Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: Tyke on August 19, 2014, 09:45:31 pm
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I recently received a stave from loefflerchuck that will be a short bow so i asked chuck to give me step by step instructions for my build along so here we go here is the stave. what to do first chuck?
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I would decide what style bow you want. Reduce it to near finished, a little heavy so it's not too light after tillering. Make sure and leave extra wood around that knot. Floor tiller a little. Then steam or dry heat the bent limb so the tips line up with the handle center. Put a little shellac on the back of the part to be steamed to prevent little cracks from rapid moisture loss. I've made great bows from backs with these little cracks, but better not to have them.
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The five curve you built has caught my eye progress pics to come
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so I have decided to use dry heat to straighten my stave it took about 30 lbs to get hr straight what do you think
Tomorow i will rough out the shape and get it floor tillered
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Sorry i for got to post a pic
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Nice straitining method. I have not seen that before. Snap a chalk line to find center. Remember only the tips and handle center need line up. Other than that follow the grain. Reduce the sides to near shape, then work the belly down to heavy floor tiller. When you got that we will figure out the 5 curve..
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I was only able to start the shaping ill get the handle and floor tillering tomorrow
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Sweet! Tips still look a little wide for the fastest style but better to leave them wide incase we pick up a little deviation in our final shape
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Ive got it floor tillered and shaped th handle left it fat on the belly of the handle
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The only tool's I've used up to this point is my heat gun and ferriers rasp
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Looking good. How do you plan on doing the 5 curve? I usually bend the tips by hand and foot and then the handle over the knee. If you want to cut out a form that is a fool proof way to go though.
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i will probably make a caul so i keep it straight and center i have also built a steam box like the one i built you 3x3x58 with a cap and plat forms to keep it out of the water i will get on building the caul and get steaming ill repost in a couple of days
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Here is the caul and steam box
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First steaming try fail ill have to remove more wood off the belly to get it bending easier
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be careful with that extrene center bend! That may be too sharp of a bend for the wood to stay in one piece. This would turn into a takedown build
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hope this is better
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Thats better.
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so I hope this is salvageable but when I woke up this morning there was a crack on the belly about 8 inches long doesn't look too deep though
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Thats why we have sinew and rawhide. when moisture excapes too fast from a stave this can happen. That is why I mentioned shellac on the steamed part. I only use it on the back though and your crack is on the belly. Putting the steamed stave in a cool humid place for a bit after bending keeps this from happening. I have a sinew backed bow with a crack running up 22" of a limb. Still shoots 3 years later. Maybe start by just reflexing the handle. After heating have one tip on the ground and hold the other. With your other gloved hand push the center into a reflex. If the crack gets bigger stop and it will just be a recurve later. Pretty advanced shape for one of your first bows but lots of good lessons here
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so when I got home to take a look at it the crack wasn't that bad so I put superglue on it and when it dried I tillered it down a little bit more here's what it looks like after failed steaming
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Back,belly and crack
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Im only using one of my homemade cabinet scrapers til im done with bends and final tiller
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I think you should go with a more mellow 5 curve bend. I would not attempt as much bend as you have in that form unless I just cut down the tree last week
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Small bend in handle deflex in limbs will do tips next
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Looking good! I like the shape. Ya, put some recurve in the tips. When they are heated enough you can feel they want to bend. If it feels like they don't want to bend heat them more. I would at least wrap the crack with sinew or rawhide
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Time for the finish tiller i really like its profile
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I like that shape
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Tillered out at 45#@24
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I did pull it to 27" but only plan on shooting it at 24"
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Wow! Nice bend. I can't even tell where the knot is.
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What would you do next chuck back it with sinew or skins
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I only use skins to protect sinew. you need a real reason to back osage, otherwise it,s better without it. I say leave it natural.
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Well ill oil her up and get some full draw pics
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Here it is the finished product left it natrual buffalo leather handle
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So whats everyone think
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Not surprised at the outcome. You do good work.
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I can still see them.
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Great execution!
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My bad i was trying to rotate one and removed them all for about 30 seconds
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Haha! jokes over. You just messing with me telling me you just started building bows? Wow! Glad I gave that stave to you. In the end the wood decided what kind of bow it wanted to be and I'm glad you listened. I need to step up my game.
Well done sir!
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Thanks chuck
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It shoots very nicely too!
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It shoots nice but i shoot garbage literally all i hit was the garbage cans behind the target im to big for little bows