Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Chad on September 19, 2014, 01:02:07 am
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Hi all, So I'm starting to put the finishing touches on my mollegabet and I have the back of the handle area pretty square, not rounded off at all. It isn't the most comfortable. I was curious if it is okay if I round it out just a bit??? Make it a bit more ergonomic. Thanks.
Just to clarify I am talking about the back of the bow, in the handle area.
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I am not the expert that many are here, but I would say yes. See if others agree
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No problem as long as you leave say a 1/2 inch strip down the middle of untouched wood. Or you can glue on some leather/suede etc to the back and then round that over. Or a combo of the two!
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No problem as long as it don't bend in that area. :)
Pappy
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Please show us pics of what you are talking about.
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No problem as long as it don't bend in that area. :)
Pappy
I agree. I round mine right off. Never had a failure doing so.
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Yep, I round everything off. Nothing left square or uncomfortable.
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Here is how I round out the back of the handle. I use thick leather, cut a 4" rectangle and shape it...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebow2011overlays002.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/TGtradebow2011overlays002.jpg.html)
...then I soak the leather in warm water to make it more flexible, add TB glue to the leather and back of the bow handle and put them together. Next I wrap with rubber bands until the glue sets(usually a few hours)...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebow2011overlays004.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/TGtradebow2011overlays004.jpg.html)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebow2011overlays003.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/TGtradebow2011overlays003.jpg.html)
...and here it is once the bands are off. After this I shape the leather so it transitions smoothly to the back of the handle.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TGtradebowoverlays001.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/TGtradebowoverlays001.jpg.html)
Once it is all cleaned up I like to use hemp cordage for a handle wrap like this. You can see the filled out bulbous handle in this pics. It really fits the hand nicely...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/TwoTips002.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/TwoTips002.jpg.html)
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Very nice Pat, that looks fairly easy too! Patrick
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Very easy, Patrick! You can also use cork, thick rawhide or layers of thinner leather. I guess you could even use wood if the back is flat enough so you get good mating for the glue joint.
If you have a shoe repair shop, saddle/tack shop or leather shop in your town they probably have these pre-cut shoe soles or thick skirt leather.
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I round all my handles on the back and belly. I make them perfectly round for the 4" handle section that will be covered with leather and fade out the round portion gradually into the ends of the fade. I make my fades a bit longer than most folk so this gives me a graceful transition.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/bowhandlerounded_zpsbf5c1382.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/bowhandlerounded_zpsbf5c1382.jpg.html)
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I round the backs of my handles every time, sometimes leaving only a quarter inch of the surface of the back ring intact. Something else I do is leave an extra ring on the back of he handle so I can roun it completely and even do some forming. If all else fails, glue on some cork ;)
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wow great replies! Thanks everyone. I saw some very cool leather wrapping in the how-to's section I might be doing.
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I wish I had info like this when I started to finish my first handles! Patrick
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I round the back off on bulbous handles.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Snapbucket/2DAC16E6.jpg)
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I was thinking about the same thing. I don't suppose it would hurt if the wood is not under much tension there... I will probly not round mine much because I don't grip the bow hard anyway.
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Very cool, Osage! When do we get to see that bow?! Patrick
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Very cool, Osage! When do we get to see that bow?! Patrick
I posted it last month ;)
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Another thing you can see in my picture; I see so many added arrow rests that leave a big hump under the leather for an inch or so down the handle. I feather the rest into the grip as shown in my earlier post so it ends up invisible under the leather.
Here is an example;
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/special%20bows/gilsbowhandlebelly.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/special%20bows/gilsbowhandlebelly.jpg.html)
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that looks great! I hope mine looks half that nice! I rawhide backed it and need to do some serious blending, my rawhide job looks like a toddler cut it out.
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Handles fascinate me;
For those of you who end up with a lumpy, uneven handle when you try to round it, go to Lowe's and buy a contour gage(about 6 bucks).It will tell you if you have everything rounded off properly.
It works great to even your fades and check the side to side wood removal on your limbs as well, especially on round belly bows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/contourgage001_zps4527c413.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/bow%20making/contourgage001_zps4527c413.jpg.html)
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Thanks Osage, I guess I missed that one I guess I'll have to look it up.
Very nice Eric I will have to attempt your shelf, I'm fixing to do one in the next couple of days. Patrick