcast is for rain, rain, and more rain
Hmmmmmmm what shall I do with my time? ;D Only have a few honey do's ;D
-
Sound like a good time to finish that one up.Man I wished we could get some of that rain,its drier that a chip down here.Bow is looking good so far looks like you are taking your time and doing a good job. :)
Pappy
-
It may just be me, but I can't open your pictures Dana ???
-
hmmm don't get it did it same as always >:(
Lets try again eh.
Here's where I'm at 5" brace 50# at 22" Tiller is even at brace, right limb is a hair stiff, No hinges that I can see Looks like the last third
could bend a bit more. I took pictures while trying to hold er at 22" so their not perfect and the bow is sitting in the cradle a bit crooked.
What ya's think?
Weatherman is off again sun and 85 degrees, this could be our last hot day so I have to take advantage of it and get outside 8)
Going to build on a few deer blinds at a buddies, beer is after power tools are put away, well maybe ;)
As Pappy says "Life is Good"
All fixed Paul ;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
ahh, thanks Dana - I can see em now ;D. I'm no expert but I think your right - the right limb does look a tad stiff at halfway, but not by much! everything else looks perfect.
-
dana, here's a little trick i like to use occasionally (and i know it would be easy for you to use ;D ) when trying to judge how even the bend is, i like to overlap the limbs. a photo-expert like you should have no problem with the virtual tiller ;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Looking good Dana,I think if anything about 3 blocks out on the right limb may need a little something but other than that it looks great.Don't look like it is taking much set either.Only
7 inches to go.Slow and easy. :)It is probably close to 70@29 now so you have plenty to work with.What weight are you shooting for. :)
Pappy
-
Thanks guys, Marius thats a good idear, my wife is better than I at photo editing will ask if she can do that.
pappy anywhere from #55 would be ideal but anywhere in there is fine. Hope to get her shootin today.
I tried one of them walkie talkie stick and it worked pretty slick.
-
Marius/Dana, I'm not that cumputer savy. I just make the grip on my tree backing go a little higher so I can compare the bow from the fades to the tips. You just count how many lines out and how many lines down to a corner. Then see if the bow crosses at the same spot on both sides. Justin
-
I've got her out to 55# at 25", both limbs are bending nice IMO. I would put pics up
but batteries went dead have to get some later on. I'm going to reduce the weight a bit more,
do some handle work and start shootin her in, I will put about 100 arra's thru it and see where I'm at.
Pappy what did you seal the back with? Can I sand the back down to smooth white wood to get the cambrium off?
I haven't decided on a finish yet, I'm gonna see if my sister-in-law will spring for some snake skins which
also would be a first for me.
I'm also going to get going on the sister bow for the bride I have it roughed out and almost floor tillered. ;D ;D
-
Heres some more 55# at 28", I'm only pulling it 26" in the pic has about 1" of set after unbracing comes back almost even after resting
The brace is off a bit has a pos brace
Comments?
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Looking good.
-
Comments on bow only, I know my form is horrible, my left shoulder is a mess after season I may see about getting it fixed :-\
of course it was a surgeon that messed it up >:(
-
I was talking about the bow anyway ;D
-
Dana ,looking good.If it were mine I would reduce the width on the upper limb,not the thickness the width 10-12 inches to the nock (to get that limb to catch up with the other).My 2cents worth anyways,I like hickory.
-
Lookin good Dana, so whats the verdict on hickory? I haven't tried it yet.
VB
-
Look pretty dang good to me.You can sand it but kind of use the edges the cambin is usually in little groves and you don't want to take to much off.Sometimes that will happen if you just sand it flat.I use Tru oil.But and have had good luck but I don't guess it matters and long as it is something that will seal out as much moisture as possible.If you haven't done it already I would put it back on the form and heat treat the belly before I shot it much more and the fine tune the
tiller if you want.It really don't look bad as is.You got to remember it ant fiberglass it's wood.Same
? as VB what do you think about Hickory now. ;D
Pappy
-
I like Hickory very well it was easy to work and it shoots hard ;D Advice taken on the back Pappy.
If I toast the belly again do I have to oil it then cook it to a nice brown? Then by the time I scrape the
the belly clean again won't I be under weight?? Confused I am ??? ???
Thanks for the nice comments.
-
Didn't know,should have followed closer that you already done it. No it will be fine
like it is.Looks good. :)
Pappy
-
i likes it ;D
if you toast the belly, oil it a lot so it doesn't dry out and break. why would you want to scrape the belly clean? i think it looks really nice with the brownish shading. it brings out the grain even better. you could also give it a little reflex at this time. it will pick up a little weight and speed.
here's a toasted belly i did:
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
I already reflexed it once after floor tillering, I think I will leave it alone as it shoots nice as is
and only 1" of set I'm not going to complain. probably will narrow the tips a hair after overlays are done.
The brides bow is on the long string will posts pics when its a bit further along.
I have to decide if I'm going to put rests on ??? I prefer shootin off the hand but theri beginners what do all think?
-
maybe just glue on a sliver of leather that's just thick enough to hold the arrow.
it's not much different from shooting off your hand,, sort of a compromise...
simply a suggestion.
-
A floppy arrow rest will be most like shooting off the hand. It will stop the arrow from hitting their hand and make sure they grip the bow in the same place. Justin
-
Thanks persimmon and Justin, I think I will just sleep on it for a bit.
Have to finish tillering her bow anyway. Tip overlays on both also. Gonna use some of the buf horn from justin.
-
I haven't had much time to work on these bows, I have the tip overlays on Scotts and Sara's is almost tillered.
I want to name them and am looking for suggestions. So wondering if you folks can help.
Scott and Sara are both in the AirForce, both are in Iraq and will be getting married next summer. This will be Scotts first self bow and Sara's first bow of any type.
Come on guys and gals help me name them eh!
-
What about FlyHigh,no that would be a bad Oman for hunting even tho I do it a lot.
I will keep thinking.Glad to hear they are almost done.Can't wait to see the finished pictures. :)
Pappy
-
I usually always name the bows I make...actually they usually name themselves. The bow I built to hunt with this still doesn't have a name. When the right name comes along, I will know. Some examples of names I've used are:
"Trouble Maker", because of all the trouble I had while making her.
"Marilyn", Osage bow colored with chlorox.
"Holy Moly", osage with a hole in her upper limb.
"O Yew Guys", aka "Yew Guys", originally boo backed yew, now with an osage belly lam added.
"Cinco de Mayo", I cant remember is if was finished on May 5 or I was drinking Carona when I finished.
"Skinny Minny", 72"x 1" wide hickory backed osage.
"Lil Bow", the 48" osage bendy handle bow I just posted the other day...
...and even my Treadway glass longbow, "First Blood", first trad bow kill.
And then, I have built some bows whose names I can't mention in mixed company! ;D Pat
-
These staves from Pappy were so perfect and straight thatthey havent given me any trouble. ::)
As they are sister staves and intended as a wedding present I'm trying to come up with something appropriate ???
maybe something sappy like Love and Honor ? ???
-
There is a pair of bows going around the TradGang gang that are called "Faith" and "Hope". How 'bout "His" and "Hers"? ;D Pat
-
Tapio is an East Finnish forest spirit or god. Hunters prayed to him before a hunt. His wife is the goddess of forest, Mielikki. He was the father of Annikki, Tellervo, Nyyrikki (the god of hunting), and Tuulikki. He figures prominently in the Kalevala.
Mielikki is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is referred to in various tales as either the wife or the daughter-in-law of Tapio. She is said to have played a central role in the creation of the bear.
In the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic based on Karelian folklore, the hero Lemminkäinen offers her and Tapio prayers, gold and silver so he can catch the Hiisi elk. In another passage, Mielikki is asked to protect cattle grazing in the forest. In a country where the forest was central to providing food through hunting, gathering and cattle grazing, it was thought very important to stay on her good side.
-
Sounds good to me Marie, Actually this part of country has a strong finnish background. There is even a Finish college here in the UP.
Finlandia University.
-
since they are in Iraq you could name the bow(s) Turisas (an ancient Finnish god of war) and Ukko (the greatest god and the god of thunder in Finnish mythology).
You could also go for Thor and Tyr. Thor is a god of war and thunder in viking mythology and the son of Odin, the main god and Freya, the goddess of beauty. Tyr is mainly known as the god of war in viking mythology.
You could also go for Ahti and Ukko. Ahti is the god and the spirit of the sea and water, known also as the god of fishing in Finnish mythology
Marie: Have you red Kalevala? if not then how do you know all of this?
We Finns have a very strong bond to our ancient religion, despite the fact that the Swedish people came and forced finland into Christianity with the armys of the Christian kingdom. (the whole Europe at the time). It still took them almost 300 years to settle Christianity here. Finlands area was the last place in Europe without Christianity and with the heathen religions. You can see this bond for example in the major company names. The forest company is named Tapiola. One of the major banks is named Sampo. The item that Väinämöinen and his companions went to retrieved form Louhi, the witch of the north. Sampo was an item that produced wealth like no other. It gave endless amounts of salt, weed, and gold.
One of our biggest war ships in the 2nd world war was named Väinämöinen.
DanaM: I just found out that I have quite a few relatives in Michigan's upper peninsula from my fathers side. Talk about a small world huh :D
-
Nope the world ain't small anymore. I have an Uncle that goes home to Finland as often as possible.
I'm most likely descended about 1/4 from them swedes yer talking about ;) but mostly french canadian eh ;D
Think I'm going to take a c;oser look at that website Marie. Thanks fer the input both of you.
-
Thought you was out hunting ???
Pappy
-
Oh I went out but the gods saw fit to rain all over me >:( On my way back out it appears to have quit.
-
No, I haven't read any of that. I have always enjoyed mythology (the stories). When DanaM asked me to give it some thought I turned to none other than...
wikipedia ;D
I looked up gods and goddesses. I thought it would be meaningful to have a he/she bow names and something that had either a hunting or romantic meaning behind it. Maybe you can give Dana more info on those names. Gods and Goddesses from all areas of the world were listed with their meanings or purpose according to the people who believed in them. I thought it was very interesting and Dana could find a good pair or names off that list for his special bows for the special couple. :D
-
Dana,rain? going home? Oh my,that's the best sneaking weather here.You quit smoking,now it's time to tighten up. ;D
-
Eddie did I say rain I meant deluge as in I needed an Arc ;D
-
Thought I would provide an update, both bows are tillered and shooting, tip overlays are done, wrapping the handles today
all that remains is final sanding and finish. I should be out hunting but Marie's curse is so powerful that I haven't seen so much as a squirrel
lately :( Beware guys don't get on the bad side of Marie or bad things could happen :o Hopefully she will bless this project and all will go well ;)
Sorry no pics you have to wait until their done :)
I'm watching my great niece until the wife gets home. She wanted to know what I was building so I told her bows for her
mom and her fiance, she said cool can I have one, so guess what this will be a trilogy, how can I say no to a cute 8 year old ;D
I already roughed out a 48" maple stave so we shall see what I can do with it. They tell me kids bows are tough.