Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Horn Bows => Topic started by: Redhand on February 27, 2017, 10:02:52 pm
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After starting the sheep bow, I decided to give another antler bow a try. I shot this bull, and thought that I might do a European mount with the antlers. But then I started to see a bow hidden in that rack, so grabbed that set and started the task of making an antler bow. Here is the picture of the antlers.
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First I cut the tines off, then tried to figure out the best way to split the antlers. So far this is what I ended up with.
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I soaked the antlers in water for about 1 1/2 months, then I pulled them out of the water and attempted to straighten them out.
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For about a month I left these antlers clamp to the boards, I wanted to make sure they were good and dry before I took the clamps off. So this is where I am at so far. I am in the process of pulling sinew and making hide glue. Then I will lap splice the two pieces together and start to lay down the sinew.
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Very interesting and good build Redhand.Thanks for showing.
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Very cool im wathing nice rack to start with !
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I was able to get a little more work done on this antler bow. I thinned down the antlers down with a rasp and I lap spliced them together.
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I used hide glue to splice them together.
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a few more pics
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Looks like you tooth planed the splices too.Good idea.Time to strip sinew or more shaping up to do?
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I will do a little more shaping, maybe add a piece over the lap splice on the back of the bow, and add the sinew.
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I'm watching to Redhand. Kinda out of my league but maybe someday. Thanks for posting
Bjrogg
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With the wiggle in the handle area seen from the top view profile do you expect to straighten that out?Or leave it?Does antler have a longitudal grain as wood does?I'm sure the crown line probably is the factor there.Guess not considering you already glued the handle together where the wiggle is.Having a close to center shot antler bow in the process.
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bjrogg I don't think a antler bow would be out of your league. I seen the bow you posted that thing is a beauty.
Beadman I left that wiggle in the handle, I was going to try and straighten it out some. But then I decided to go for a center shot with on this one. As far as I can tell antler doesn't follow the longitude grain like wood.
I did a little more shaping on this bow. With the other antler bows I have made I learned to take the pithy part of the antler down to almost the hard part of the antler. Leaving a little bit of the pith help the sinew to stick, along with the scoring of the back of the bow. I did wrap the the handle splice with sinew. And so far I have about 5 coats of sizing. I will probably put on 5 or 6 more sizing coats on before I add the sinew. I have started the pain task of pounding and pulling sinew. My fingers are a little sore this evening. LOL
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Wow! I'm very interested to see where this goes! Is the marrow the belly? If so, you are covering the belly with sinew? Will there be any wood involved? Sorry for the questions, this is the first time I've ever seen the likes of this.
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You say you've made other antler bows? Do you have a link I would love to see them.
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Thanks Morgan, the marrow part is the back of the bow. There is no wood involved just antler and sinew.
gfugal I posted one on page 3 I do believe in this horn bow section. I updated the full draw pic on the last page of the comments. I'll see if I can post the link. I also posted another one on Wizard Goats sheep horn bow build also on page 3.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,52467.0.html
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I see.Yes that sinew does take some time.On those elk legs I use a pliers many times to get ahold of it good.Trying to save on the fingers....lol.I keep stripping it in half/in hal/inhalf etc.An ambitious build.Gotta be pretty rewarding since shooting the bull yourself and all.
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That's looking pretty sweet there Redhand. Very interesting way to build a bow. Thanks for the compliment but it's definitely out of my league yet. Some day though. Gotta get some antlers first.lol.
I'm still checking in and enjoying the post. :OK
Bjrogg
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Thanks bjrogg and Beadman I got most of the sinew prepared so hopefully I can get this thing sinew backed and start curing.
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I finally got all the sinew pulled and separated. That is a long pain staking process. It doesn't matter how many times I have done it, it does not get any faster.
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I had plenty of sinew scraps, so I decided to make my own glue instead of buying it.
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I put all the scraps in the tin can filled with water and started the long process of making glue.
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This is about 4 hours into the process. You can see how much water has evaporated.
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Finally after about 12 hours of cooking we have glue.
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I put 3 layers of sinew on the antler bow. I will wait about 2 weeks and then add another 2 or 3 layers on. Then let if cure for 6 months.
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Excellent looking sinew job and post about the glue making.I've got to do that to my new scraps again too.I've got a bunch.
Bow looks great.
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Tick tock tic tock. I'll have to remember to check back in 6 months. Looks great so far Redhand
Bjrogg :OK
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Thanks Beadman and bjrogg. Tick tock tick tock is right. On to some other projects while I wait for the bows to cure
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Length?
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Wow is right that is one beautiful bow
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Awesome bow, Redhand. It looks about perfect as of the last update. How did it eventually turn out, Sir?