Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gordon on February 28, 2015, 05:04:09 pm

Title: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Gordon on February 28, 2015, 05:04:09 pm

A few months ago I was complaining about the unruly nature of vine maple and how that took some of the fun out making bows out of it. Vinemaplebows responded that the vine maple up around his parts is quite well behaved relative to what I was describing and graciously sent me 2 sets of billets to see how I like it. Well after making a bow from one of the sets I have to say that I like his wood just fine. In fact, this was the first vine maple stave that I was able to use a card scraper for final tiller without tearing my hair out (in case you're wondering where all my hair went, now you know!). Anyway, the bow is 60" ntn and pulls 55# @ 27". The handle is dyed elk hide and the tips overlays are some kind of South American hardwood. I got lazy and used a wipe-on gel urethane for the finish - it's so much easier to apply than anything else I've ever used. The bow is for myself so I didn't fancy it up any. And thank you for the wood VMB, you're living near a treasure trove - looks like I'm going to have to come up there to visit!

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280005-2.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280005-2.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280018.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280018.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280019.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280019.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280022.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280022.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280030.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280030.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280032.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280032.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280033.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280033.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280040.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280040.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280001-3.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280001-3.jpg.html)

(http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy217/gferlitsch/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280010.jpg) (http://s793.photobucket.com/user/gferlitsch/media/Vine%20Maple%20Bows/O2280010.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: ionicmuffin on February 28, 2015, 05:04:57 pm

Beautiful bow! I always admired your work Gordon!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Stoker on February 28, 2015, 05:07:32 pm

Simple, clean and well tillered.. What's not to love about that.. Well done
Thanks Leroy

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: osage outlaw on February 28, 2015, 05:16:56 pm

That is a beautiful bow Gordon.  Your work is always so classy looking. 

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Aaron H on February 28, 2015, 05:18:51 pm

Gordon, I just love seeing your beautiful craftsmanship.  Your finish work is top notch even though you didn't "fancy it up any"

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Swampman on February 28, 2015, 05:57:48 pm

Another beatiful bow Gordon.  Vine maple makes a great looking bow.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: missilemaster on February 28, 2015, 06:18:10 pm

That looks really clean for vine maple. Looks great!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: vinemaplebows on February 28, 2015, 07:02:41 pm

Gordon,

                      Your bow turned out great! I wanted to point out that this set, and the second set are from SAWN billets, splitting is fine, but sawing is the way to go in my opinion. :) Wait till you get to see the osoberry I just cut.... :)

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 28, 2015, 07:06:43 pm

Nice bow Gordon. Ive heard about vine maples swirly grain and anti-scraping attitude!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on February 28, 2015, 07:09:16 pm

Very nice, really like the graceful lines and shaping of it in the back and side profiles. And as usual in your bows it has that smooth tiller that will put a person in a trance if you stare at it to long.
Nice color as well, is that natural or did you use something on the vm.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: ajooter on February 28, 2015, 07:09:19 pm

Another beauty!  Like the plain jane finish...if you can call it that.  Gorgeous in all aspects as usual  :)

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Gordon on February 28, 2015, 07:29:57 pm

Thank you ionicmuffin for the nice words.

Thank you Leroy, I appreciate the compliment.

Thank you osage outlaw.

Thank you Falcon, I like to keep my bows simple when they are for my personal use.

Thank you Swampman. Vine maple is a wonderful bow wood, second only to yew and osage in my book.

Thank you for the compliment Swampman.

Thank you missilemaster. This vine maple I got from vinemaplebows is uncharacteristically clean compared to the wood I collect around here.

Hey VMB, thank you again for the wood. I too saw all of my vine maple. If you don't you lose at least half of your staves to excessive twist.

Hey Pearl, the vine maple I collect locally has lots of swirly grain and is terrible to scrap.

Thank you Badly Bent, I appreciate your nice compliment. I used a golden brown dye to stain the wood. Vine maple is so white it is almost too garish to leave it natural.

Thank you for the compliment ajooter.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Danzn Bar on February 28, 2015, 07:33:23 pm

Sweet bow Gordon,  Really like the full draw profile.
DBar

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: GB on February 28, 2015, 07:40:41 pm

Lovely to look at (and to shoot, I'll bet).

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Arrowind on February 28, 2015, 07:47:45 pm

Quote from: Danzn Bar on February 28, 2015, 07:33:23 pm

Sweet bow Gordon,  Really like the full draw profile.
DBar

Agreed!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: mullet on February 28, 2015, 08:54:31 pm

very clean looking bow, Gordon. Brian always has some of the best VM and is not afraid of using a Band saw on it.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: wizardgoat on March 01, 2015, 12:14:17 am

Nice looking bow Gordon, sounds like my VM up here is similar to yours

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on March 01, 2015, 03:02:29 am

Great work Gordon, I like that profile too.  Love the mystery wood tips.  Finding billet size vm isn't too hard in my area, but a full size stave is another matter  :-\

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: lebhuntfish on March 01, 2015, 04:17:17 am

Beautifully Gordon! I love everything about it! I especially like the tips and the handle. I always enjoy seeing your bows. I still read your hazelnut build along. I've actually printed it out and keep it in the shop for reference. Patrick

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: simson on March 01, 2015, 05:17:42 am

Great Work on a very clean piece of vm. Is that the natural color or is it dyed?

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: steve b. on March 01, 2015, 07:04:16 am

Beautiful.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: RyanR on March 01, 2015, 08:01:24 am

Nice looking bow. I bet it's a sweet shooter.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Sidewinder on March 01, 2015, 09:22:25 am

Well I hate to be redundant and just say what everyone else does but great job Gordan. I bet it felt pretty good not to have wrestle a bow from the stave.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: JackCrafty on March 01, 2015, 09:55:24 am

I have to chime in on this one.  That is one sweet bow.   :)

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Will H on March 01, 2015, 10:19:56 am

That has CLASS written all over it! You set the standard for sure Gordon. Thank you for the inspiration!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: bushboy on March 01, 2015, 10:37:59 am

Fantastic as usual!i really dig the unbraced profile.the stiff outer tiller is perfect in my books.Did you leave the limbs parallel to about midlimb?

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: hunterbob on March 01, 2015, 11:01:20 am

That looks like the perfect bow. Well done.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: JonW on March 01, 2015, 11:26:53 am

Gordon your bows always look so " gentlemanly" if that's a word. I like everything about it.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Gordon on March 01, 2015, 02:55:11 pm

Thank you DBar

Thank you GB. It shoots nicely thank you – very quiet.

Thank you Arrowind

Thank Eddie. I am very impressed with the vine maple that Brian is able to harvest.

Thank you Wizardgoat. The vine maple are these parts is generally not nearly as clean as what Brian is able to get. But it still makes good bows – you just have to work a little harder at it.

Thank you Peacebow. Brian sent me pictures of full size staves that were just as clean. He has some primo bow wood up there.

Thank you for the really nice compliment Patrick.

Thank you Simson. That is not the natural color. Vine maple is very white – almost too white to leave it natural in my opinion.

Thank you Steve.

Thank you Ryan.

Thank you Sidewinder. I have to admit it was nice not having to fight the wood for once – but I don’t want to get too used to that 

Thank you jackcrafty.

Thank you for the really nice compliment Will.

Bushboy, normally I like to leave the limbs parallel to mid-limb, but this one turned out a little more pyramid than usual.

Thank you for the compliment hunterbob.

Thank you for the nice words Jon.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Knoll on March 01, 2015, 05:49:52 pm

Quote from: osage outlaw on February 28, 2015, 05:16:56 pm

That is a beautiful bow Gordon.  Your work is always so classy looking.

Yep.  And the headgear is perfect accessory!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: crooketarrow on March 01, 2015, 10:59:28 pm

Thats a SWEETTTTTTTTTT bow.
 I have a stave cut down to bow fourm. I've had it 2 years. I have a osage snake bow,hickery selfbow.

  So around mid summer I'm going to get it started.

  How was the guy that made his bows ,fairly round. Looked like just a stick.
 Couple years ago I cut 4 or 5 spline's 1 1/2 to 3 inch.
 They were cut just to build a bow that had his look.
 They looked like a stick but done very nicelly.
 Anyone remember this guy I think he was from the UK.

  Like I said nice bow.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Drewster on March 01, 2015, 11:20:23 pm

That's a classy, handsome bow from tip to tip.  Well executed all the way around.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: dantolin on March 02, 2015, 03:53:24 am

Beautiful bow, as always,  Gordon.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: lesken2011 on March 02, 2015, 06:42:02 am

Just saw this. Really nice job, Gordon.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: Bullitt on March 03, 2015, 07:21:24 pm

Very nice, Gordon!

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: IdahoMatt on March 03, 2015, 11:59:41 pm

Wonderful bow gordon.  I never get tired looking at your bows. 

Title: Re: Vine Maple Self Bow
Post by: medicinewheel on March 04, 2015, 03:35:30 am

Dang Gordon ...beautiful work  as always!