Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: barebo on January 01, 2018, 05:11:32 pm

Title: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 01, 2018, 05:11:32 pm
I know that this is Primitive Archer, and have posted bows since my first waaay back when.

 I work with a guy that owns motorcycles - not a hard core biker type, but loves them and has some very nice vintage cars as well.
He knows I make bows and for the past 3 years has been asking me to make him a "Harley Bow".
I found a nice Red Oak board and have it bending fairly well and should have it tillered before too long. I plan to do the black and orange paint scheme and letter the name on the limbs.
I'll wrap a black leather handle on and the last 7-8 " of the limbs will be chrome spray paint.

It will be a viable bow - 70"ntn and I'm shooting for low 40#. He always mentions a Bear Kodiak he had that went missing a long time ago.

My question is this: do I dare to post pics of this when I get it finished, or will I offend anyone? I'm not looking for patent infringement by putting the name on the bow, but this will be a good experience.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: stuckinthemud on January 01, 2018, 05:26:29 pm
I'd love to see it
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: Philipp A on January 01, 2018, 05:39:06 pm
I definitely want to see it! Don't think how that should offend anyone.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: ohma2 on January 01, 2018, 06:12:10 pm
Post it im looking forward to it . :OK
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: bjrogg on January 01, 2018, 06:36:30 pm
Sure won't offend me. I won't tell anyone at Harley Davison either.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 01, 2018, 07:05:22 pm
Can't imagine it offending anyone, surely not me. I think the issue would be showing the Harley logo. I'm sure admins will chime in...

Worse comes to worse you could always cover up the logo.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: osage outlaw on January 01, 2018, 08:56:48 pm
I would be offended if you didn't post that bow  ;D.   I can't wait to see it.  And nice gesture making it for your co-worker.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: Hawkdancer on January 02, 2018, 12:14:58 am
Rev the pipes and post the bow!  Pretty sure Harley D won't mind since he owns one, or more!  Just spreading the brand, and they don"'t make bows.
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 02, 2018, 04:38:51 am
Thanks All !!!

I'm not going to try to replicate the actual logo / trademark, but hopefully show a pretty good idea of what it's supposed to be.

It'll likely go on his wall, but like I said, I'm focused on making a shooter first, and dressing it up after.

I'll see if I can get a pic of it so far, and thanks again!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: hedgehog on January 02, 2018, 08:33:24 pm
I have checked into this and What I have discovered about making HD stuff is, "if you don't sell it. We don't care".
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 02, 2018, 09:00:57 pm
Low brace - robbed a string from another bow. I'm getting 30#@20" so I think I can reach my target weight of 43-45#@28".

Not a profit driven endeavor - I like to pass the long winters here in NY doing something constructive. Used to ice fish and chase Steelheads in the Salmon river that winter over, but at 62 my bones don't like the cold as much anymore!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: rps3 on January 04, 2018, 12:26:26 am
No string silencers...it needs to be loud!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 04, 2018, 04:50:37 am
I'm getting ready to shape the grip and would like to let some arrows fly as I'm at an even 40#@27".
Limbs are 1-3/4" wide until 18" from tips tapering to solid 1/2"tips. If I were keeping it, I'd really thin them down, but will keep it overbuilt a bit for peace of mind. It's 70"ntn.

We're having 25 below zero windchill with actual 0 to 5 below for a few days, so I need to cool my jets a bit. Looking forward to dressing it up - I usually go for very plain understated bows so
this is going to be uncharted waters.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: ntvbowyer1969 on January 04, 2018, 06:54:41 am
As a biker myself i would love to see it. sounds cool!!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: BowEd on January 04, 2018, 08:46:36 am
Looking fine.More pictures would be nice though.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: JWMALONE on January 04, 2018, 08:35:15 pm
No string silencers...it needs to be loud!
LMAO
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 05, 2018, 04:47:39 am
Unbraced - not bad profile - lots of work ahead.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 05, 2018, 04:48:57 am
Braced to 6.5"
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: Philipp A on January 10, 2018, 04:57:18 pm
I think this bow is coming along just great. Cant wait to see the finished bow!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: AniKituahBowyer on January 10, 2018, 05:16:51 pm
I'd love to see the finished project!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 10, 2018, 05:40:33 pm
I just put the black Feibings leather dye on, and I believe I may apply another coat as the red oak really soaks it in. I've never done a black bow, let alone with an orange stripe and chrome tips!
'
I've put about 100 arrows through it and the set is an honest 3/4" so that's fair enough for me and the final weight is 41#. It isn't a screamer, but is a nice easy shooter @ 70"ntn.

I left the tips a bit wider - if I were keeping it they would have been narrowed to a finer shape. I doubt my buddy will shoot it a lot, but will hang it in his "man cave".

 I hope to have it done in the next week or so - drying time in the cold here slows the process up.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 17, 2018, 07:25:20 pm
OK - here's a full draw of this "Theme Bow" - not sure what else to call it. I will take more pics with detail of the graphics during the day.

My buddy wanted it gloss black, so that's what it is, with an Orange stripe with the H-D spelled out top and bottom limb, and chrome tips.
I also inlaid a medallion he gave me from an old pair of riding boots on the front of the riser.

I think he'll like it, and I hope you all do as well. This was a far departure of the bows I've made, but it is a shooter!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 17, 2018, 07:29:30 pm
Looking at this, I could have gotten the upper mid limb bending a bit more.  Ah well......
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: willie on January 17, 2018, 08:14:21 pm
Nice project. Hope you can get your friend out to sling a few arrows with his new and nicely tillered HD bow.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: Philipp A on January 17, 2018, 09:10:56 pm
Looks like a great bow, more pics please :)
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 01:29:03 pm
Hopefully these show correctly!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 01:30:27 pm
Few more........I'm not photobucket literate, but will learn!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 01:32:09 pm
Wrapped the grip in leather lace - it takes about 12' to do one.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 01:34:51 pm
This was different to say the least. Now I can start on my HHB recurve. More likely a static tip. I have one nice stave left till spring.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 18, 2018, 01:36:47 pm
Board bows are made from wood. Your bow is a well tillered beauty. Jawge
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 02:02:04 pm
This one was a Red Oak board from Lowes. Sorry for the confusion!
I've got one Hop Hornbeam stave from a tree I cut 2 years ago that yielded 6 nice staves - 5 bows gone and still shooting!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 02:11:13 pm
By the way George - Thank You for the kind words - you opinion counts for me!
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: Philipp A on January 18, 2018, 04:43:06 pm
I think this bow turned out great and looks like it will be a great shooter as well! I think your friend will be very pleased with it and besides having a prominent place to display it I am sure he will be bit by the bowyer's bug and start to target shoot this bow before too long.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 18, 2018, 07:17:36 pm
Philipp - thanks for following along and the positive feedback. The bow stylistically was a standard board bow that usually gets a stain and some Helmsman spar or Tru Oil finish.

Having to come up with the window dressing was out of my wheel house, but it was actually fun. I'm not planning any more like it - back to simple selfbows.
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: M2A on January 21, 2018, 05:31:58 pm
Your friend is a luck fella to get a custom bow like that. Great looking bow! Cool idea. I do like the inlay! Mike 
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 22, 2018, 04:57:38 am
I took the bow to him yesterday afternoon. He has a 300 acre farm several generations back to the early 1800's- non working now, and I brought a bag target to show him how to shoot and care for an all wood bow. He mentioned the Bear Kodiak again and I explained that with no fiberglass, he'd have to be more aware of what he did with this one.

We got it strung and I had a half dozen arrows in my hip quiver, and I was going to Robin Hood a few. Yeah - Right!! Kevin out shot me and showed me up with his new bow so when we get to work
I can't wait to hear the music!!

Seriously - he really loves it and it was great to see him bending those limbs. Now our Mason wants me to do a Chevelle SS 454 bow for him :-[
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: bjrogg on January 22, 2018, 05:41:36 am
Very cool story barebo. It always feels so good watching  someone really enjoy shooting one of your bows. Especially one so personal. When you get done with that SS Chevelle I'd love a AMC Gremlin X plum crazy with gold racing stripes.lol
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Opinions Wanted
Post by: barebo on January 22, 2018, 04:16:35 pm
You're 100% right - even though Kevin had a better group than I did, seeing the smile on his face and hearing "how cool this is" was to me what it's all about.
Kinda shying away from the billboard bows - I just roughed out a beautiful HHB stave that I'm hoping to turn into this years 3-D bow.