Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on September 15, 2014, 03:00:38 pm
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Here is the stave I’ve got from my friend Erwin (thank you, Erwin!) from Austria. It is a bit deflexed, 52” long, about 2” wide at the crown, has some avoidable knots and unfortunately one absolute not avoidable.
I first thought about making a replica bow (http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,48409.0.html), but gave up that idea and went for a free style design.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020789_zps7d1d04ec.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020790_zpsc94db4f0.jpg)
It isn’t wide enough to make billets out of it, so I decided to go for a short bow. A bow that short should be a bendy handle bow, which allows taking apart a belly split. First the ends got a new fresh cut to make the growth rings easier visible, next the split along the chosen ring was prepared with a chisel – the initial split is determining the splitting through. After the first opening I went with osage wedges, alternating one from the right, one from the left and so on.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020791_zpsadf6fbff.jpg)
ERC splits easy, so I can do second half of the job with only the draw knife, using it as a wedge.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020792_zpse96122f7.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020793_zpsc6acff37.jpg)
Everything went o.k. but the problem knot didn’t want to get loose. I turned back to wedges and had a hard work, I didn't want to violate the soft wood but that branch was tough. You can see the problem knot in the middle.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020794_zpsc8e90ca9.jpg)
I considered turning over sawing this part, but suddenly the upper part gave up and split apart leaving the little branch in the belly split.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020795_zps3524528a.jpg)
Here from the back
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020796_zps2c22ad55.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020797_zps26ade172.jpg)
At least I had two staves, a back split with a hole and a belly split with a … mmmh – a little branch.
Let’s call the two splits mom and dad.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020798_zps02c1008a.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020799_zps88301ef9.jpg)
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lmao good one
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Unbelievable- man you got some x-rated staves there! :o
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Looks like mom likes to be on top 8)
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Hmmm morning wood!! :o >:D
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Looks like mom likes to be on top 8)
Dad looks happy ;D. Looks like some wood with a challenge ::) ;)
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Great post, nice wood! :D :laugh:
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Would love to see what you could do with cedar
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lmao, this is great
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;D ;D Well played Simson!!
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Thanks for all the comments, guys!
Unbelievable- man you got some x-rated staves there! :o
Yeah, good to have some friends with staves.
Looks like mom likes to be on top 8)
That's for sure, she prefers the top position
Hmmm morning wood!! :o >:D
---morning star---- ;D
Looks like mom likes to be on top 8)
Dad looks happy ;D. Looks like some wood with a challenge ::) ;)
Dad is very happy! Let's see what I can get out of them ....
Would love to see what you could do with cedar
These are not the first ones, here is no. 1 + 2:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,40521.0.html
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,40525.0.html
They are both intact and ready to shoot
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Well, back again here. Had some trouble with the uploads to photobucket, not sure was it my account or the server broke down …. anyway here we go on
ERC is incredible light wood and very soft, it should have a backing. I will do a sinew backing on both. First some cleaning up, a rough ring choosing, some side cleaning to taper the width and at least reducing the thickness on some parts.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020800_zps82cc165e.jpg)
dad's back
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020801_zps6558bf5c.jpg)
mom's back
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020802_zps27b73efe.jpg)
There weren’t much to play with and the staves determined more or less the layout. This cleaning up was made very roughly and did last no longer than 10 min per stave.
I like to have some short flipped tips, or short statics on bows that short. I steamed in a little bend on both staves. Here they are laying side by side, from left to right: mom, dad, two plains bows with already the first layers on and an indian hornbow which needs some more sinew on one limb. The two ERC staves were carefully prepared with acetone and three coats of thinned hide glue.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020809_zps6cc02175.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020810_zps0679a4d2.jpg)
I will go for pin nocks, but this soft wood has to be strengthened with bone horn or at least rawhide/sinew. I found some horn leftovers, only 1-2mm thick – that’s enough.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020812_zps8331617e.jpg)
Forgot to take a pic of applying the little horn plates.
Next was the sinew job, sorry no pics from the process. Sticky glue on my rubber gloves and taking pics makes some trouble.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020831_zpsff55e573.jpg)
Both are now braced backwards with a cord and an old broken arrow or a stick while seasoning.
The cord will get slack in some time, then I replace the stick with a longer one.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020832_zps44573669.jpg)
But here is the result; I’m very satisfied how they came out. The sinew is worked around the hole and the remaining branch.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020834_zpsfeacdbb3.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020835_zps657ceb2f.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020836_zps724d673b.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020837_zps20670b2c.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1020838_zps5f4926e6.jpg)
Now I will let the backing cure a bit and then wrap the tips and the handle with sinew. I think one layer is enough for that light wood. I will do pics from that process, but then comes the patience part … I will continue in early November or so.
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This is a Knaughty post :laugh:
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too cool...and I have several pieces of ERC drying right now...I'll be watching this!
"Ya' done good!"
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just awesome!
i´d knew you were the right man for that stave!
;)
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Yeah, Erwin is here. Welcome on bord, great to have you here my friend. See this board also you're might interested: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/board,40.0.html
Secret:
(Erwin had made a bunch of very classy bows and also works on horn bows)
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Looks great...can't wait to see these two completed. the color in that ERC is so unique
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Can't wait to see more ...Simson.. :)
DBar
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Here is what happened with MOM N' DAD
The sinew job went o.k., tips and handle were sinew wrapped and some dark brown pigments were applied when glue still was wet. Both got a paint job with same pigments on the back in an opposing triangle pattern.
At least some muskrat fur strips on handle and tips and I call them dressed up.
Dad got the darker fur, mom the brighter.
Both are now exact 50” ntn.
Mom 2” wide, dad 1½”.
As it is in real life, mom is stronger part – about 40#, dad is about 32#. Both drawn to 27”.
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030181_zps0cfc5ab9.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030215_zps9409979e.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030182_zps047519b4.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030229_zpsefa4a310.jpg)
MOM
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030234_zps73376562.jpg)
DAD, we didn't capture the fulldraw with dad, sorry
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030237_zpsad354530.jpg)
should I've named them Ernie & Bert?? That nose …
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030213_zps775cb668.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030192_zpsf0eb8572.jpg)
Dad's pride
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030220_zpsa1b7fb30.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030195_zps0efe9843.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030194_zps599652f5.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030198_zps1f1020f5.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030200_zps04a30b74.jpg)
that color of ERC wood is stunning …....
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030212_zps38eb039d.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030210_zps511effda.jpg)
(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh576/orangesimson/1409%20erc%20mom%20n%20dad/P1030214_zps55d93536.jpg)
Notice: Dad's stick is drilled out on the belly side to about the middle thickness of the limb. That dead branches are very hard, much more than the surrounding wood. I wanted to avoid a pin hard like concrete on the compression side.
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Those finished up mighty sweet...really like the finish work.
Would you please explain a little more on how you did the coloration on the back?
Thanks
DBar
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very very cool, you accomplished a lot with that
chuck
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Excellent bows, Simon and excellent interpretation and execution on your part. When I first saw the finished pics I thought you had cut out the "v" decoration on the limbs but realized they were painted on and not cut out. :o
Very nice bows as always. 8)
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Missed these two somehow??? Very interesting build along Sir. I am always impressed with what you do. Splendid work!
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Amazing work as perfect as they come!
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Two of the coolest looking bows I have seen, excellent work!
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Again I am not disappointed at the amazing work of Mr. Simson! Beautiful! (along with humor as well).
The purple color of ERC is amazing...unfortunately the color is fleeting as it will eventually change to a rich golden brown unless someone knows a
secret finish that will protect from the uv. Maybe keeping it in a dark closet when not in use?
I like the color it turns to as well, almost a yew color.
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Those turned out awesome. Great job Simon
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Those finished off sweet :) never can go wrong with sinew on erc ;)
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Simon, being very new to building bows, I've really enjoyed seeing your posts and am inspired with your creativity and craftsmanship. Thanks for taking the time to share what you do......and do so well.
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Wow I love these bows, you are a true artist and craftsman Simon. Those two primitive beauties could go right into a museum. Outstanding work.
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Those are sweet. Would love to shoot one of your bows one day
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Those turned out great Simon. Love how you made them a matching set.
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Nice work Simson, love the ERC PNW style, that's purdy
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Gorgeous bows.
Del
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Beautiful bows, Simon. I really enjoy how you finished them up.
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Those finished up mighty sweet...really like the finish work.
Would you please explain a little more on how you did the coloration on the back?
Thanks
DBar
Not sure what you want to know.
The V decoration is simple painted on the cured sinew, paint is a homemede mixture from earth pigments + hide glue + a bit of soda. After the decoration has dried out, several coats of homemade hardening oil was applied. Hope I could answer your question.
Again I am not disappointed at the amazing work of Mr. Simson! Beautiful! (along with humor as well).
The purple color of ERC is amazing...unfortunately the color is fleeting as it will eventually change to a rich golden brown unless someone knows a
secret finish that will protect from the uv. Maybe keeping it in a dark closet when not in use?
I like the color it turns to as well, almost a yew color.
I have noticed the process of loosing the pink color can be stopped or at least nearly stopped. It depends a lot of the finishing material, my homemade mixtureseems to be the best so far.
But this two are number 4 and 5 out of ERC, so it needs a lot more of testing out ....
THANKS ALL
for your nice compliments
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I missed this! Awesome Simon :D
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Very nice. I would have considered using a thin blade saw to cut the knot when you were splitting but it actually turned quite well.
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Very nice work ,making something very nice from something that to most people looks like firewood. :) Love um. :)
Pappy
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That is a very good-looking couple! That sinew job looks so nice! The sinew wrapped handle looks great. Was that done with hide glue?
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That is a very good-looking couple! That sinew job looks so nice! The sinew wrapped handle looks great. Was that done with hide glue?
Yes Carson at handle and tips are wrappings from backstrap sinew with hide glue. The pigments are rubbed in when the glue was still wet.
Again Thanks folks, I appreciate your comments!
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Outstanding! ;)
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Nice work!
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BEAUTIFUL! As usual. NICE WORK!