Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Swampman on March 08, 2018, 11:32:55 am

Title: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: Swampman on March 08, 2018, 11:32:55 am
Alright everyone, it is time to sign up for the 2018 Bow Trade.  Please read this entire post before signing up so you know what you are getting into.  Here is how to sign up:

1.  Send me a PM with the following information:
     Full Name
     Full Address
     Email Address
     Telephone number
     Which Country(ies) you will ship to

2.  Reply to this post with, I'm in and include bow specs preferred
     Example:  LH or RH
     Draw Weight 45-55 pounds
     Draw length 27 to 29 inches

Here are the rules:
A.  In order to sign up, you must have posted at least one successful bow on this site.  Please don't be offended if I ask for verification.
B.  All participants in this trade need to participate in the thread and post pictures of their progress,  Start out by posting a picture of the stave, staves, board, billets, etc. that you plan to use for the build.  If a participant has gone 30 days without posting progress, then I will take that as a withdrawal from the trade and the bow being built for them will be passed to someone else. 
C.  No bows should be shipped to someone that is not making progress on their bow.  If you are done with your bow and ready to ship, please be in touch with me to help decide if you should ship or not. 
D.  Any participant that chooses can also build a second bow to be used as a reserve.  The reserve bows will be used to ensure that ALL participating members get a bow by the shipping deadline.  Please let me know if you plan to build a reserve bow so if it is needed I know who to contact. 
E.  Deadline for signing up will be the end of the day, March 21st
F.  Shipping deadline will be October 15, 2018
G.  Have fun.

I will not be participating in the trade but I will be building a reserve bow.  I will update if there are any more rules needed. 

Let's make this a great trade.

Thank you.

Mike

Here is the list I will update as people are signed up and have sent me all their information.

Mo_coon-catcher
Penderbender
Morgan
Hoosierf
Timmyd
JWMALONE
Springbuck
M2A
Tattoo Dave
Stickbowbeard




Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on March 08, 2018, 01:56:55 pm
I’m in!
RH, draw weight 60-70#, draw legth 26”.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 08, 2018, 02:21:37 pm
I got you down Kyle.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stuckinthemud on March 08, 2018, 03:37:31 pm
I'm in if any of the other UK / European guys sign up.  L/H, 24" draw length, draw weight 30-45#.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on March 08, 2018, 06:39:11 pm
I'm in! RH, 28-30" draw, 50-75# I'll ship to canada/us. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 08, 2018, 07:55:39 pm
I have you down Brendan.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 08, 2018, 09:26:50 pm
Count me in. Nervous as a cat about this, hope whoever I draw can appreciate a simple bow.
RH 45-50# 27”-29” draw
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on March 08, 2018, 10:13:33 pm
I'm in. LH 28" draw prefer a bow between 50-60#
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 09, 2018, 06:35:29 am
I’m in RH 45-60# @ 28”

I’ll trade with the Euopean fellers, US, or Canada!  No problem.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 09, 2018, 06:48:13 am
I have you down hoosierf.

Timmyd, don't forget to send me a pm with your info.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 09, 2018, 08:17:29 am
Teaser!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 09, 2018, 08:41:37 am
This will be the stave I use. Split from the same log as my first hackberry bow, and that one has several thousand shots on it so the wood is sound anyway. I have several other staves, but this one is the best one I have.  The other piece of wood there is almost half finished, I would use it for the trade, but it has natural deflex out of one fade, and a crook that is towards the belly about a foot off of the opposite limb and I need to do some heat corrections and I don’t want to do that to someone else’s bow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 09, 2018, 03:25:07 pm
That hackberry looks like a great stave Morgan.

What kind of wood is that Hoosierf? 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 09, 2018, 06:24:06 pm
Ok guys I'm in.
 #45-#55
 right handed
 26 inch actual draw.
 Anything I can kill game with is perfect!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 09, 2018, 06:49:04 pm
Id prefer to wait and see who I'm building for before I make a solid plan. That way I can stalk their older post and figure out what they like.
 As a general idea I can source some bamboo and ipe pretty easy. Just made a #50 pounder 62   n2n  that's a really nice shooter,  and fast to!.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 09, 2018, 07:18:51 pm
I got you added JW.

TimmyD, thanks for sending your info.  I have you added now. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 09, 2018, 10:41:13 pm
[What kind of wood is that Hoosierf?
[/quote]

That is yellow birch.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 11, 2018, 09:31:46 am
I built a paper birch bow last year.  It ended up being a great shooter. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the yellow birch.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 11, 2018, 11:28:40 am
It’s really heavy dense wood. I think this log is heavier than a same size HHB log.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: PatM on March 11, 2018, 11:35:27 am
  Yellow Birch is less dense and elastic than HHB.  It's probably just really wet.  Watch it for chrysals. I cut a Yellow Birch years ago and just test flexing a slat had it chrysaling like a piece of pine.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stuckinthemud on March 13, 2018, 02:10:57 am
Bump
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Julian on March 13, 2018, 03:39:55 am
I'm in;

I prefer an RH bow, #40 - #45 @ 27"

I'll be building a board bow from my sugar maple slab, likely an american longbow. Perhaps linen backed.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 13, 2018, 06:17:48 am
  Yellow Birch is less dense and elastic than HHB.  It's probably just really wet.  Watch it for chrysals. I cut a Yellow Birch years ago and just test flexing a slat had it chrysaling like a piece of pine.

Appreciate that advice. I’ll drinitely have a backup on the works as well.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Springbuck on March 13, 2018, 07:17:21 pm
I'm in!

RH, drawing anything from under 50 lbs to low 60's or so at 29" (or, 27.5 to the belly of the handle.)

No preferences, make me your favorite bow!

Let me know if my victim, ....er, um, trade partner has preferences.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 13, 2018, 08:17:53 pm
There is only about a week left to sign up.  If you want to participate now is the time to sign up.

Also, if you are hesitant to sign up because you are from the UK or Australia, please keep in mind that we already have someone from each of these areas that wants to participate if someone else from there signs up. 

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: jeffp51 on March 13, 2018, 10:10:08 pm
I would like to, but I just don't have the time this summer. I will be watching with interest, however.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: gfugal on March 14, 2018, 12:39:14 pm
I would, but am still currently trying to rescue a bow (plan C) for last year's trade. My bad-luck streek (if you can call it that. More like human error) Is bound to end soon. I'll just observe this year. If I happen to make one between now and then I might sign it up as a reserve.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 14, 2018, 09:52:15 pm
I would, but am still currently trying to rescue a bow (plan C) for last year's trade. My bad-luck streek (if you can call it that. More like human error) Is bound to end soon. I'll just observe this year. If I happen to make one between now and then I might sign it up as a reserve.

I hope your bad luck streak ends soon.  If it does and you get a bow built, I am sure a reserve could be used one way or another. Feel free to post pictures here as you build it. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 15, 2018, 02:49:10 pm
Got a prototype in the works, I think its gonna be awesome.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on March 17, 2018, 10:48:19 am
Only 4 more days!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 18, 2018, 07:57:22 am
Down to three.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stuckinthemud on March 18, 2018, 09:37:31 am
Come on guys, there's got to be another Euro/UK bow builder out there - I've got a cracking hawthorn sapling gonna make a beautiful long bow - maybe swap at the Chepstow meet in September?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Selfbowman on March 18, 2018, 09:49:39 am
I'm in if I get Jim Davis on the build!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on March 18, 2018, 11:31:01 am
i forgot to add that i prefer to shoot 3 under in case that makes a difference in your tillering process
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 18, 2018, 12:18:50 pm
i forgot to add that i prefer to shoot 3 under in case that makes a difference in your tillering process
I was going to ask that every one post if they shot split or three under. I shoot three under for the most part but I can shoot split as well.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 18, 2018, 04:55:58 pm
 Well it looks like you are all going to make this way too easy for me. So far it looks like I will have no trouble keeping track of everything with so few people involved in the trade.

I like a challenge so a few more people would be good.  Are the rules scare g people away?  I promise I am pretty easy to get along w ith!   (=)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 18, 2018, 08:33:46 pm
I'm in! Was on the fence for awhile and it all depended if I could get the one I have been working on tillered in 1 piece before the dead line. just finished sweating out the last 2" tonight. So good to go on a new build :)
RH 45-55 lbs at 28" I shoot 3 under

Hope no one minds black locust, seems to be what works for me. Or at least that's the plan for now.

Will send PM Swampman
Thanks, Mike       
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 18, 2018, 08:54:46 pm
I love black locust bows. Glad to have M2A. I got your pm and have you down. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 19, 2018, 06:24:29 am
Black locust was the wood of choice for the people around here, been wanting to get my hands on some of it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 19, 2018, 07:10:51 am
JW, they need to redo a spillway for a dam at work and in doing so need to remove some trees, a few are large black locust that I have had my eye on. I tried before but was not given permission to cut them. Now that they need to come down I may be able to get um. I just found this out last week so I need to goto the source and not just hear say. If/When I do I'll let you know. Mike           
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 19, 2018, 07:42:10 pm
Not much time left.  I will be drawing names this week.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 19, 2018, 07:44:32 pm
Thanks Mike.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 20, 2018, 07:04:54 pm
One day left to sign up.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 20, 2018, 10:59:28 pm
Looks like we have an odd number of participants.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on March 21, 2018, 08:01:36 am
Count me in fellas. I'll make it an even number. I'll send over my info a little later.

RH 45-60#@ 28"
My draw is actual 26", so if anyone makes a shorty :OK

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 21, 2018, 12:43:17 pm
Looks like were all set then fellows.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on March 21, 2018, 01:36:42 pm
I just saw this.  Am I too late to get in on it?

RH, 40-50# @ 29"

Thanks,
Eric
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 21, 2018, 07:15:51 pm
I added tattoo Dave and stickbowbeard. 

Looks like a good group.  I will do the drawings tomorrow and get pms out to all of you.  I will wait until tomorrow in case we have any more last minute sign ups. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 22, 2018, 08:54:49 am
I got a name fellows.
 I joined PA because there is no glass or training wheels on any of the bows here. With that being said, good staves are hard to come by, does any one have a moral objection to composite wood bows? Boo backed, All wood Trilams that sort of thing. They've been around a long time depending on the region and culture.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 22, 2018, 09:01:12 am
JW,

Glue up bows are fine as long as it is natural materials used as you said.  Boo, wood, sinew, rawhide, etc.  They have been done in other trades. 

Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 22, 2018, 09:10:55 am
Everyone should have a PM with their information needed to start building. Please make sure and post your progress.

As I said before, I will be building a reserve bow but am not participating in the trade. My reserve bow will be used to ensure that if anything happens along the way, there will be a bow for everyone. If anyone else finishes Their main build and wants to build another reserve, you are welcome to do so.  If We end up with a bunch of reserve bows, we will figure out a way to use them.  Maybe a drawing or something. 

Lets get started.  :BB
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 22, 2018, 10:59:28 am
Got my victim in my sights. I’m watching you and developing an intuition for your tastes. It’s on like donkey Kong as they say.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 22, 2018, 11:36:10 am
Ok Guys, ive only made one stave bow so I'm going with something I have more experience with. Bamboo back, red elm core and ipe for the belly.I had three pieces of this boo and it works really great, cant remember the species. The red elm billiits were givin to me by a friend, i will splice those for the core. The ipe was a piece i sawed off of a thicker piece, its plenty thick for the belly. Just need to find the perfect riser material, i think i can find some red elm.  Also i use tight bond on my bows but this is going to some one else so i ordered some unibond, which was recomended by a very respected bowyer who builds lots of these type bows.
 This will be a mild R/d. About an inch wide or so, i can get 66 length wise. Need to stalk some older post and see if this guy is a hunter, in wich case ill shortin it up some.
 Do any of you guys plan on hunting with your swap bow?
(https://i.imgur.com/lO62Eoil.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on March 22, 2018, 11:55:56 am
I totally intend to use the bow I receive to put some meat on the table.  I think that's the best compliment a bowyer can receive is to see their work of art used in the pursuit of wild game.

I haven't yet decided how to proceed, but I will make the decision this weekend, and start posting my progress.  I have made some Boo-backed bows in the past that I really like, and I've really been intrigued with trying a bit of a laminated bow lately, so that's a possibility.  I love carving a stave though, so I may go that direction.  I have access to a couple of good elm staves, and some pecan staves.  I reckon I just need to cyber-stalk a little to help me make that decision.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 22, 2018, 12:02:07 pm
Cyber stalking is cool, and legal in this case. I just found the info I needed. This fellow has a very similar mentality and appreciation for primitive bows that I do. So I'm going to make this bow with a slightly different design and start to look for some different material so that I can make what I think the guy would get more enjoyment from. If I cant find it this bow should still work well.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on March 22, 2018, 12:24:36 pm
A laminated bow is fine with me. I'll be happy with whatever I get. I hope my victim is down with a native american style bendy handle bow. Probably white ash, I have more white ash than I can use.

This should be a fun trade this year. I'm looking forward to it!

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 22, 2018, 12:30:56 pm
I'm not picky either Dave, I really like the Native American style bows myself.  Like I said before, if It will feed me that's all that matters.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on March 22, 2018, 12:38:59 pm
What I'm really looking forward to here is being able to hold someone else's handywork in my hands, and experience shooting a different style so I can learn from it.  I'm also looking forward to some feedback on my own work as well.  I see this as an awesome learning opportunity.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 22, 2018, 01:30:26 pm
Looks like a good start to the trade. As for the reserve bow, I am working on an Eastern Woodland bendy handle bow made from black locust. No pictures yet but I just roughed it out and started tillerring it.  If all goes well, my niece will be painting the back for me in a design I found in a book about NA bows.  I suck at painting but my niece is very talented.
 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on March 22, 2018, 03:01:38 pm
Sounds great guys! I’m a hunter myself and will probably hunt with it myself. Though I have no problem hunting with longer bows. Last year I hunted with a 74” tip to tip long bow and had no problems using it. And any style of bow is good with me. I’m always open to new style, woods andnlayouts of bows. And I do t have any laminate bows of any sort in my collection yet.
I’m not sure what I’ll do yet. I have some really gnarly, lumpy, furrowed, muscled, boob knotted (they are straight though) hickory billets I’ve been wanting to use. And I’ve been wanting to do a takedown for a while. I may do that. But which style of take down sleeve would I like to do. The metal tubes or an Fglass style sleeve, unless there are other types you all can think of.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on March 22, 2018, 03:39:28 pm
I have to add that i'm up for anything as well. if I were to give a little insight to myself, i'm a hunter first, target shooter second. I'm really into native American lore and have plans to make some indian replicas some day. I also have a couple D/R BBOs that I started but didn't turn out that good but I would love to have one. I also have been gathering sinew from my deer to attempt a sinew backed recurve. That being said, just build me a bow that your comfortable building :BB (SH) I'll be happy with anything.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 22, 2018, 04:19:59 pm
I’m really excited about this. I’m happy with anything as well. I would be most happy to receive what the person considers their style bow. Whatever they typically make for themselves to suit themselves. I think it will be awesome to hold and shoot someone else’s work. On the other hand, I’m nervous as a cat about sending my victim my work, and will apologize in advance on my finishing abilities lol.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 22, 2018, 04:24:58 pm
Morgan, I've seen at least one of your bows, they are awesome just the way  they are.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 22, 2018, 04:48:19 pm
And so it begins... :BB One of the most impressive aspects for me is seeing what they can do with a piece(s) of wood. When it comes to primitive bows I have only ever shot what I have made, but I see all kinds of different designs here and think dang I need to try that some time. +1 to what Stickbowbeard said.
I have not archery hunted for some 15 years, between urban spral, work and kids that has slowed me down. However, I will be going out this fall. and it'd be real cool to use a bow from this to hunt with. when I started making bows one of my goals was to get good enough to make a bow and then good enough to hunt with it. Its been a long term goal of mine, and looks like this will be the year :)   

I need to do some background research now. Hope to post a picture of the staves in my shop tonight. It all depends on the direction I go which one ill use.

Cheers                   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 22, 2018, 09:52:15 pm
Not much to this point. But did want to a few photos up before the weekend.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/817/27091619828_fe83aa8d5b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HgZCHA)IMG_1564 (https://flic.kr/p/HgZCHA) 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/HgZE6f](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/27091624448_224e68f20a_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1565 (https://flic.kr/p/HgZE6f) 


[url=https://flic.kr/p/FKx1Pv](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/790/26090574507_08cf039749_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1566 (https://flic.kr/p/FKx1Pv)  [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/

I have 2 staves in picture, both black locust. The one on the left will be what I will be working on. Its one of the first staves I ever split and has been buried in the corner of my shop for the last 2 years. I forgot it was there until I was cleaning up this past weekend. 

Seems to be nice and straight, no twist and rings are thicker than I usually have had.

It does have 2 knots, 1 I think I can leave in a stiff handle, the smaller one I will need to work with. Also there is a larger indent in the growth rings about 3/4" wide x maybe 2" long. Not sure what that would be from and no signs of any knots that would have caused it. Need to remove another ring where it is and seems the deeper I go the smaller it gets. Almost like it was growing into something. Its about 1/8" deep right now, maybe a little deeper.  It does have me a bit concerned but would make for some nice character. Until I get the ring I want chased I don't want to think too much about design, however this area may have a lot of influence on what I do.

The stave on the right I cleaned up about a month ago. It was cut last year. Also black locust. I will be roughing it out just so it can dry faster, incase that indent in my primary stave turns into something ugly. This one would make a good bend  in the handle bow.

Have some family obligations to take care of in the next few days but hope to at least follow along on my phone even if I cant log in.
Thanks Mike             
 
 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 23, 2018, 07:19:38 am
Well I changed my mind, gonna go with a hickory backing. My boo might be wide enough but not gonna chance it, if I go with hickory I can get more width to make sure I hit weight. 1 3/8ths with a narrowed handle, also I have a piece of hickory for the riser.
I painted houses for 20 years, I know its a mental hang up on my part but I cant put 4 different colored woods in one bow, it would drive me nuts. I would buy one, but cant make one. So I will use hickory back, b walnut core, ipe belly and hickory for the riser. That's more symmetrical. And it should make a  nice looking bow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 23, 2018, 09:10:33 pm
Well guys, I got my backing thinned down to size and cut the profile, got a w splice in the core billets, and roughed out the profile on the belly wood. Also got the form set up. I will glue it up tomorrow. So far so good.
(https://i.imgur.com/7Mv9zKRl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TmOLbKul.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: ntvbowyer1969 on March 23, 2018, 10:33:49 pm
Sorry it looks like i read this one to late? I would of loved to do it. If there isnt enough peeps i will do it if it isnt to late. I have a bunch of osage staves i cut in Sep. 2017 and i started to reduce some so they will be ready to work in a couple months. Let me know if someone backs out or there isnt enough people to match up
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 24, 2018, 06:40:04 am
Sorry it looks like i read this one to late? I would of loved to do it. If there isnt enough peeps i will do it if it isnt to late. I have a bunch of osage staves i cut in Sep. 2017 and i started to reduce some so they will be ready to work in a couple months. Let me know if someone backs out or there isnt enough people to match up

Ntvbowyer1969, the drawing is already done but if you want to participate by building a reserve bow and post picture as you build, you certainly could.  Then as the trade progresses and someone ends up with an issue, you could slide into a spot or if everything goes well, you can trade with me.  I am building a reserve bow too.  If this sounds ok with you, send me a pm with all of your info. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 24, 2018, 06:41:07 am
JW, looks like you are making a lot of progress right now.  I am excited to see the result. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 24, 2018, 09:32:30 am
Well guys my mentor gave me his recipe for mixing unibond by weight. However I had to modify my grain scale to weigh liquid. So if whoever gets this bow is an ole country boy he will be pleased to know that a coat hanger, duct tape and TWO red solo cups were instrumental in the making of his bow. That's countrified right thar fellows.  I only had black duct tape sorry.
(https://i.imgur.com/ECdOTLTl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 24, 2018, 01:18:50 pm
Well she's glued guys, don't worry about the clamps not being staggered like most folks do. Its a good idea but if your pressure strip wont allow it you can compensate, I've been gluing stuff up for 30 years and have had no issues in the last 29.75 years. Id put a smiley face in here but still haven't figured that out yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/N4qScy1l.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 24, 2018, 04:03:22 pm
Looking real nice JW. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 24, 2018, 04:38:58 pm
Looking real nice JW.
This stuff was the easy part. Tillering one of these things is a different story.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 24, 2018, 04:43:30 pm
Question, when I measure my draw its from the back of the handle to my anchor point which is 26.25 inches, I'm 5 foot 11.5 bare footed, so that's the way I tiller it. Do you guys measure that way? Sure are a bunch of long armed fellows on here.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: gfugal on March 24, 2018, 04:54:35 pm
Question, when I measure my draw its from the back of the handle to my anchor point which is 26.25 inches, I'm 5 foot 11.5 bare footed, so that's the way I tiller it. Do you guys measure that way? Sure are a bunch of long armed fellows on here.
Yes, draw is measured from the back of the bow. I heard a good measurement for draw length is your height (or wing-span for better accuracy) divided by 2.5. For you, I get around 28 and a half inches for your calculated draw. What you actually draw is another thing. My calculated draw is around 30". However, I can anchor at 28" although I don't like my form at that short of a draw. Keep in mind that thumb releasing will increase your draw by quite a bit with the same anchor point. This is why I go for a 32" draw, but... getting a wood bow to make a 32" draw without being unwieldy long is somewhat of a challenge, at least for me.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 24, 2018, 05:16:21 pm
Question, when I measure my draw its from the back of the handle to my anchor point which is 26.25 inches, I'm 5 foot 11.5 bare footed, so that's the way I tiller it. Do you guys measure that way? Sure are a bunch of long armed fellows on here.

I measure from the back of the handle too.

I am 6 feet tall and I have a draw length of 26 inches. I can draw to 28 or as short as needed too but I like 26 inches the best.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Springbuck on March 24, 2018, 06:55:19 pm
  Draw length is always weird.  When I shoot a FG recurve with a relatively straight wrist and pistol grip, I cut my arrows 30" to the back of the point.

  With primitive bows, I cut the arrows 29" and that leaves a little room for a broadhead not to hit my knuckle.

  I'm 6'2" with about a 75" reach.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 24, 2018, 06:58:01 pm
Every body is slightly different,  I would just like to know how my guy measures his so I can get him the best fit. His draw is different than mine .
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on March 24, 2018, 11:38:47 pm
I’m 5’9” and draw 26-26.5” depending on the handle. I measure to the back of the handle. I typically cut the arrow 27” to the back of the head. That way my bows can’t  be seriously overdrawn by anyone, and there’s that extra 1/2” for my finger thickness plus a smidge.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on March 24, 2018, 11:39:37 pm
JW  I also measure from the back of the handle. And I shoot split finger also. I have some elb that I draw 30" and also some short little bows that I only draw 24"-26". I like them all. I don't have any laminated bows though. Haha it's looking good. I should get some pics of staves and what not up soon. I know what I am making for my victim, and I am sure he will like it. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 25, 2018, 06:59:01 am
You guys are making me jealous with all these staves. Got a cousin stationed up in Virginia that wants me to come and paint a few rooms this summer for him.  Think he has about 50 wooded acres, he said I could cut some bow wood from it. Don't know whats in there but I'm sure there is something I can use.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 25, 2018, 10:01:55 am
Well guys she's out of the clamps and cleaned up a bit.  Now to shape the riser to fit. My band saw isn't up to that task and I don't have an edge sander so we get to do it by hand, which makes it fun. When I glue up the riser I will put on some tip overlays. It didn't keep a whole lot of deflex, has 2.5 inches of reflex. That will all change once its finished. Pic isn't to great its a much more gradual curve than it looks. Came out of the form a lot like the first one I made which came out great.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z6LlmO3l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9yl5Prel.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 25, 2018, 07:19:42 pm
Well I got a riser on there. Its a ten inch riser, need to rasp it down a lil more maybe.
(https://i.imgur.com/4uFlaeul.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NGx3tNNl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 25, 2018, 07:46:40 pm
Dang JW, you are going to be done with your build a week into the trade!  It is really looking great.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 25, 2018, 07:56:59 pm
Exactly, that way if I f it up I got tome to start over. LOL
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 25, 2018, 08:48:20 pm
JW, you’re killing it. Looks real good. Gonna be two weeks before I can even start on mine.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 25, 2018, 09:15:39 pm
With my job something may happen and I cant touch it for several days. So I'm making the most of the time while its available. Yall know how that goes.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 26, 2018, 07:09:25 am
That's looking real nice.

I measure from the back of the bow to determine draw length also.
 
Got back home last night and worked on chasing a final ring for a bit. Still have half the stave to finish. I hope to have that done this week and start looking into how to lay things out. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 26, 2018, 10:23:28 am
Got some tip overlays on there. Really don't need them, most are for looks but I like the idea of the added protection. The tips are still 5/8ths wide, need to get it braced to check string alignment before I can thin them up. All that ipe came from the same board not sure why its darker on the overlays. Maybe the sanding or something.
(https://i.imgur.com/xRP9LAzl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uuiIuokl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 26, 2018, 10:44:30 am
I shoot 29” arrows three under and draw them to about 27.75”.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 26, 2018, 11:08:16 pm
Progress
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 27, 2018, 07:34:41 am
Sweet, can you get two out of that?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 27, 2018, 07:37:56 am
Back
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 27, 2018, 07:40:40 am
John, i think i could but i want to keep this one nice and wide to give me the best chance of success and i have about eight staves from the tree.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 27, 2018, 07:51:26 am
It’s 3” wide and 66” long. It’s now sealed with Bullseye and stuffed in a duct in the basement. I’ll start weighing it this weekend. If it’s lost a decent amount of weight I’ll work it down some more seal it up and hopefully have a workable stave in 10 days or so.

It didn’t check overnight at all and lost a few ounces so I’m feeling pretty good about it. If it checks i’ve got seasoned HHB, elm, Osage, and buckthorn ready to go.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 27, 2018, 07:57:49 am
Awsome, I understand your thinking, one fat stave versus two skinny pieces of fire wood.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 27, 2018, 01:52:28 pm
Hoosierf, I think you made a good call to only try to get one bow from that stave.  I had a paper birch stave almost identical to that stave and I tried to split it in half to get two bows from it.  It split out on me and I ended up with 1 stave and 1 piece of firewood. 

That stave did yield me 1 nice bow though.  I ended up with a 46 pound bow at 27 inches.  The bow is just shy of 68 inches tip to tip and is just shy of 2 inches wide most of the length.  I believe river birch is a little better bow wood so you should be able to get a nice bow from your stave.  I am excited to watch the progress.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on March 27, 2018, 02:40:15 pm
Here is a couple of yew Elbs I roughed out. One is 75", one 72". Gonna go mid fiftys on the shorter one an aiming for 70 pounds with the longer one. Both are slightly deflexed. I probably won't touch that but we will see. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 27, 2018, 03:30:43 pm
I've always wanted a yew ELB about that size and weight, 72 inches #55. Not that I matters but I think yew would look really nice with a natural finish.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 27, 2018, 04:14:21 pm
Penderbender, those staves look great. Looking forward to seeing them progress.

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 27, 2018, 06:52:48 pm
Wow Yew, nice!

I only ever played around with a small piece from an over grown landscape shrub. All I can remember is thinking to myself how nice of a wood it was. Unlike anything else I have worked on. And What I had was not even what most would consider good yew.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 28, 2018, 07:35:28 am
Hopefully I can start tillering today. Been a little busy, took me a while to get that riser the way I wanted it. I actually took it off and re glued it, wont go into details how I got it back off. But I had to refit it, which is kinda nerve racking when its cut to size already. Anyone tells ya gotta have a band saw and edge sanders or profile sanders to fit a cruved riser perfectly has never seen a piece of furniture made before the invention of electricity.
(https://i.imgur.com/LaEG2Ull.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pytUdmCl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lXmeHzll.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 28, 2018, 07:38:49 am
Here are a couple pictures of the black locusts stave I have been working on. I have it to low brace. I need to do a little evening out and then I will be using the heat gun on it. 

(http://i.imgur.com/afdaO74.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/eeCf1Ue.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 28, 2018, 07:53:40 am
Looking good Swampman, will that be a reserve bow?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 28, 2018, 08:23:33 am
Looking good Swampman, will that be a reserve bow?

If it turns out nicely it will be a reserve bow.  I am working on a couple others too so maybe I will end up with more than one reserve bow. 

Your handle is looking good.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 28, 2018, 10:20:31 am
JW that handle is very cool next to the Ipe.

The birch stave checked a little overnight on the thicker end which tells me to reduce it some more before it becomes a 59” bow. I’m going to aggressively reduce it to near final dimensions tonight then clamp it with some reflex and let it simmer few days from there to see how she goes. Filled them with tight bond this morning to slow them down for the day. The back still looks great.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 28, 2018, 10:21:30 am
I lost an eighth of an inch refitting it, which works out good now its 1.5 deep instead of 1 5/8ths. 1.5 seems to be the norm for most people, just enough to get a good grip but not big and bulky.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 28, 2018, 06:28:54 pm
Well she blew up guys. Was at #45 @18. Put the string on pulled to maybe ten inches and she blew. That's the second backing strip of that batch that's done that. Got one left gonna make sticks for stirring paint out of it.
No need to fear this is why I started early.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 28, 2018, 08:37:10 pm
Man. That sucks JW! That’s a shame, that was sure looking fine. I’d do the same with what you have left.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 28, 2018, 08:40:50 pm
Sorry to hear that JW. It was looking great. Hopefully the next one will work out. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 28, 2018, 09:06:45 pm
I got several aces up my sleeve.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 29, 2018, 12:09:45 am
Bummer it was looking good. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 29, 2018, 06:21:25 am
Aww man. Sorry to hear that, it was looking so good.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 29, 2018, 07:31:45 am
Got ring for the back chased, need to make a few small adjustments to lay out. Don't have much extra for width, but should be enough. A little deflex in both limbs, Will be putting on caul down the road.

Last I checked MC was 12%. Going to weigh daily while getting it to floor tiller size. Not going to put a string on until I know weight is stable while storing it in the dinning room. Seems to work well for me with BL. And so far wife has not objected with the last couple 8)

Pictures don't seem to be the best but I'm working on that. I make this whole computer thing harder than it should be but I'm getting there. 
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/820/40198102965_a574b9153b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24faMwM)IMG_1576 (https://flic.kr/p/24faMwM)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/24wwj9S](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/40383172154_c0e03e5203_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1574 (https://flic.kr/p/24wwj9S)     (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 29, 2018, 07:36:18 am
opps. was messing with the pics. Also trying to figure out how to add those little emoji thingy's or whatever their called. ill go play on a more appropriate thread.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on March 29, 2018, 07:48:03 am
JW, sorry to hear about that loss.  Hopefully the next one works out better.  I'm getting excited seeing what people are working on in here! I may not get started for another week or so, but I'm getting amped up for it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 29, 2018, 11:39:08 am
Update - further reduced. It’s picked up some natural reflex. I’ve now clamped it down to try to avoid heat adjustments and to keep the reflex the same on both sides.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on March 29, 2018, 12:10:36 pm
Looking good Hoosier
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 29, 2018, 12:41:39 pm
Hoosierf, I don't see it as gaining reflex, I think of it more like  ITS ALIVE! ITS ALIVE!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on March 29, 2018, 01:32:28 pm
Well if starts sprouting buds again I quit!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 29, 2018, 05:49:46 pm
OK fellows gotta brand new game plan kinda. Ive never chased a ring on Osage before, the only stave bow ive made was hickory. My buddy Pat is gonna send me one though, don't think I can use it in the swap, it will be plan C (already blew up plan A) Plan B is another boo backed lemon wood with an ipe strip and riser.  That's what I made my first r/d from and it came out great, really nice shooter and some beautiful wood to boot. Also I may make it just a reflex bow to keep it simpler, I made one from ipe and boo which also turned out to be a nice shooter. Either way it goes if my victim starves to death it will be due to his lack of hunting skills not from lacking a proper bow. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 30, 2018, 07:55:30 am
Ok folks. I was thinning the thickness of the limbs down last night. On the back side of the indent I had mentioned before I began to see what looked like sap wood being exposed. The was another one of those areas in the handle area so I began to rough out that. What I found out is that the area seems to have very small bark spots, I think they call that a sap check in black cherry where I'm from. Around that the wood looks like sap wood in a "V" shape from back to belly.

If I was making this for myself no biggie. But that voice in my head tells me there is something in that limb that will make it not sound. I maybe wrong but there is lots of time. I have a piece I cut a few months ago. Bark still on it so hard to tell, but I feel its my best piece of locust. Taking my draw knife, axe and some shellac to work today. Will get things worked down some at lunch today and see what it looks like.  I also have that narrow piece for a bendy bow but want to head in this direction because its what has worked for me.

Will post some pictures tonight after work from what I was working on and what I am working. Mike         
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 30, 2018, 08:14:56 am
Its good to have plan A,B and C lined up isn't it. Ya never know what will pop up.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on March 30, 2018, 07:54:27 pm
So true JW. As promised below are pictures from bow I was working on. 1st is a cross section of what I can see in handle and 2nd is what I can see coming through belly side of limb.   Will try and finish after bow trade is done but don't trust that enough to make for some one else. 

Looking into some other staves and will have a game plane by end of the weekend.

 (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/40413873544_cbf6445287_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24zeEBb)IMG_1611 (https://flic.kr/p/24zeEBb) 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Hw9D2u](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/27251807818_a35ca94f09_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1612 (https://flic.kr/p/Hw9D2u)   (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 30, 2018, 09:04:48 pm
The heart wood from Lemon wood.
(https://i.imgur.com/K3VqKaul.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QJGOCirl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T7dJKe9l.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on March 31, 2018, 07:40:07 am
Ok guys, I've decided to use an Osage stave. As soon as I get ill start on it. This stave comes from a reputable source.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 02, 2018, 07:24:29 am
Spent some time going through what I have on hand. Did some research, and put a good bit of though in what to do next.

I have a stave from an American Elm sapling. Did not give this species much thought for the trade build because of the wide range of comments I have seen in regards to elm in general. However the more I have been looking into things the more positive I felt about it. I think this is something the guy I'm building for would like so I'm going to run with it.

Sapling was about 2.75" at large end and 2.25" at top, so will have a high crown. Going to have it bend through the handle so maybe I can keep it shorter. Will try and get a picture posted in the next few days. Mike

   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 02, 2018, 07:46:04 am
I tillerred my black locust to 45 pounds at 20 inches.  I then gave the stave a good heat treatment and now have it set aside for a bit.  Here are some pictures after the heat treatment.

(http://i.imgur.com/c5UmL2J.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/MIblO9H.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 02, 2018, 07:55:08 am
I then grabbed a bitternut hickory stave and started on it. 

(http://i.imgur.com/ARK9Dfk.jpg)

I took the bark off and roughed it out. I didn't like what I found, bug tracks.  It is very thin ringed wood and I went down 2 rings and it looks like I need to go down 1 more. I may set that aside for another time and grab something else from my pile.  Here is what it looks like after going down 2 rings.

(http://i.imgur.com/HcaU5SK.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on April 02, 2018, 07:59:15 am
That black locust is looking sweet Swamp! Can't wait to see it finished up.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on April 02, 2018, 08:12:11 am
Swampman, That's looking awesome!  I was actually thinking of trying a Cherokee style bow like that myself, and that is inspiring to see. 

Just for an update on my limited progress:

I just received a couple of staves in the mail this weekend!  Both are well seasoned.  One is a yew stave, because my son has been wanting to try and build a yew ELB.  The other is a vine maple stave.  I've been admiring some of the bows people have been turning out with vine maple and have really wanted to give it a try.  I believe this will be my stave for this project.  My interests lately have been in building bendy handle plains style bows, so I've been thinking I would just keep with my momentum for this project, and build one a little bit longer, but still bending through the handle, such as a Cherokee style.  Now I'm just a little concerned that using vine maple for such a bow may be a little inappropriate since I'm sure Cherokees were not getting their hands on vine maple, but maybe something similar.  I also have a friend who has offered to let me use some of his stock of seasoned pecan and elm, so there's a small chance I may go that route.  I may be getting corrective eye surgery this weekend, which will keep me out of the workshop if that happens, but if I can't start shaving some staves this week, I will definitely get to it next week.

Eric

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 02, 2018, 02:46:55 pm
Swmpman they both look good to me!  There’s bows in those staves for sure. I know what you mean about the bugs though. My failure rate on any bug damaged staves has to at least 50%. Last one was a beautiful thick ringed Osage stave...and pow!  Now when i see bug damage i set em aside till I’m desperate.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 02, 2018, 03:27:57 pm
Yeah, I will probably eventually put a rawhide backing on that hickory stave but for now I have plenty of other wood that does not have bug damage.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 02, 2018, 04:24:50 pm
I feel like I’ll be getting a late start compared to you guys. But ll probably be starting in te next few weeks. I’ve got about a half dozen to get done first. I’m just waiting for it not to be raining on a day off.
But I’d might as well get my plans going. I have some choices in wood that will determine the style of bow I go with. I have: black locust, shagbark hickory, honey locust, hackberry, Osage, ERC, Black cherry, and walnut. The ERC and cherry staves would be sinew backed to help keep them together. The others would more than likely be self. So anything anyone wants to see? I haven’t used hickory in a while and I have some gnarly but straight staves in it that I may toy with if I get no suggestions.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 02, 2018, 04:32:32 pm
I may try an ERC branch bow in an elb as I just remembered I have a half dozen of those of those I cut.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 02, 2018, 06:44:02 pm
ERC is the coolest when they work. My two attempts kapow!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 02, 2018, 06:51:31 pm
Kyle, black locust a eastern woodland style. I say that because its on my list of dream bows to build when I get some locust. Black locust was the wood of choice around here.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on April 02, 2018, 08:34:52 pm
Kyle black locust classic native american d bow. Haha always wanted one.  Kinda like the one you just made Mike! But seriously anything any of you make I will be very pleased with! Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 02, 2018, 11:11:26 pm
That's a nice list of woods you have there Kyle! Like them all :) Never gave much thought to ERC until I joined this forum, I have seen some real pretty ones in the last few months. Of course there's nothing like a good piece of hickory too. I could go on...and on lol

Very nice looking bow your working on there Mike!

Will post a picture tomorrow of the elm I been working on.  Just got a little bend in it and want to get a string on it before I do much more. Going to let it sit to make sure its dry before I do that. Going to get some other staves ready while I wait a little on this one. What I thought was my best locust, wasn't but oh well     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 03, 2018, 10:58:31 am
Update - floor tillering starts tonight.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 03, 2018, 12:39:10 pm
Hoosierf, that's not a peep sight in that limb is it?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 03, 2018, 01:23:14 pm
Might be a peep before it’s all over. That knot has me a little worried and probably mandates a linen back, but i like the added security anyway and i have some rattler skins inbound.  At least the knot doesn’t go thru the back.

I don’t have enough overall length for static tips but i shoud be able to put a nice bit of gentle recurve with steam followed by dry heat to keep the whole limb working. It’s still plenty wide at about 2 1/2” so I’ll get some set but hopefully not too much. If i think it’s excessive I’ll glue on some built up tip overlays to keep the early draw weight up. Just wish the stave was 5-7” longer.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 03, 2018, 08:00:23 pm
Got the bark stripped off my stave today. I was hoping to get two bows out of that one stave but It has  a pretty rough knot towards one end that was hidden under the bark and I’m gonna try to bypass it . I’ll rough her out and get it bending some time this week.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 03, 2018, 09:33:33 pm
Hope to continue build come this weekend. Stave is still long and full width yet but will need to steam correct to center string. Also hope to remove a deflexed area in the 1 limb while I'm at it. Still some work to do before I can put a long string on it.   Mike 

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/891/39411258960_31831fda7d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/233D1dQ)IMG_1618 (https://flic.kr/p/233D1dQ) 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/HEAV1d](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/27347466448_634cbe6416_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1617 (https://flic.kr/p/HEAV1d)  (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 04, 2018, 09:27:26 am
Here is my excavated knot. Filled with CA and baking soda.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 04, 2018, 02:24:54 pm
Took another long look at my stave. I’m going to try to get two staves out of it after all. If it works out, I’ll have a stave for the trade and a good character stave. If not, I’ll have none and pull the bark off of another one. I may mark the grain well and saw it rather than split.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 04, 2018, 02:38:11 pm
My staves will be here Friday or so. I said Osage but it might be hop hornbeam? I change my mind a lot, its not final till the first shaving comes off. It will depend on which one I think I can make a better bow from. Nothing to do with the staves its the bowyer.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on April 04, 2018, 03:20:59 pm
i don't know which way to go either. I glued up a tri-lam hickory, walnut, hickory in a D/R design today. I don't know if I should go that route or an osage self bow. I wish I could read my victims mind to see which they would rather receive lol
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 04, 2018, 03:58:52 pm
Timmy, either one would likely suit any of us just fine. I’m looking forward to seeing and shooting someone else’s work. As of now I have only touched a couple self bows other than mine and never shot anyone else’s.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 04, 2018, 06:24:19 pm
I'm with Morgan, this is the only way I will ever own a custom bow that I didn't make myself. And it wont cost me $1500 LOL.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on April 04, 2018, 08:31:29 pm
Anyone tells ya gotta have a band saw and edge sanders or profile sanders to fit a cruved riser perfectly has never seen a piece of furniture made before the invention of electricity.

I would like a few hints if you've got some :D :D
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 04, 2018, 09:13:00 pm
DC next time I do one ill post some picks in the build along section. Or in one of my build/help along threads.  I basically cut the riser an inch or half inch to long on the ends and a tad bit wide. Mark out the curve using the R/D bow out of the form and cleaned up. Clamp it down and rasp it pretty close. Then take two boards screwed together at a 90 with a long piece of sandpaper stapled to one. Then lay the riser on there and work it across the sandpaper, when its through cut to length. Its basically a Fred Flintstone edge sander. Time consuming but very effective .
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 05, 2018, 02:34:51 pm
I made some shavings today.

(http://i.imgur.com/dDC14gt.jpg)

I worked on this stave of HHB and effectively ruined it when my draw knife dug too deep and peeled a big chunk of the back up.

(http://i.imgur.com/yg5DyXL.jpg)

I then started working on this black walnut stave.

(http://i.imgur.com/zReXFgf.jpg)

Got it close to my lines with the draw knife. Now my arms are tired and I am taking a break.

(http://i.imgur.com/I77kpXA.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 05, 2018, 02:42:22 pm
Swampman, do you have to chase a ring on that hhb? Ive heard you can remove the bark and use the sap wood like hickory.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 05, 2018, 03:30:30 pm
JW, I was using the wood right under the bark as the back. I use my draw knife to take a stave to my lines and I got a little too aggressive and my draw knife dug in way to deep.  That stave now needs to be a 1/2 inch wide bow. 

It is no big deal because I have a lot of dry staves.  It pays to slow down though.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 05, 2018, 04:08:28 pm
Thanks Swampman, so its kinda like hickory in that regard. That's probably what ill use for the swap. I'm cant wait.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on April 06, 2018, 09:28:38 am
Started de-barking this Vine Maple stave last night.  I'm hoping to finish getting it roughed out this weekend.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/891/40561225664_b1ffd27fd9_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24NfTfY)20180405_183424 (https://flic.kr/p/24NfTfY) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/26403713567_dbdef784be_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GecW9P)20180405_190107 (https://flic.kr/p/GecW9P) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr

I'm thinking I will go with the traditional American flatbow design, but I may still look into an eastern woodlands bendy-handle design.  Reckon I'll have this sorted out by the end of the weekend.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 06, 2018, 09:13:46 pm
Floor tillered, steamed, and now drying out.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 07, 2018, 01:06:02 pm
Ok Guys, I got this hop hornbeam from sensei  (Pat B.). So it has mystical properties being that it came from a subterranean wood vault below his mountain side castle deep in the heart of Transylvania. In other words Pats basement, its all in the wording. I guess being from Transylvania county he's heard all these jokes a million times. It also came with some birdshot, no entry wounds in the back of bow, no telling how long that stuff has been in there. After working it down all damage is gone. Pulled out three pieces. Now to get it straightened out and turned into a bow. It has some natural reflex, might try and put a tad bit of deflex in the handle area.
(https://i.imgur.com/E7xk8Yxl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wStKBFXl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yPpeuzol.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1QR4geRl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dYJf5wnl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 07, 2018, 04:33:11 pm
Well I oiled and heated it, got it squeezed straightish. Ill leave it till tomorrow, will probably have to put a wedge in there and repeat the process to get nice and straight, a lil at a time seemed to be safe to my thinking.
(https://i.imgur.com/afmxEETl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6E030Jsl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 08, 2018, 12:23:52 pm
It looks like many of you are off to a great start.  I got a chance to do some more work on the black locust bow i heat treated last week.  Here is a peek at the progress.

(http://i.imgur.com/XXi6lOE.jpg)

I will do some more shooting of that one before I start the finishing touches.

In the meantime I am going to go do some more work on something else that has a little longer draw.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 08, 2018, 03:25:39 pm
Some one may be getting some hickory backed maple. May take me awhile to figure this hornbeam out.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 08, 2018, 07:38:36 pm
I started work on my black walnut stave and found a crack in the side just out of the fade. I had to narrow that area by 1\4 inch to get below that crack. That stave will still make a bow but not the one I had planned so I set it aside for now.

I pulled out a black locust stave and chased a ring on it.  I have it roughed out now. It is currently 69 inches long so I have a lot of wood to work with. I am done for today.

(http://i.imgur.com/jmMj9OO.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/KOeySEm.jpg)


I did also shoot about 50 arrows through the other black locust. It is a fun little shooter
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 09, 2018, 09:26:38 pm
Hey folks. Got things a little  better on my elm stave. I got the side profile looking better but have a dog leg in it I need to work on. 

A guy at work tinkers with leather working so asked him to make me a pair of tillering boots and a strap for a new tillering set up I hope to make with a pulley. After I took the pictures below I thinned up the tips to 1" and tried the boots to see how they worked and also to see if I was even close to even on tiller. Boots worked great. Tiller needs a good bit of work yet, 30 pounds at about 4" but not evened out yet, just ran out of time tonight. Hope to even things up and reduce the limbs some then try and straighten.  Hope to spend a good deal of my evenings this week hard at it, good or bad come what may  :BB

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/864/26483543097_211ecff9eb_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gmg5G2)IMG_1622 (https://flic.kr/p/Gmg5G2) 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/261meB6](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/41354424391_4e7ac179d1_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1623 (https://flic.kr/p/261meB6)         (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 09, 2018, 09:32:58 pm
Well caveguys looks like my hornbeam will sit in the corner for awhile until I figure it out. Its gonna be a beautiful bow one day.
So I've been working on a backup for my backup. Its hickory backed hard maple. I cut that hickory backing off a 8/4 slab I got at the hard wood store. Very interesting color on it. The grain is straight as I could find, one tiny wave dead center of the handle shouldn't be an issue. I found a couple bows that had backing strips like that so the combo of heart and sap doesn't seem to matter as long as the grain is straight enough.
 Still has lil over an inch and half of reflex, should come out straight when finished.
(https://i.imgur.com/PMbdJyFl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pzqR3gcl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PMbdJyFl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NqtNpjvl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T5jbxYBl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on April 09, 2018, 09:47:34 pm
JW  that is gonna look sweet! Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 09, 2018, 09:51:21 pm
Yea I think it will to.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 10, 2018, 08:04:06 pm
Jw, that is looking real nice. 

I narrowed the handle a touch on my black locust reserve bow just until I could feel the handle start to work.  I just didn't feel like it was doing anything before. I spent some more time shooting it. Here is a braced and full draw picture.  This bow is 54 inches ntn and is about 45 pounds at 26 inches. 

(http://i.imgur.com/IKcypu4.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Q5Ctghr.jpg)

Feedback is welcome as this is the shortest bow i have ever made.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 10, 2018, 09:21:42 pm
Very Nice - how wide are the limbs?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 10, 2018, 09:35:41 pm
The limbs are about 1.5 inches wide most of the length. I narrowed the handle just a tad under that to make it a bit more comfortable to hold.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 10, 2018, 10:01:44 pm
That looks really good! I bet it shoots well.if I have one to make a second I may have to put one in to have a chance at that one.
Actually I need to get started on bow 1 soon.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 11, 2018, 05:14:42 pm
That’s a fine looking shortbow swampman! JW, that hickory back will be fine looking. Hoosier, how did your stave look off the form? How do you use a form like that with steam bending? Steam both limbs at once?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 12, 2018, 07:04:00 am
Morgan here’s the profile off the form. I steam one end at a time but dry heat them in between to set the profile. I need build a caul.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 12, 2018, 09:35:35 am
My repaired knot. Got it to 28” pulling 54# last night. I need some careful work around my knot as it’s stiff in that area. Pretty sure i can bring it in right around 50# @28”.  I put it back on blocks and did some heat treating and straightening for the final push. As i suspected it probably will take an inch of set but i think I’m pushing it with white wood 2” wide and 65” long with a stiff handle.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 12, 2018, 06:07:57 pm
Well guys, I heard a loud crack. Sanded it down a lil tillered some more,shot a couple dozen arrows, back on the tree and another loud crack. ,It was a pretty bow and a decent shooter it seemed at a short draw. I believe with the maple I rounded the corners of the backing strip to much. Never fear I got more wood. Just gonna go with hickory and bamboo.  That combo is know to be tough and efficient.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 13, 2018, 01:45:06 am
Looks like it’s coming together Hoosier.
 JW, you’ve been having a heck of a run of bad luck brother.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 13, 2018, 11:56:44 am
Morgan, I don't believe in luck. I call it a learning experience a.k.a I screwed up.
Bayou Ben mentioned thinning the backing to thin on the edges, I believe that's what I done. Worked on other materials but not with the maple, lesson learned.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on April 13, 2018, 12:31:59 pm
JW can you post a picture? I'm deep in the throws of learning maple backing and seeing breaks may help.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 13, 2018, 04:40:44 pm
DC, it was maple backed with hickory. Bayou Ben said something that got me thinking. What I did was round the corners by marking an eighth  in on the back and an eighth down and removing the wood between. So if you looked at the back of the bow you could see the maple on the sides, which I guess put to much stress on the edges of the maple belly wood and it popped a splinter underneath the hickory backing. This is the only thing that makes sense. The maple I have is good but not suitable for backings.

The area in question is center right in the picture, you cant see it but you can feel a slightly raised spot. As loud as the crack was it had to have been under the backing not in it else it would have blown completely. looks perfectly fine from the side.
(https://i.imgur.com/8Xl2ivVl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on April 13, 2018, 04:44:02 pm
I wonder if the same kind of thing could happen with a trapped back
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 13, 2018, 04:46:52 pm
I would imagine so, depending on the wood combination and the backing.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 15, 2018, 06:48:22 am
Nice looking bow Swampman! Tiller looks nice and even to my eye.

Hoosierf, I had to google that super glue and baking soda trick after I read what you posted. That's a pretty neat trick, I had never heard of before :)

I was looking forward to that 2 tone hickory JW. Too bad it didn't work out. Looking forward to see what you come up with next.

As for me....I have that sapling bow to about 15 inches on the tree at 50 pounds. Around 8 ounces yet to remove using the mass principle idea. Going to get the tips bending more and then try and try and do some heat corrections to it. Not convinced I can make draw length and weight on this one with out too much set. I'll get some pictures up tonight with it on the tree, before trying the corrections. Just in case, I was able to cut some bitternut hickory, I have 1 stave that, best I can tell has no knots and is a real nice piece of wood. Ill be getting that to close dimensions when I cant work on the elm. Mike     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 15, 2018, 10:02:09 am
Another two tone hickory, only this time the belly and back are hickory. I want to find out if it was the mistake I made beveling the edges over that maple belly or the hickory backing. I took another piece that was two toned ripped a backing strip off of it flipped it around and glued it on with some Perry reflex.
I may be a glutton for punishment but man this will make an interesting looking bow. Of course function and durability are priority number one but hey if ya can make it look cool in the process why not right. Ill post some pics later when I get the tip overlays filed to shape.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 15, 2018, 11:23:54 am
Well guys lets try it this way, all hickory. I'm totally obsessed with getting a bow with this color combo. Tips are still wide well thin them down later. 68 inches 1 1/4 at the fades for 8 inches. 3/4 wide at the handle 1 5/8ths deep. Now to see if I can tiller it.
Not the best pics but you get the idea.
(https://i.imgur.com/NTKWuMFl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5aHNJ37l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OwD9DDWl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 15, 2018, 12:46:28 pm
No pics at the moment as I’m tied up with family stuff. I laid down three courses of sinew and i have some minor tillering to do then we make her pretty-ish.  She’s gonna survive knot and all so now i just need to let it cure some, shape the handle and start shooting it. It will be interesting to see final draw weight.   Before sinew i was at 48# at 28” with an inch of set and neutral set with the recurves.  I am hoping to get 55# @ 28” as it my trade partner has a higher draw weight preference. I’m in his range but near the lower end and i want him to love the bow. The sinew will give me some room to pike it if necessary and also narrow the tips a bunch to get some speed. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 15, 2018, 05:45:42 pm
Well folks, was working hard on this bow and was doin ok till I went from long string to brace  and forgot to take into account the difference. took things too far too fast. My mistake, lesson lernt. Over 2 inches of set and still 5 inches short of what I need. Learned a bunch on this new to me design. I will be back to this sometime down the road. Pictures below is where I was out. not bad but not great  )-w(

Where from here... never worked with osage but I think its time.  I think this will be most liked by my trade partner aka victim  :D  Hope to be back on track in a few days.
 
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/875/27610756208_e3da78af29_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/J4SkSQ)IMG_1635 (https://flic.kr/p/J4SkSQ)
    [url=https://flic.kr/p/GxxTBM](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/817/26611304207_bebaeed5eb_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1634 (https://flic.kr/p/GxxTBM) 
 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on April 15, 2018, 06:16:57 pm
  Do you have an unbraced profile picture...Looks good on the tree...Right limb is upper, am I correct..
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on April 15, 2018, 06:23:13 pm
Looks like a nice 5 curve from here....
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 15, 2018, 06:32:08 pm
I do. Or can get one when I get back home. Had to post and run to get to a scout meeting. And have no idea how to do it off my phone.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 15, 2018, 08:43:07 pm
Yes Don right limb in that picture would be top. I have to admit I need to pay better attention on the profile at the beginning to gauge set/string follow, because I always work on pieces that are not straight. After looking at a previous post on this thread there was deflex in both mid limbs so I'd have to say I gained 1 inch of set. In picture below limbs are now delexed 1.5 inches not taking into account a small bit of relex in handle area.

Still need to align the string to the center of the handle. I have kept working on this piece because I could see the potential. Just getting there I knew would be a challenge. Kind of a love hate relationship lol

  (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/40592603385_2aa0634454_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24R2GLa)IMG_1636 (https://flic.kr/p/24R2GLa)      (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on April 15, 2018, 09:26:01 pm
  Thanks for the picture, still looks like a good 5 curve to me...
                                                                                              Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 15, 2018, 10:15:35 pm
Thanks Don. You have shared some real useful advice in the past. I don't take you works lightly. I'll give this one all I got and see what happens. No promises but it should be entertaining. Mike     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 19, 2018, 08:09:26 pm
Been pretty busy lately, looks like you guys have been to. Should be back to the swap bow this weekend or by Monday at the latest.
had some issues with that backing again, didn't raise a splinter but its getting fuzzy in one area I don't trust it. Going Saturday to get a backing strip from a local fellow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Springbuck on April 19, 2018, 10:22:15 pm
You guys are ahead of me.

But, here is a beautiful peeled black mulberry sapling stave, almost 5" diameter on the butt end, hanging out with another mulberry, some elm, and plum gathere'd the same day.  A few small knots and lumps, but pretty decent stave.


And here with a little time on the chopping block.  Actually, it's now roughed out with a nice thick handle, inch thick limbs, covered in spray poly, and cranked straighter on a flat form to dry for a while.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 20, 2018, 10:02:56 am
Since we are coming are coming g up on 30 days, I just went through and verified that everyone in this trade has posted something. Good news, everyone has been active in this trade. Some have made more progress than others but all have been posting something.  Nice work everyone.  Keep up the good work and remember, pictures are great!    :BB
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 20, 2018, 10:56:07 am
While working on moving stuff. I came across a roughed out black locust. It’s been taken to the floor tiller stage, but still needs a good heat treat and to be strung the first time. It’s set up to be a long(for a bendy handle) marrow bow. Excluding the plethora of knots. This is the style of bow I intended for my guy this year. Maybe ezcept the funky reflex going on in the handle qrea. Would anyone be offended if I went ahead and used this one for the trade? Or would you prefer one freshly shaped out? I had roughed out this one a few years ago for an uncle but ended up going with something different for him.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 20, 2018, 01:47:03 pm
Its been waiting to be a bow long enough, I say bring it to life. Wouldn't offend me, you made it, doesn't matter when you roughed it out.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 20, 2018, 03:38:13 pm
Kyle, i can’t imagine why you shouldn’t use that.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 20, 2018, 10:08:25 pm
I agree. There’s a good bit of character in that piece. It would be cool to see it bending.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on April 21, 2018, 05:28:36 am
Kyle,
        I would love to see that character stave come to full circle...
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 22, 2018, 10:39:34 am
Sinew is curing nicely. I moved her outside for some fresh air. It’s spent the last few weeks in an HVAC duct.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on April 22, 2018, 01:30:51 pm
That's looking real good Hoosier.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 23, 2018, 09:56:37 pm
Looks good Hoosierf. I chose to just order some hickory backing from pine hollows, at least ill know its good stuff. In the mean time I had to keep the government from spying on this maple bow ive got going so its wrapped in foil. Gonna back it with raw hide, if it survives should be a nice shooting bow. Pic came out blurry for some reason.
(https://i.imgur.com/woWzB3Ul.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on April 24, 2018, 07:01:58 am
All right, I'm back to work.  Had Lasik done a little over a week ago, so I stayed out of my dusty shop for a while, and then had a busy weekend with scouts and such, but got back to working on my bow a little last night. 

I took another look at my vine maple stave, and noticed a little ring-violating gouge about middle of one of the limbs.  I figured I have two choices.  I can just smooth it down and back the bow with rawhide and continue with the current design, or I can shorten the bow a bit, slide it to the other end of the stave, and make a bendy-handle eastern woodlands design.  I found that the gouge is 59" from the other end of the stave, so I should have plenty of length for plan B.  I was really excited about the design I had drawn on there, but I really like the character of the back of this stave, so I don't really want to cover it up with rawhide, so I drew up the shorter-bow design and will hopefully have a little time this evening to make some wood chips fly and come back with some pictures to post tomorrow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 24, 2018, 07:18:44 am
Hoosierf, did you brace that backwards after adding the sinew? Or did the sinew drying do that?

Going to order some x-ray glasses(if they still sell them from bubble gum wrappers) to see what you got JW  8)

No pics yet from me but still at it. Been reading everything I can on 5 curve, gull wing designs. Hope to heat treat belly this week then will post some pics before I put a string on it. Got some good ideas to finish it up if I can get it to full draw so looking forward to things. Got a piece of osage in last week just in case. So may tinker with that while elm rehydrates. Mike       
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 24, 2018, 08:35:50 am
I brace it backward to encourage it to start reflexing. After a few days it does it all on its own.  No help form bracing required.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 24, 2018, 09:07:41 pm
Put some rawhide on that maple, be a couple days for that to dry out so I worked on a all hickory trilam. Took six hours to make a one piece tapered core lam by hand, if that backing pops, I'm opening up a can of whoopass.
(https://i.imgur.com/3G0bmnpl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RWEzJuJl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UioBJ0Ml.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pW5RmlHl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 07:50:18 am
The core and belly in that trilam pic are 73 inches long, the back is 66. I will cut of the excess after glue up. Makes it look wrong in the pic, I learned this from some one who makes a lot of these type boys.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 25, 2018, 11:42:58 am
Well the tips are too thin on my birch so i spliced on some pear reflex tips i cut while pruning a widow friend’s tree. That tree makes some darn fine wine so it will be just fine on this bow. Sinewed over the v splices last night with TBII. I will shape and straighten them tonight and see how my tiller looks. I’m almost ready to shoot her in. In the meantime i have a real nice HHB reflexed stave and a backed Osage stave started because they were next on the project list. Now if something happens i have backup options in the works. As of right now I’m really digging the yellow birch. The profile is identical with the new pear tips. I just hope to keep my early draw weight up.   The birch tips were opening up too much.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 02:51:10 pm
Sounds good Hoosierf, haven't made pear wine in years. The bow sounds good as well.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 25, 2018, 03:14:28 pm
This wine is practically brandy. More like Pear Jack. Ha
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 04:14:11 pm
Does it come with the bow?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 08:49:37 pm
Well guys she came out of the form perfect, cant remember the R/D measurements. The belly and core were two slices from the same board so you have to look close to tell its a trilam. The riser I steamed to fit, I cant explain whats in my head but I think it will work out great. Sort of a pistol grip feel without that carved riser look. If you look at the pics you can tell what I'm going for.
(https://i.imgur.com/pMV2jKKl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kVRLl0ll.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VTmfvVdl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CbIUbjal.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WH8v30Gl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FW7Wh91l.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 09:17:04 pm
One more.
(https://i.imgur.com/eU9L1Kol.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 25, 2018, 09:23:12 pm
I think I must’ve done a pretty decent job of floor tillering when I shaped this out. I did a floor tiller check, it looked good so I low braced. That looked about right, so I went to a high brace and I think it looks pretty good. I’m thinking it’s time to heat treat and start working it back.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 25, 2018, 09:27:00 pm
Kyle, you're one floor tillering machine. Looks great.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 25, 2018, 11:08:33 pm
I wouldn’t say I’m good at floor tiller, just got lucky on this one.
I didn’t pull it very far yet as I don’t have my tree set up. But I checked the weight with my stick and hand scale to get an idea of where it sits. It’s pulling 30# at 12”. So probably not far off of 50-55# at 20”. So perfect place for heat treat. My forms are still at my parents so, heat treat will have to wait.im gonna try to even out te reflex when I do.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 26, 2018, 07:06:15 am
Maybe its been waiting so long its been tillering its self. It really wants to be a bow, it might want to come home to N.C. to. Black locust was the top bow wood around here.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 26, 2018, 08:33:03 pm
Well guys I got the handle on and cleaned her up. That steam bent riser worked out well, my hand naturally goes to the sweet spot, driving finger dead center of bow, I like it. I need to put a lil more slope in the riser fade, its not as abrupt as it appears to be in the pictures.  So far so good start tillering tomorrow I hope.
(https://i.imgur.com/aUwwkftl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tlXwXy5l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/leTVNdil.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1pbG5TLl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vlccxDHl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on April 26, 2018, 08:51:22 pm
Looking good guys. Was gonna work on mine today, but replaced a septic line instead. Maybe Monday or tuesday.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on April 26, 2018, 09:02:56 pm
Looking good guys. Was gonna work on mine today, but replaced a septic line instead. Maybe Monday or tuesday.

Well, $hit happens....

Sorry Morgan. Pear brandy talkin’ there.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on April 27, 2018, 06:46:38 am
  Looking good Mr. Malone....
                                             Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on April 27, 2018, 07:04:56 am
I just thought of something. The humidity has been high for awhile so I should probably make sure this thing is good and dry before I seal it up and start tillering. I bring it in at night but better safe than sorry I guess.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 27, 2018, 05:54:09 pm
Pictures below are where my piece of elm is at right now. I'm close but trying to correct for sting alignment has proven more difficult than I had figured. tried steam and heat gun. seems to keep creeping back same old same old after a few days. I never had this problem with black locust before.  About 3/4 of and inch off from where I need to be. Going to set it aside for the week or so, to think things over on this one. I have found it better, when I run into issues, to stop and think on it for a few days. Always gives me better results.

Not going to be sitting idle, I have way to much fun with this hobby even if things don't always work out.  Below is also a picture of a locust and osage staves I got in a week or so ago. Dry and ready to go. Never worked with osage before.   Seems to be a great stave. Hope to get a ring chased and see how far I get this weekend. Mike
  (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/967/27876411068_f2292b1954_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JtkTP3)IMG_1813 (https://flic.kr/p/JtkTP3) 
[url=https://flic.kr/p/25etkdX](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/963/40846566755_87ddb35835_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1814 (https://flic.kr/p/25etkdX)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/26xikL1](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/824/41704671132_34d9197dec_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)IMG_1816 (https://flic.kr/p/26xikL1)   (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on April 27, 2018, 11:36:44 pm
Chased a ring on the osage stave. Need to clean up around some pin knots yet. Gonna lay it out tomorrow 1st, think I can keep most of the knots out of a bow. A bit more character to it than I expected, and nothing wrong with that. Figuring 66" ntn, 4"ridged handle, 2-3" fades. Going to lay it out 2" wide to start anticipating to be able to narrow it down a little from there.
     (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/865/41032259524_0333606bf9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25vT4dq)IMG_1818 (https://flic.kr/p/25vT4dq)    (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 01, 2018, 04:36:18 pm
Got all the cambium scraped off my stave and profile laid out. I’ll rough it out and maybe start tillering it this weekend. Most bows I’ve made for myself from hackberry has been 1 3/8”-1 1/2” wide just for personal preference. As this is going to someone else, and the general rule with whitewoods is wider =better / safer, I’m gonna rough this one 2” and probably wind up 1 3/4”. Poor photo, but it shows progress little as it may be
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on May 01, 2018, 06:07:58 pm
I am excited to see the results of that hackberry stave Morgan.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 01, 2018, 08:29:09 pm
Mike, the stave ought to make a good bow if I don’t goof it up. Has a tad of prop twist that I’ll try to do away with if it doesn’t go away when I get it roughed out. Also a little jog on one tip. I guarantee you the result will be pretty modest compared to many of these other guys bows.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 03, 2018, 04:27:41 pm
Last night I gave the black locust bow a good heat treat and pulled the one limb into a matchin reflex out of the handle. Hopefully when I pull it off the form when I get home it’ll hold and be a matching amount of reflex.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 03, 2018, 11:54:26 pm
I’m saturating to pull it back and plan to take it to full draw tonight. It’s 64” nock to nock and 1.25” wide excluding knot areas I left wider. How much weight do you all think I can get this piece of black locust to pull and maintain 1” or less of set at 28”. I’m working on evening out the strength of the limbs. The bend is looking real good to me as o pull back. Just the one limb is showing a bit strong and I’m slowely easing it back as I even things. The handle tilt is slowely going away. I haven’t dropped weight yet as I’m just starting to touch the goal weight. I have a goal weight I’m pulling it too that may or may not give away the ricipient. But I’m curious what you all think it can be pulled to with no I’ll effects. I’ll get pics up of the bend when I’m done for the night.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 04, 2018, 12:38:28 am
Sorry about the poor quality pictures, it’s a little dim where I’m working. Here it is pulled to 26” sitting at 3/4” set after unbracing. It’s time for a sanding and shoot in before final weighing and a tree pull to full draw.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on May 04, 2018, 01:26:05 am
Looking good Kyle! I'm guessing it's in the mid 40s right now. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 04, 2018, 01:48:47 am
Thanks! It may be pulling a decent bit more than that, but I won’t say how much more.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on May 04, 2018, 06:15:31 am
That is looking great Kyle. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 04, 2018, 09:58:11 am
Looks like you’re doing fine work on that difficult stave Kyle!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 04, 2018, 05:07:18 pm
I may have pushed it a little hard. They’re not bad, but I fretted out one spot on the lower limb where it narrows down between the handle and a knot. That’s what I get for trying to push it to 65#. It’s still sitting at 1” of set after being braced for an hour and about 3 dozen arrows. It’s very quiet and shock free and throws a 625gr arrow at 140fps at my 26” draw and touched 145 when I pull to 27”. So definitely huntable but nothing impressive by any means.  It’s hard to see in te picture but the frets are there.

What do you all think, finish it out or start a new one?

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 05, 2018, 06:05:09 am
I’d long string brace it backwards to open the frets then fill them with the thinnest CA you have, sand it after it’s hard, then do it again. Then I’d trap the back a bit on both limbs for balance where the frets are and shoot several flights of arrows to see if the frets changed. If they’re stable I’d keep on going. I have a couple like that I’ve been shooting a few years now. Neither are any worse. I’ve also wrapped both limbs with sinew after the super glue treatment and that’s worked for me. It’s too cool to burn. If you’re not comfortable after the shoot-in throw some tru oil on it and give it away to a close friend or leave it for a guest bow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 05, 2018, 07:37:41 am
Been busy guys, gonna get back to it this weekend.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 05, 2018, 09:00:52 pm
Got a little done between chores, fixing a trailer, and running errands today(gotta love these longer days!  ;D ). Got it roughed out, bending a little bit on the floor, and about 99% of the rough tool marks removed. Limbs are about.
 1 7/8”. I tapered the tips the last 8” to 1/2” tips for now. Really don’t like the looks of that, would like to taper it from 12” or so but a little snake starts about 8 1/2” from one tip and I don’t want to cut through that wiggly grain.. Not sure how I’m gonna handle it, but I don’t like the way it looks. Don’t like the way them wide limbs look for that matter lol.
Gonna get it bending enough with a long string to brace then heat the belly and remove the slight prop twist if I can. I may induce some reflex too, undecided now.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on May 05, 2018, 11:51:16 pm
 Morgan,
               Is that a piece of Hickory? Go ahead and blend the tapers, it won't hurt it...Nice start...I like the character

                                                                                                                                                                          Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 06, 2018, 01:35:37 am
Morgan,
               Is that a piece of Hickory? Go ahead and blend the tapers, it won't hurt it...Nice start...I like the character

                                                                                                                                                                          Don
No sir, it is hackberry. I’ll try to bring that taper back some then, Thanks!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 06, 2018, 05:56:35 am
Looks good Morgan.  I often end up with that same taper at the tips and i know exactly what you mean.

I have my backup plan almost done.  Here she is at first brace. Red oak backed Osage. Never seen that one before but i like red oak backs. I get these really awesome quartersawn 3/16th 2 1/2” wide eight foot cabinet fillers at Fleet Farm. It’s drawing in the 65# range i would guess. I haven’t pulled it past 25” and that’s right at 55# and I’m shooting for 55# at 28”. No set so far. The Osage is an old timber found in a barn.

I’ll get some more photos.

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 06, 2018, 09:17:18 am
Nice Hoosier!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DuBois on May 06, 2018, 09:55:13 am
Looks like I've been missing out here and things are really picking up. Great starts so far.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 06, 2018, 06:58:21 pm
72” ntn 73” overall. 61.5# @ 28.5”. Red oak backed Osage. Might drop the 5 or 6#. It want to shoot it more first. 100 shots so far.  Unbraced pic is immediately after unstringing.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: jeffp51 on May 06, 2018, 07:58:33 pm
looks like that right limb is stiffer by a good bit than the left.  might need a few scrapes more on that side.  but stay away from that fade.  it looks like it is doing most of the bending.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 07, 2018, 06:03:25 am
Looking good fellows. I will get some pics this evening. Having some problems staying connected on the internet, gotta call some one to check it out.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 07, 2018, 07:33:46 am
looks like that right limb is stiffer by a good bit than the left.  might need a few scrapes more on that side.  but stay away from that fade.  it looks like it is doing most of the bending.

Yep i see it. Middle 8” of the right/top limb and the tip needs just a fuzz.  You can see in person that the belly lam is probably 1/32 thicker there as well. Thank you.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on May 07, 2018, 01:03:21 pm
Hello All,

Found a little time to put a little work in.  It may not be looking too much like a bow yet, but I got the entire stave reduced to about 1 3/4" wide.  Final thickness should be closer to around 1 1/2" for this attempt at an eastern woodlands style bow.  This stave is thick enough, that I want to try and get another bow off the belly, which is why I reduced the entire stave to a constant thickness.  Now I will pay a visit to my friend to use his bandsaw to reduce the belly so that I can hopefully get at least a kids bow out of the belly.  Then it won't take much to get this to the tillering stage, hopefully this weekend.  I really like this stave.  It's got some nice curves in it to keep it interesting.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/982/41956636951_273c470e1e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26VyJqg)20180504_171234 (https://flic.kr/p/26VyJqg) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr

I did spend a little time this weekend building up my stave stock as well.  Cut some mullberry off a friend's property and got 4 nice, strait staves and a few billets split and up in my shed seasoning.  Can't wait to put these to work next year.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/969/27088191657_a0b801d2a3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HgG4Dc)20180505_121744 (https://flic.kr/p/HgG4Dc) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/981/41238771404_a161f8cd76_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25Q8u15)20180505_115228 (https://flic.kr/p/25Q8u15) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 10, 2018, 08:01:57 pm
Did a little more work today. Got it to low brace and bending. At the point I need to heat the belly, kinda nervous about it, one limb is getting ridiculously thin the last foot or so as is. Heating always makes it stiffer and that will increase the problem. May put some reflex into it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 10, 2018, 08:45:55 pm
Morgan, I’m very curious about your scale setup there.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on May 10, 2018, 08:55:24 pm
Doing some nice work there guys!

Sorry I got way busy for the last week or 2. But I been plugging away at this osage stave every chance I get. Got the limbs bending some in the last 2 days. Its about 1 7/8 at the fades and narrows up to 1 3/4 before it tapers. With all the curves in it those are approximate numbers. Think I'm going try and even up the reflex this weekend so I can get to tillering next week. Tips and handle are oversized yet, string alignment should not be a problematic as that elm I was working on was.

I think with what I got to work with, I'm going to go with 3 inch fades. I always like the way the grain appears there and that should show it off real nice. Got some more good ideas for this one but need to get it bending well first.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/41306666764_92d603e795_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25W8sVJ)IMG_1860 (https://flic.kr/p/25W8sVJ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/949/27156383927_3f34e011a8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HnHyPZ)IMG_1859 (https://flic.kr/p/HnHyPZ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/42027003261_bf881ca400_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/272MnSv)IMG_1858 (https://flic.kr/p/272MnSv) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 10, 2018, 11:04:31 pm
Morgan, I’m very curious about your scale setup there.
It’s just a cheap Berkley fish scale hooked to the string.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on May 11, 2018, 06:38:48 am
 Nice work hoosierf

 Morgan, I think the light and the slight limb twist in the picture is throwing me off on the thickness...Let that wood tell you where to scrape...Looks very even, nice start...

  M2A, nice looking character stave! great job so far...

    Looking good guys and enjoying your thread...
                                                                           Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 13, 2018, 05:36:26 am
Well Guys I seemed to have  screwed up the last four bows, Hmmmm. The heart wood from Hickory seems to be a good bit stiffer than Sap wood.  Never fear, I got this. Ordered some bamboo, and Mr. Ballenger will sell me some more lemon wood. That's what I made my first R/D bow from and its one of my favorites. Its also about the correct weight, so dimensions should be the same. I should have all the materials by Friday.
 Don't forget Mothers Day fellows. That would be a very bad thing.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 13, 2018, 10:25:25 am
 Bummer JW. I had a hickory bow separate between the heartwood and sapwood once as well. You’re probably onto the issue which is different tension strength between the sap and heart tears itself apart.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 15, 2018, 04:09:02 pm
Well, I put my stave in the corner to think about for a while. One limb shows stiff with the gizmo from transition to tips. Last time I sat with it, I was just scraping off marks and real thin (.300) for where it is. Still showing stiff there. So I got to ponder what I’m gonna do with that a while. Grabbed another stave and roughed it out. Floor tillered and heating the belly. Has a hump mid limb that causes natural deflex, but I’m gonna fix that. This stave is 1.5”x66” also hackberry. Don’t know which one will be the trade bow, but it’ll be the one I’m happiest with. ( If I don’t have to start another lol)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 15, 2018, 08:26:52 pm
Poor pic, just documenting progress. Heat treated belly, took out most all limb twist, and bent the limbs into reflex. I need to make a caul with a bit deeper curve this one don’t hold but about an inch and half out of the form sometimes not that.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on May 15, 2018, 11:52:56 pm
I decided to start a second bow as I don’t like how the black locust fretted in the one spot. This one is an ERC English longbow style that is 66” nock to nock. On the long string it is pulling 50# at 23” and looks good. It’s looking like I’ll hit weight without doing more than adjusting the tiller and excercosimg it back.  So I’m gonna give it a silk backing before I brace it up. I wouldn’t bother until it’s shooting except that some heartwood is peaking through in the outer third of one limb. 

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 16, 2018, 12:59:30 am
I decided to start a second bow as I don’t like how the black locust fretted in the one spot. This one is an ERC English longbow style that is 66” nock to nock. On the long string it is pulling 50# at 23” and looks good. It’s looking like I’ll hit weight without doing more than adjusting the tiller and excercosimg it back.  So I’m gonna give it a silk backing before I brace it up. I wouldn’t bother until it’s shooting except that some heartwood is peaking through in the outer third of one limb. 

Kyle
I’d like to try an erc bow; the stuff is everywhere around here. I’m chicken though.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 17, 2018, 01:40:07 pm
Got my bamboo, will get the rest of my materials tomorrow then we shall see how plan e works out.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on May 18, 2018, 04:18:54 pm
ok so I've settled on a personal favorite plus something new. I'm going with a hickory recurve. first time doing recurves so I hope you all can help me out. so right out the gate...should I recurve now or wait till after floor tiller? I plan on boiling these because I have never had much luck with dry heat on this stuff.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 18, 2018, 07:14:31 pm
Put a little more time on my secondary stave. Off the caul, wound up with 1 1/2” reflex. Tillered on long string to the point that I’m almost ready to brace and haven’t lost any reflex. Hopefully it’ll stay that way. Limbs were a little thicker than I usually have them when I heat treat, so I think I’ll probably heat treat in the caul again after I get it braced and tillered out to 18” or so just to make sure I have a good heat throughout the wood..
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 19, 2018, 08:28:10 pm
Got a piece of bamboo flattened, hopefully tomorrow I can splice my Lemonwood lams. I spliced some black walnut core lams and some Osage belly lams this evening. Going to splice the B walnut and lemon wood tomorrow. These two bows will be identical except for the belly and riser wood. Which ever seems better for the swap is the one I will send, the other will go to the St. Jude auction. I will take some pics also tomorrow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on May 19, 2018, 09:26:11 pm
Timmy,
           Boiling or steaming is a good choice...How radical of a bend do you want? Working curves or static?
                                                                                                                                                              Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on May 19, 2018, 10:05:54 pm
I like the looks of the working curves. I'll use one of my glass recurves to make the form from and we will see what happens
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on May 22, 2018, 01:02:14 pm
Looking good everyone. I've been insanely busy lately, but did get one started. It's actually one I started a long time ago. It's maple backed bamboo flooring, spliced at the handle. It's a little short on the draw length though, don't think it'll make it to 29". That bow wasn't plan A anyway. I thought I would finish it out to see if it would make it to my victims specs.

Anyway, keep up the good work fellas. Just wanted to let you all know I haven't disappeared.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 25, 2018, 10:31:32 am
Back up bow is done.
73”
53# @ 29”
Red oak backed Osage
Rattlesnake skins over silk
Wisconsin whitetail tip overlays on teak
Coyote handle overlay


I took a few more scrapes mid limb on the top after the f/d pic was take but still at 53#.

Now back to birch


Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on May 25, 2018, 01:26:11 pm
  hoosierf,
                That back up bow should be front row...Excellent work...
                                                                                                    Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 25, 2018, 09:18:05 pm
Beauty of a bow Hoosier. Feel bad for the feller getting my bow to be now lol.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on May 25, 2018, 10:10:57 pm
That looks real good Hoosier.  Nice work.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on May 26, 2018, 07:30:05 am
Thanks fellas. I don’t usually make them pretty but the backup designation of this backup bow is for a birthday in August so kind of killing two birds with one stone.

My birch is kind of in limbo. I probably have to make another plan. Its pretty clear to me that my stave is not long, dense, or wide enough to hit my target weight without taking too much set. I’ll probably finish it and see how it comes out while i ponder my options. I want to hit 55# 29” but even sinewed it’s not gonna make it. That stave wants to be a 40# bow. The bugger.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on May 28, 2018, 04:20:25 pm
Nice bow you finished there hoosierf!

Been making some progress on my piece of osage. This piece has more character than any I have worked on yet and its been a fun kinda challenge for me. String alignment has been a concern from the layout of this piece. So I left the nocks and handle wide. Got the bow braced and tillered to 20 inches yesterday. Then used Mr. Burchett's method he posted for this and was able to work the handle down to center string. Getting that done was a big relief however I had been leaving the last 12" of each limb heavy for side to side nock adjustments.

Plans from this point are to heat treat belly wood on cull, then get outer limbs narrowed up close to what I want. Then I can concentrate on getting them to bend enough to not over stress the rest of the limb as I work on tillering the last 8 inches or so. My hopes for this one is to round the fades and handle, no straight lines.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/42416399331_7de9d845cd_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27Cc8KR)IMG_1877 (https://flic.kr/p/27Cc8KR) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1721/42366632632_5f1a1f07a5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27xN4Rj)IMG_1876 (https://flic.kr/p/27xN4Rj) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/42416406111_e77da5b1df_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27CcaLK)IMG_1875 (https://flic.kr/p/27CcaLK) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1756/42366623952_8098f53754_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27xN2gE)IMG_1871 (https://flic.kr/p/27xN2gE) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/881/42416402521_06ed56561d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27Cc9GR)IMG_1873 (https://flic.kr/p/27Cc9GR) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
                         
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on May 28, 2018, 05:47:04 pm
That is looking real good Mike.  Looks like a challenging build.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on May 28, 2018, 07:01:44 pm
M2A,
        That look's gorgeous...I love the bend and that front profile is beautiful...That's one of those bows you say, jeesh I hate to send this off!
                     Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on May 28, 2018, 07:55:50 pm
Looking fine mike! Gonna have to use that string alignment tip!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on May 29, 2018, 05:06:29 pm
Well guys the busy busy busy is over for awhile so I should have plenty of time to work on my bow this week.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on May 30, 2018, 07:08:01 am
Some great looking bows coming out of this!

I was hoping to be further than this by now, but I reckon I've over-committed myself.  I started a bow-building class for some teenagers from church this last week after many requests by individuals to teach them how to make a bow.

I did finish getting the profile roughed out this last weekend, and will start working on the tiller this week as time affords.  I should be able to fling some arrows through this one within the next few weeks.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1729/40643333360_37fd73ed16_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24VvH1U)20180526_153219 (https://flic.kr/p/24VvH1U) by Eric Beard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155493952@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on June 01, 2018, 02:25:41 am
I made a bit more progress on the ERC longbow. I excercised it out to 24” where it’s pulling 50#. So I went ahead and fit some nocks. I still have to shape them and clean up rasping marks everywhere. It should still stay above 50# at 27”. If so I’ll be happy. I’ll get some more pics once I get the nocks shaped out, everything cleaned up, and hopefully pulled to full draw. And like every other cedar bow I’ve built, there is no noticeable set at this point.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on June 01, 2018, 05:14:14 am
Nice, ERC bows are just plain cool.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on June 02, 2018, 03:31:11 pm
Forgot to take pics before I glued it up. This is bamboo, black walnut and a Lemon wood belly. Found a piece of jatoba for the riser, should match nicely. The bow I'm holding is Lemon wood and ipe, it should look pretty similar. I will put a few coats of Tung oil on it when I'm done.
(https://i.imgur.com/S2pc5YKl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4Jl1MVFl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 02, 2018, 09:09:27 pm
Ought to be a quite pretty combo JW.
Humidity here has been nuts, I’ll get back to tillering my stick when the air dries out some.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on June 03, 2018, 06:01:55 pm
Got the riser glued on, its all over but the crying now fellows.
We have had t-storms every afternoon, talk about humidity.
(https://i.imgur.com/us74rMwl.jpg)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on June 03, 2018, 07:44:55 pm
Lets hope there won't be any crying this time JW.  Looking forward to seeing that one.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on June 03, 2018, 08:02:03 pm
You were going to tell us how to match the riser to the bow next time, hint, hint ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on June 06, 2018, 09:18:41 am
Howdy fellas,  still mulling the birch and letting the sinew do its thing so I started this linen backed Osage. I call it a timber bow instead of a stave bow or board bow because it came from a sweet barn timber my dad found in IN.

So far she’s 63” NTN, 1 5/8” wide, tiger wood handle overlay, Wisconsin whitetail tip overlays with a linen back. It’s a true quartersawn piece and i think it’s gonna be a dandy. I love this one so it’s probably the one that goes to my victim.

Right now it’s 51# @ 28” .  I have not shot it yet but tillering is nearly done. I gonna do an experiment with heat treating. I know the draw weight so I’ll put a light toast on it and see how much the weight increases.

Pics are right after it came off the tree. She’ arrow straight after a few mins so i think the heat treat will be good for it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on June 09, 2018, 07:25:14 pm
Light to medium toast. Picked up 5#. She’s now 56# @28” and safe to 29 or 30”. Pics soon starting to finish sand and make a string. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 09, 2018, 07:57:46 pm
Looks good Hoosierf. Looking forward to seeing it all finished up. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on June 12, 2018, 02:55:28 pm
I got a little further in the ERC elb. The horn has horn has been shaped and nocks cut. I haven’t messed with thes style nocks much. But I think they’ll turn out ok. Everything has been rough sanded. It’s been pulled to 50# at 25” before gluing I’m the nocks and sanding. I just need to shoot it in now and see where it ends up at 27-28”. Once I’ve shot and found the arrow pass, I’ll probably insert a piece of horn for a more durable arrow pass.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on June 12, 2018, 11:49:17 pm
I still have to shoot it. But here’s how it’s looking at the moment. Pulling 50# at 27”.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on June 13, 2018, 06:46:12 am
Lookin good. I have ERC envy. Now i gotta try it again. Last one i tried was sinewed and only about 62” long but over 2” wide. Pow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on June 13, 2018, 07:11:37 am
That does look good Kyle.  Looks like it will be a fun one to shoot.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 17, 2018, 09:24:54 pm
That ERC is gonna look great all prettied up with them horn nocks.

I been plugging along using every chance I have to work on my bow. Progress has been slow but continue to move forward. Need to make a string and have 1 more inch of tillering before I try to run some arrows through it. Don't have a good pic of tip overlays atm but made them form tulip wood and water buffalo horn. Still have a little work to do final shaping the lower nock.

I got some good ideas on how to dressing it up but don't want to go out of order, need to make sure I do my best on the bend 1st.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/28994401168_ff22e9529e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Lb8Tjq)IMG_1897 (https://flic.kr/p/Lb8Tjq) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

       
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on June 18, 2018, 05:45:30 am
Looks great mike.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on June 18, 2018, 04:55:01 pm
I think that bend is looking pretty good Mike.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on June 22, 2018, 08:03:15 pm
  Looks excellent Mike...Nice balanced even bend...I know that front profile is awesome also...
                                                                                                                                           Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 22, 2018, 08:54:59 pm
Men, y’alls Progress is looking awesome!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 24, 2018, 09:24:08 pm
Thanks guys.

Got the last inch of tillering finished. I have to say...a 5 second video from a phone camera does wonders for me to see how the limbs are bending. String is made, and gave it a workout this weekend(100 shots). So far so good. Im very happy with how it shoots. Unbraced profile looks good still and should be fine. Need to run some more arrows through it but don't think I will need to make any adjustments at this point.

Had to include, in pics below, some pictures showing the tip overlays. I just kinda winged it but will be refining this shape in future bows. Also below is a picture including some of what I need to finish things up. Going to try cherry bark for the handle and have some dogbane I cut this winter for making some cordage. Going to leave it at that for now. May be a while before I can get it all together.

Mike
   (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/42991827721_94fe096c53_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28v3myZ)IMG_1904 (https://flic.kr/p/28v3myZ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
   (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1813/28123700657_6c240be3f0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JRcjoD)IMG_1905 (https://flic.kr/p/JRcjoD) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1762/42991834951_8ecec2d257_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28v3oHD)IMG_1906 (https://flic.kr/p/28v3oHD) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/29119659388_f40820b9fe_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LncSdU)IMG_1907 (https://flic.kr/p/LncSdU) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/41181669920_8da5e41346_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25K5PHJ)IMG_1914 (https://flic.kr/p/25K5PHJ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 24, 2018, 09:34:22 pm
She looks great mike!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: TorstenT on June 24, 2018, 11:00:47 pm
That‘s a cool bow, Mike! I like the profiles, the snakey limbs and (especially) the German flag tips!  ;D

Greetz from Berlin, Germany

Torsten
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on June 25, 2018, 03:01:33 pm
 Mike,
         Looks awesome in all profiles...Love the character...The unstrung profile says it all, you done a great job tillering...Can't wait to see it with the Cherry bark handle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on June 25, 2018, 04:52:36 pm
That’s looking great! And held a good profile too.
I shot the cedar elb inside at 10 yards for a couple dozen shots after a little tiller tweak. I short drew it by 2”, because cedar and shooting indoors for the maiden shots. But it held up and shot well. Shock free and quiet and a decent cast considering I was shooting a 625gr arrow and drawing g 26” instead of the 28” I pulled to on the tree.
I went ahead and rubbed in a coat of linseed oil and noticed that I missed some rasping marks while sanding. So I may sand it again and start refinishing. Set is also negligible, as I can’t even tell it took any. It almost seems like ERC is a wood that rarely takes set, but just breaks when over stressed.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: JWMALONE on June 25, 2018, 06:53:43 pm
Hey guys, I should hve pm some body but didn't think about until I was on the plane, i dont like to announce on public media that my home is empty for a week.. Saved up for long while and went to Yellowstone national park. Id tell ya how it was but there are no words to do it justice. Back to work on the bow tommorow or the day after.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 25, 2018, 09:01:02 pm
Thanks fellas.

Morgan, looking forward to seeing that gar skin on hackberry  :) :)

TorstenT, origionaly I bought a small piece of tulip wood to try as footing on arrow shafts and never got around to it. Thought of the combination as soon as I starting working on this stave. Glad you like! 

Don, did a small test piece of that bark with one coat of true oil tonight. Think its going to look real nice. want to test some other finishes still . Sizing and glue up may be a different story lol

Kyle I'm thinking that ERC is going to look sweet all finished up. Cant wait to see.

Safe travels JW. Hope I can get out that way some day.

Mike 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 26, 2018, 12:17:03 am
Thanks fellas.

Morgan, looking forward to seeing that gar skin on hackberry  :) :)

TorstenT, origionaly I bought a small piece of tulip wood to try as footing on arrow shafts and never got around to it. Thought of the combination as soon as I starting working on this stave. Glad you like! 

Don, did a small test piece of that bark with one coat of true oil tonight. Think its going to look real nice. want to test some other finishes still . Sizing and glue up may be a different story lol

Kyle I'm thinking that ERC is going to look sweet all finished up. Cant wait to see.

Safe travels JW. Hope I can get out that way some day.

Mike

Mike, that’s my plan for now, might be a miserable failure though lol. First gotta get some gar big enough to play with. Me and tater are taking the kayaks up the creek in the morning to try again.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on June 26, 2018, 06:17:00 am
  Kyle,
          Cant wait to see the ERC...That stuff makes me plain nervous...But is a killer when done right...Looking forward to the finished bow...I got my money on you buddy...
                                                                            Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 26, 2018, 08:58:26 am
  Kyle,
          Cant wait to see the ERC...That stuff makes me plain nervous...But is a killer when done right...Looking forward to the finished bow...I got my money on you buddy...
                                                                            Don

Yes, what he said. I’ve always thought ERC is a gorgeous wood, but horror stories keeps me from attempting it. I understand that even with a perfect stave, your tiller has to be perfect and low stress for it to stay together. Me and perfect don’t go together lol.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 29, 2018, 05:50:07 pm
Did more tillering today. Most all of my induced reflex has pulled out and I’m back to square one. Right limb is stiff mid limb out maybe and left limb looks ok to me. 48ish lbs @ 24” right now going to heat treat one last time and maybe put some mild recurves in. Haven’t decided yet.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on June 29, 2018, 06:56:03 pm
Morgan,
             I agree with your assessment... A few scrapes right mid limb and then pull in hand...If the right is the lower it will come around some in hand...Good work...
                                                                Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on June 30, 2018, 11:01:18 am
I agree also, right limb mid limb and out needs a little attention.

So I’ve finally reached a point where I can work on something. Considering today it’s a million degree outside, seems like a perfect day to hide in my basement woodshop and work on a bow. It’s about 60 degrees down here..perfect! Starting with this white ash stave. It’s 64” long and 1-3/8” wide. My victim is asking for kinda of a long draw, compared to my short little 26” draw anyway. So will be taking this out to 30”. Of course it’ll be a bendy handle.

I’ll post a pic later today to show today’s progress.

Tattoo dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on June 30, 2018, 03:40:32 pm
   Can't wait Dave, love me a bendy...
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 30, 2018, 07:39:08 pm
Well folks, here’s a fd pic of the bow that will not be shipped to my victim. Shot about 50 times. Handle is still a big chunk of wood. Shocky as hell, but the tips are still fat. Problem comes from a ton of set. Not sure where I went wrong, but I did. I reckon I could flip the tips forward of the handle, but this isn’t my best attempt at a bow and I won’t be sending it. I’ve got another stave getting the bark peeled right now.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 30, 2018, 08:02:19 pm
As for my project....Finished shooting my bow in today, 300+ shots in the last week or 2. And yeah Dave its hot as all get out here too. I could not be happier with how things turned out so far. Still has the same reflex from last post. Shot a good amount from 30 yards today, so I am confident this bow will be able to do anything its new owner will ask of it. below is a full draw pic unfortunately I forgot to not cant the bow but I think it shows things good enough.

Finished processing more than enough dogbane for what I want to try. I was going to dye it but now I think I will leave most of it natural color. Not sure if I will use cherry bark in picture or another piece, but just wanted to show the color after some sanding.

I been doing my best to add updates each week. Things are going to get real busy for me for a few weeks tho, I can see it coming. Just got my last piece I need for this bow today. So...going to work on it when I can and take my time to finish it up as good as I can. Next pics from me will not be for a few weeks but then it should be complete. Thanks Mike

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/42399842384_20da76e717_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27AJgXf)IMG_1919 (https://flic.kr/p/27AJgXf) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/43118393221_3f75c7db62_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28Ge35M)IMG_1920 (https://flic.kr/p/28Ge35M) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on June 30, 2018, 08:11:38 pm
Morgan, Maybe you could try and heat the belly back to some reflex or flat even. Then try and get some more bend out of you outer limbs. Get them outer limbs working more before you pull to full draw.  That may help with shock and set imo. Just some thoughts. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: paulsemp on June 30, 2018, 08:12:12 pm
Well folks, here’s a fd pic of the bow that will not be shipped to my victim. Shot about 50 times. Handle is still a big chunk of wood. Shocky as hell, but the tips are still fat. Problem comes from a ton of set. Not sure where I went wrong, but I did. I reckon I could flip the tips forward of the handle, but this isn’t my best attempt at a bow and I won’t be sending it. I’ve got another stave getting the bark peeled right now.

Top fade looks stiff. That may be your shock problem
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on June 30, 2018, 08:28:55 pm
I finally got the PRK lasering in my eyes Thursday. So I was told no dusty or dirty environments for a week, so the outer coating of the cornea can heal back. Not the most pleasant experience, but necessary.  Then I’ll be back to finishing out my trade bow. I’ll do a bunch of shooting the the ERC and resand it down and try to remove a few more rasping marks. I may even end up starting another bow before I ship. Who knows, there’s still time to play around with a few.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on June 30, 2018, 08:41:59 pm
That looks outstanding mike. Paul, I think that top fade being stiff is camera angle. There is actually some wonk there that causes a natural set back and that fade is bending more than anywhere else if you run a block down it. Mike, I’m not very good at tillering reflexed staves. Ive only kept reflex in a couple and a couple wound up flat. This is the only bow that I’ve had a lot of set on and I think your assessment is right, I think I had my inner limbs young too much work too soon. I lost my reflex bracing the bow. Had a little set tillering, but not bad. After shooting it set badly.. I’ll probably make this a bowfishing bow at some point. No way i’ll Send it out. Ive got a lot more staves and I’ve got a gob of ipe, I may order some boo and do a BBI bow also. I’ll come up with something satisfactory before the deadline though for sure.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on July 06, 2018, 10:27:11 am
Alright everyone, we are about 3 months away from the shipping deadline.  I hope everyone is well on their way with their projects.

I would ask that if anyone is having difficulties or issues that may keep them from completing a bow, please get in touch with me sooner rather than later.  If everything is on track, then post some pictures. We all love to see the progress. 
 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on July 06, 2018, 12:58:45 pm
I will be shipped before deadline. Running in to issues, but that’s the way it is sometimes, Have several backup plans.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on July 06, 2018, 02:02:15 pm
Glad to hear that Morgan.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on July 06, 2018, 02:30:59 pm
I’m not totally happy sending out these first two I built. So I’ll be starting a third that I hope will meet my standards. The first fretted in one spot due to overdrawing it for its width and it’s earful doggy for its weight. The ERC longbow has some cosmetic flaws that if removed would probably drop the weight enough to be under specs and what I’m happy sending. I tried using preroughes out stuff I’ve had laying around for a couple years. I brought life to them, but not in the ways I wanted. So on this one I’ll start fresh and I’ll start it when I get back home from mojam. I’m thinking black locust eastern woodland style.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on July 07, 2018, 07:11:19 am
Eastern woodlands black locust sounds great Kyle.  I am sure that with the speed you build bows you will have that knocked out in a weekend.  I hope you have a great time at mojam
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on July 08, 2018, 09:02:18 am
I’m ready to ship. Just need to get my photos up, get a final draw weight and sign the bow. Osage backed with linen and snakesskin and whitetail antler overlays. I’ll try to my pics up today.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on July 09, 2018, 12:11:10 pm
I've been moving slow so far, but I was able to put some work in on it while it was raining all day on Independence day.  Got a great floor tiller, and cut some nocks.  With another couple of hours in the shop, I should be flinging some arrows.  I still plan on finishing on time, and have a couple of other backup options if this one doesn't work out.  Sometime in the next couple of days I'll take a picture on the tillering tree, and maybe ask for a little help from those of you with more experienced tillering eyes.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on July 26, 2018, 08:17:28 pm
Hey folks! Spent the last few nights working on the handle for my bow. My plan all along kinda went out the window when I was laying it out. What I thought would look good didn't.  The bad news is I now have about 10 ft of dog bane cordage that will not on this bow. The good news is it turned out better than I could have ever hoped and I now have the cordage to use another time :)

Handle is wrapped in cherry bark. I processed a little more dog bane but instead of twisting it up I kept it flat and wrapped the ends of the bark that way. I also used a few small pieces that I dyed with a red and black mixture. I tried to hide the seam of the bark at a corner then filed smooth. The close up photo shows the seam but its pretty hard to see. Gonna have to do this kind of handle again on another bow, think there is some more on the tree I got this from.

A true oil finish and some writing and mine will be ready to go. Will post a bunch of pictures  a little closer to deadline summarizing everything. This has been a fun build. Cant wait to see what everyone else is up to.  (-P Mike

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/43615330612_309d21f8fa_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29s8YfQ)IMG_1977 (https://flic.kr/p/29s8YfQ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/42945458424_18ab92e4ce_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28qWGAm)IMG_1978 (https://flic.kr/p/28qWGAm) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/853/43615334732_b330277842_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29s8ZtS)IMG_1979 (https://flic.kr/p/29s8ZtS) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/42945449594_29d83059b1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28qWDY7)IMG_1980 (https://flic.kr/p/28qWDY7) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on July 27, 2018, 06:28:18 am
  Nice addition Mike...I like that handle and the skins make it a jewel...Great work bud...There is one lucky guy somewhere...
                                                                                                                                   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on July 29, 2018, 08:06:32 pm
Thanks Don. Going to do the same handle for a bow that I had almost finished before the swap started. I was very happy with how it turned out on that osage bow. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on July 29, 2018, 11:38:03 pm
Fantastic work Mike. Whoever receives it will be lucky.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on July 29, 2018, 11:58:59 pm
I have a couple staves peeled and ready to work that I will go to now. I worked on the previous bow more off and on over the last 4 days. Flipped the tips and heated just a bit of reflex back in. Overcame a lot of set, but it is a dog. Low string tension, slow, and just pretty disappointing all around. Shoulda just moved on and not wasted anymore time, but I’m hard headed. I’ll see what the next one brings.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on July 31, 2018, 07:57:53 am
That handle looks great Mike.  Very nice work.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: High-Desert on July 31, 2018, 10:04:10 am
You guys are makin some good looking bows. I don't know what I was thinking in not doing it this year. This is so cool to see
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 01, 2018, 02:16:08 pm
The main profile was bend and mildly heat treated in this black locust. One hook on this dude is bent just now. Tomorrow I’ll get the other side vent. Steamed for the foil and heat gun method for about 30 min then used dry heat to help it walk around the curve. It did crack and split a bit at one point. But te tip is still about 1/2” thick, so it’ll come right out as I clean it up.  Hopefully itll shoot better than the first two.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 02, 2018, 06:12:11 am
   Looking good Kyle...Hope the other hook works out...
                                                                                        Don
                                                                             
                                                                                         
                                 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 02, 2018, 01:42:00 pm
The first hook held and I’m working on ateaming the second while working on on my first cup of coffee.
Thanks don, I’m hoping this one goes well too. If not, it can easily become a short bendy handle. So I won’t cry too much

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 02, 2018, 01:44:52 pm
Well, I guess it’ll be tonight when I can finish the other hook. While heating this one, the heat gun just made a loud pop, with a nice big spark and quit. SO now I’ve gotta pick up a new one when I go to town later.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on August 03, 2018, 03:36:30 pm
My heat gun did the same thing last time I used it. So how long do you heat up a piece that thick? I usually do steam. Can't say I've tried the dry heat method.

Tattoo Dave.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 03, 2018, 07:53:48 pm
Those tips are about 1/2” thick. Maybe a bit more. But under the foil is a wet paper towel that will boil and steam when hit with the heat gun. I let it steam that way for about 30 minutes before I clamped thenstave to the form. I follow up with the heat gun to keep the wood hot to it’ll easily flow around the form. I oil the wood with olive or vegetable oil so it won’t soak up the water before the water gets hot. I’ve had a few check bad on me Because of water absorbsion.
I got the other side bent last night.  It went more smoothly than the first. The first hook had worse grain atructure for sharp bends so I did it first Incase it broke or didn’t want to bend. But they both went well enough to use.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 07, 2018, 09:43:56 pm
Looking forward to seeing how thing turn out Kyle. I have yet to try recurving tips. Although I may have a stave with a ring chased that I may give it a go. Good luck on the build! :) mike



Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 11, 2018, 08:35:21 am
And finally the photos. Still have to sign it get final draw weight although i know it’s in the mid upper 50’s maybe even 60.  Anyway she’s ready go to her new home.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 11, 2018, 08:37:25 am
Few more. I may have compressed them too much. We’ll see what y’all think.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 11, 2018, 12:18:49 pm
 hoosierf,
               Got to love that even bend man...Like them skins
                                                                                              Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on August 11, 2018, 12:39:33 pm
Very nice Hoosier!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 11, 2018, 02:08:16 pm
I’ll fix those pics tonight. The resolution is way too low.  At least on my phone it is.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 11, 2018, 11:27:48 pm
Nice looking bow Hoosier! I fitted/epoxied on horn nocks on my victims bow today. It's pulling about 80 pounds right now. I will get some pics up tomorrow after I shape them some. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 12, 2018, 12:15:46 am
Great looking bow Hoosierf. Very nice tiller. Think your right with the resolution...hard for me to see the details but the draw in-hand looks right on and that what counts. Mike 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 12, 2018, 10:51:08 pm
This is the first horn nocks I have done, so I hope they turn out decent. I finished roughing  them out tonight. They are on a 73" ttt yew elb. I will cut some new string grooves tomorrow and get it back on the tree to finish tillering, and take a few more pics. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 13, 2018, 06:24:30 pm
Let’s try this approach for better pics.

https://imgur.com/gallery/fxPSnxe
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 13, 2018, 08:01:26 pm
Real nice Hoosierf! :OK
Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on August 13, 2018, 08:06:01 pm
That bow looks great Hoosier. That bend looks great and it is dressed up real nice. I love it!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on August 13, 2018, 08:07:50 pm
Pendebender, that yes is looking real nice.  Sounds like a good stout draw too.  Should sing an arrow right along.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 14, 2018, 09:57:31 pm
Got the nocks cleaned up, and put it on the "tree" for a token picture. Unstrung and 22" draw. It's getting there. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 15, 2018, 03:11:59 am
 Brendon,
               Nice looking start...Wish my tiller tree was that beautiful...

                                                                                                        Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 15, 2018, 06:58:17 am
That looks like a great piece of yew you have. Nice ratio of sap to hartwood from my novice eye. Never shot or even seen an elb design up close before. I do like that style of nock, looking forward to seeing it all finished up.

Putting some oil on my swap bow. I learned my phone camera stretches the image near the edges, that kinda messed me up for a few days. Made one limb look maybe 3 to 4 inches longer that the other lol.  With any luck I can get some good pictures this weekend and post. Mike     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 15, 2018, 08:32:13 am
That’s gonna be an awesome yew bow.  Nice
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on August 18, 2018, 08:47:16 pm
Brendan that is looking very nice. I like your workshop!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 19, 2018, 04:09:36 pm
Hi Folks, my bow is complete.

Its 65.5 ntn osage. 4 inch handle and 3 inch fades. Tip overlays are tulip wood and water buffalo horn. I shaped the horn to resemble the shape of the keeled scale on the diamond back skins applied to the limbs(maybe not accurate but makes sense in my mind). The handle is cherry bark wrapped with dogbane on top and bottom. I thought the cherry bark matched well with the tulip wood and I also dyed(red/black) a few strands of dogbane just for some extra character. I was able to get a beaver pelt from a friend of a friend and made the string silencers from that.

I'm very pleased with how things turned out. Its a lot of fun to shot and falls in the requested draw weight. So many things I did on this bow was a 1st, including working with osage. My only hope is that the guy who gets it enjoys it as much as I did making it.

Lots of pictures here. Don't think anyone would mind  :) Didn't have the time to go some where better for pics so the back yard had to work. 
Thanks all, Mike
    (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1870/43232580985_fa9c1ccd09_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28Sjh8k)IMG_2184 (https://flic.kr/p/28Sjh8k) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
    (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1860/42330714080_c540c9d8f9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27uBYvW)IMG_2186 (https://flic.kr/p/27uBYvW) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1874/30271872228_82eec80cb3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/N82fXw)IMG_2187 (https://flic.kr/p/N82fXw) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
   (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/44139506961_96ce783764_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afsvC6)IMG_2171 (https://flic.kr/p/2afsvC6) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
   (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/44139517721_de44409bd9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afsyPB)IMG_2174 (https://flic.kr/p/2afsyPB) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1880/44139524351_8d9de27191_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afsAMV)IMG_2175 (https://flic.kr/p/2afsAMV) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1858/43232588905_7998065234_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28SjjtT)IMG_2173 (https://flic.kr/p/28SjjtT) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1892/44090766192_17d32af266_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ab9GG1)IMG_2176 (https://flic.kr/p/2ab9GG1) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/43420537124_783474098b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/299VAWq)IMG_2182 (https://flic.kr/p/299VAWq) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1853/30271858848_ae19c3644c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/N82bYQ)IMG_2183 (https://flic.kr/p/N82bYQ) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1864/30271801578_bf5c34fc1a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/N81TXq)IMG_2190 (https://flic.kr/p/N81TXq) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1852/44139469761_62c59313b2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afsjyH)IMG_2192 (https://flic.kr/p/2afsjyH) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/44139474511_1b90edc351_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afskYB)IMG_2193 (https://flic.kr/p/2afskYB) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1867/44139462441_70d1423595_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2afshov)IMG_2195 (https://flic.kr/p/2afshov) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 19, 2018, 04:19:15 pm
That looks like a beauty Mike! Whoever get that will definatly be pleased. I will have some more pics to add in a few days. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on August 19, 2018, 04:51:27 pm
Mike, that bow looks great.  That looks like top notch work.  I am sure that bow will be appreciated. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 19, 2018, 05:11:52 pm
      Jeeeeesh Mike! That is absolutely stunning...The tiller is money and perfectly balanced...Beautiful job on the skins...Need to enter BOM...
                                             Don
                 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 19, 2018, 11:24:20 pm
Beautiful bows guys!
I’ve finally started to tiller on that black locust recurve. Here is the first flex on the long string. I have a LONG way to go. It’s pulling weight at about 10”, if that. And barely flexing the limbs to get there. It’s starting with 2.5” reflex at the nocks. ~3” at the tips. I bent the hooks with a combo of steam to get the heat deep and dry heat to bump the heat up a smidge to make it bend easier, then deflected the fades with dry heat to bring the tips to about 1” reflex then reflexes midlimb to bring them back to where they started. I sort of feel like I wasted time with the whole deflex/reflex thing, but it’s fun to do and looks neat. So this bow is starting as a mild deflex/reflex with hooks. I’m going to long string it back to about 20” then brace it and see where it sits. Hopefully be morning.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 20, 2018, 02:13:31 am
I got it pulled back to 24” with a brace of 5.5”. At the moment there is about 1” set, so still retains about 1.5” reflex. I went ahead and glued on some walnut overlays. I’m the morning when I get in I’m going to reheat treat, as I only gave it enough heat to hold the reflex while shaping it out. I gave a few shots at about 20” and it felt quick. Still some more draw length to go and potentially more stiff after a good heat treat.

I know with straight limb bows there is a negligible difference in draw weight between long string and brace. But when I braved the recurve I could draw it much further for the same weight. About 5” further. Any idea why unless the string angle with the recurves makes that big of difference.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 20, 2018, 09:26:23 am
   Nice looking bend Kyle...Looking good
                                                                Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stickbowbeard on August 20, 2018, 11:41:37 am
Good looking bows fellas.

I've been on vacation, and getting back into the swing of things here at work, so haven't done much in the last few weeks.  I'm hoping to get some time in the shop this week.  I'm getting close to bracing the bow for the first time.  I'll post a picture when I get a chance to work on it this week.  This one is a bit trickier to tiller than bows I've done in the past, so I'm taking it slow, but I like how things are looking so far. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 20, 2018, 02:01:41 pm
Freshly heat treated and attempted to remove a bit of twist that was in one limb. It didn’t have enough to cause any issues, but why not try to correct it while I’ve got the wood hot.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on August 20, 2018, 08:44:25 pm
Mike, your bow is amazing. I am humbled. Kyle your bow is coming along beautifully.

Plugged away on my trade bow some more this evening. Lifted some splinters fairly deep  on the belly when I steamed out some twist and deflex. Took that defect out and pretty sure I have plenty of limb thickness left. I won’t post pictures till tillering is almost done, do not want to bog the thread down with more failed attempts...
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 21, 2018, 07:45:22 am
Thanks fellas.  :)
Kyle, yours looks to be turning out very nice. Those walnut overlays are going to look great on that bl.

Looking forward to seeing pics Morgan and Stickbowbeard. you know...one of the most interesting aspects I find in all of this is everyone has a different take on things. each bow is different. Every piece of wood has its own challenges. So many different possibilities. Its interesting to see how others overcome some of those challenges. If building bows was do steps 1-10 and it will be perfect every time I would have been 1 and done. At the rate im going I ill be at this for a very long time. I suppose most here think the same. Mike           
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 22, 2018, 02:35:22 pm
Mike now that’s how you make Osage bow. Well done. That’s just Awesome!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 24, 2018, 04:53:49 pm
I got the tips shaped out and everything lined up well enough to make the happy. It’s been tillered out to few inches shy of full draw, then I’ll shoot it in. This piece of black locust was a bit more brittle than I’m used to working so I have some tear outs on the back that are just deep enough to not sand out but not enough to be overly concerned about. I went ahead and spread some super glue in them. But am thinking about adding a silk backing as an assist or to help keep them from splintering in the future. I forgot to snap Amy pictures of them before I left te house. But what do you all think?

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 24, 2018, 07:26:13 pm
That looks killer Kyle. Really like them hooks. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 24, 2018, 11:10:40 pm
That's lookin real good Kyle. Im with Brendan on them hooks. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 25, 2018, 07:30:23 am
Man i wish i could bend hooks like.  Very cool.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on August 25, 2018, 11:06:13 am
I am going to jump on the hook bandwagon.  Those books look really good.  Can't wait to see this one finished up.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on August 25, 2018, 06:51:14 pm
Great looking recurve! I love it!

So, I have 2 in the works. I was talking with someone a couple weeks ago about a bow made from bamboo flooring. I started one a long time ago, but never finished it. I mentioned it in an earlier post, but didn’t think it would make it back to 28”. I thought I would revisit that and sure enough it’s now 50# at 28”. I had actually started to do finish work back when it was at 26”. So it’s bamboo flooring backed with more bamboo flooring lams, and some birch bark backing. Just thought I would post this and get some thoughts. Would anyone be interested in an all bamboo flooring bow. It shoots great! I had to splice at the handle, hence the stiff handle, which is usually not my thing. It’s 62” inches long with simple pin nocks. I’m thinking about adding some tip overlays. Let me know what you all think.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on August 25, 2018, 08:51:44 pm
Dave, you made that bamboo flooring look real good. That bend looks great.  Very nice work. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on August 26, 2018, 07:21:02 am
Thanks Swamp. I still have another in the works, just didn’t want to give up on this one. I may end up keeping it, depending on everyone’s opinions, and how the other turns out.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 26, 2018, 09:56:44 am
I think it’s very nice. I’d love it.  Bamboo is cool.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on August 26, 2018, 05:12:19 pm
 Dave, that is one sweet bend for sure....
                                                              Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 26, 2018, 09:01:29 pm
That's looks mighty fine Dave. Nice tiller! That birch bark would have some great color in the sun. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 26, 2018, 11:07:13 pm
Great tiller Dave! Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 28, 2018, 12:27:11 am
The tillering is finished, just need to finish shooting it in. While shooting it in the best I could, I was getting a 625gr arrow at about 150 FPS and was pulling about 2.5”short. It felt real nice shooting though. Smooth drawing and fairly soft on release. The right limb which is the top has a little wiggle making it look stiff. After taking the picture I took a little off the top limb to get the handle to flatten out more. The tips were cleaned up to about 1/2” wide, the handle is 7/8” wide by 1.5” deep, and the string lines up perfectly centered through everything.
I went ahead and put a coat of truoil on te help keep moisture off while shooting in. I got the stave of black locust from Patches  at mojam, and it’s a real pretty, dark piece of locust. It’s natural color looks like I fumes it for a day.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 28, 2018, 06:42:52 am
Saweeeet
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on August 28, 2018, 08:21:39 am
Dave, Kyle, those look good!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 28, 2018, 08:43:45 am
Very nice Kyle.  That is a sweet bow. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on August 28, 2018, 03:04:58 pm
Here’s a near full draw in hand. It needs about 1-1.5”more pulled back. I need to up the brace a smidge, but it definitely shoots well.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on August 28, 2018, 05:37:06 pm
Shouldn't your face be painted blue ;D ;D ;D
Bow looks good ;)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on August 28, 2018, 09:35:03 pm
Very nice bow Kyle! That's some great looking grain in that handle and fades. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 29, 2018, 09:24:53 pm
Wrecked ‘um hell, damn near kilt ‘em.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on August 30, 2018, 11:32:05 am
I'll be posting pics of my bow here soon. Got a nice osage bow going...just enough character to make it look cool but not too much of a tiller challenge. Decided to leave it natural and not put any reflex or anything in it. Just let it be what it wants to be
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on August 30, 2018, 06:10:49 pm
Made progress on my most recent attempt. This is my 3rd or maybe 4th attempt and I decided to bypass anything that I haven’t done before and just shoot for a simple low profile bow and so far it looks like it will make it ok.
I steamed out some side bow and twist (limbs still have some twist that I couldn’t get rid of), and toasted belly @floor tiler stage.
I’ve tillered it out to 28”, took the tool marks out, shaped the handle some, and shot it a dozen times or so. The side profile is naturally a little wavy I think it’s taken a little bit of set but doesn’t follow the string right now. I’m going to give the belly one last toast and final tiller it in the next 5 days or so. This bow will not be anywhere close to the craftsmanship showed by others on this trade, but if it goes like it has till now, it will be on par with what my best is.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on August 31, 2018, 09:39:51 am
You’re too hard on yourself. Your bows are cool. I put lipstick on my pigs once in a while just to hide all of the imperfections.  I like ‘em plain and rugged. My favorite bow is a 44# Osage with no tip overlays, a pleather wrap from an old piece of furniture, a 60# fishing line braided 12 strand string, and a birch branch rest; no backing  and just Johnson wax finish. Tool marks and all. I’ve been shooting it more than any other bow for the last 7 years.  I’d never part with it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on August 31, 2018, 10:24:31 pm
Hoosierf, my thoughts exactly. I don't make factory lookin' bows but functional ones! I like the more primitive side, not making it with a stone flake but at least primitive looking. Don't get me wrong I like a nice bow when I see one. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 01, 2018, 05:48:20 am
Agreed. A little character goes a long way for me as well. Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 01, 2018, 08:44:35 am
Guys, I appreciate the re-assurance. My hat is off to all of you that can make a functioning bow in to a work of art.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 01, 2018, 09:01:58 am
I need some advice. The piece that I’m working on right now has a hump mid limb that causes deflex and has some reflex toward the tip that almost negates it. I feel like it may lose the reflex when shooting in and result in a undesirable profile. There is a similar problem on the other limb, but it is a pretty sharp hump that corrects itself quickly rather than a sweep. I think I can put a block under this bump and get it straightened out when I’m heat treating the last time.
I have a finished bow that shared a split edge with this stave that has the same issue and I did nothing, but it is not as pronounced in that bow.
So, should I try to straighten it out when heat treating, or steam it out, then toast belly later? What would be the safest option?

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 01, 2018, 01:54:39 pm
Tell you what I’d do and that don’t make it anywhere near right but here goes. I’d soak a wad of rags or even paper towels, wrap them around that hump plus 1.5” on both sides, and then wrap that with tin foil. Put a 1 1/2” block under the hump and clamps on both sides. Heat the wrap belly and sides  till she steams for a bit then tighten your clamps. Do the same to the exact spot on the other limb but use 3/4” or 1” block to create the same profile there. You might not even need to do the other side but you’ll be able to tell. Let the clamps sit overnight.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 01, 2018, 04:37:17 pm
Thanks Hoosier. I’ll give that a go. Now, I want to hit the belly with another heat treat as the limbs are a lot thinner than they were the first round and I want to make sure the belly is tempered. If I steam in the correction will it return to original profile from the heat when I temper it?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: DC on September 01, 2018, 06:57:50 pm
If I have to make more than one correction I use a caul for all of them. They will try to undo and not consistently. One time you'll get away with it and the next you won't. Even using a caul can be tricky. I find sideways bends are the worst for coming back to haunt you.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 02, 2018, 09:46:20 am
I would heat temper with it still clamped in the same position. I think that’ll give you your best shot at keeping it. You won’t keep all of it but the goal is to get the profiles the same, more or less, on each limb.  Don’t go crazy with too much heat temper in that spot. Temper it the same all along the limbs.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 02, 2018, 11:22:39 am
Thank you for the advice guys. I’ll get to it in a little bit
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on September 04, 2018, 05:59:36 am
Alright everyone, we are down to a little over a month left.  I know many of you have bows ready to go but I would ask NOT to ship yet.  I have one member of the trade that has not responded back to me and I think we may need to make an adjustment of two.  I will work to sort that out while the rest of you keep building these great bows!

Keep up the great work wveryone.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 04, 2018, 06:49:46 am
Thanks Swampman. will sit tight till you say go.

Never mailed anything like this before. I've read some posts in old trades so have an idea on how to ship but any tips would be much appreciated. I assume schedule 40 pvc 3-4" should work? Insured? Anything else? No advice is too obvious :). Thanks, Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on September 04, 2018, 08:31:12 am
Marking as a wall hanger, or art. And as a gift. Keep the value low.  Especially if it's coming north of the border. Pesky taxes. Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 04, 2018, 01:21:48 pm
Ok, did my last heat corrections, and last heat treat of the belly. Re-worked the tiller and shot it 36 times. Right now it is a pound over high end of target weight, still have to put overlays on as it has no nocks and sand it out, and re-check tiller.  At this point it has no string follow, hopefully that won’t change after shooting in bottom limb 8-10” from tip has a wonkey spot that looks off on the tiller but nature put it there. Total length is 60”.
FD pic is a bit quartered away but I think you can make the tiller out ok.
Y’all let me know if you see something I don’t.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 04, 2018, 02:50:39 pm
Beauty - we’ll done.  Not a hint of set on that bad boy. Hackberry?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on September 04, 2018, 03:31:50 pm
 Morgan, that bow looks sweet.  Nothing wrong with that tiller. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 04, 2018, 03:50:44 pm
Thank you, my eye said it was ok, but I wanted a second opinion.
Yes it is hackberry, I made a correction on the top limb because there was a natural jog 8” or so from the fade that would cause that limb to be deflexed. I followed Hoosiers advice and went a little past straight with it and matched the other limb which gave it about 1” or so of reflex. All the reflex pulled out exercising it on the tiller tree and it hasn’t moved since. I sincerely hope it doesn’t take any string follow or change tiller too much after properly shooting in. I’ll try to get the overlays on tonight, that’s virgin territory for me so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed on it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: penderbender on September 04, 2018, 06:00:25 pm
Looks good to me! Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 04, 2018, 07:55:36 pm
Looks good Morgan. At 60"...that's darn good! Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on September 05, 2018, 06:23:12 pm
I wanted to update everyone that right now it looks like we won't need to switch anything up.  It looks like everyone in this trade will have a bow done by the deadline.

Please still hold off on shipping though.  Thanks.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on September 05, 2018, 08:54:04 pm
Good to hear. I’m ready to ship, but will hold off.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 06, 2018, 06:54:16 am
Great news and sign me up for next year. I’ve enjoyed the heck out of following the thread.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: simk on September 06, 2018, 10:16:44 am
Great news and sign me up for next year. I’ve enjoyed the heck out of following the thread.

+1 - if somebody is keen on a beginners-bow and doesn't mind shipping costs to switzerland! you did great bows. cheers
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: stuckinthemud on September 06, 2018, 10:50:55 am
I'll be happy to buddy up next time if you're ok shipping to the uk? I had to withdraw from this year as I was the only Euro entry :-(
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: simk on September 06, 2018, 12:40:43 pm
 (-S
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 08, 2018, 06:46:19 pm
Overlays were glued on and Sanded the bow down to 400 grit. Shot 100+ times. Gonna dye, stain, topcoat, slap some leather on the handle and call it a bow. I don’t have a chrony, but I haven’t made a bow that shoots faster than this. 47#@28”
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 08, 2018, 06:51:55 pm
Nice Morgan! Lookin forward to seeing it all prettied up.Mike 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on September 08, 2018, 09:38:00 pm
Nice work Morgan. Tiller looks great. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 09, 2018, 10:43:44 am
Awesome. Very cool.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on September 14, 2018, 06:22:27 pm
Well I changed the color scheme on the bamboo bow. Birch bark and this nice blue. I’ve always loved that combo. Hate to let this bow go, but I decided that’s the one I’m shipping. It’s ready other then making a string for it and one more coat of clear. My guy hasn’t posted in a while, so when I see some progress from him, it’s ready to ship. Hope he likes it.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on September 19, 2018, 03:32:11 pm
well I don't even know where to start. I have had nothing but bad luck. I am on bow #5 lol. i had a recurve crack on me, a tri lam blow up and 2 others that came in too light. so i stepped back and evaluated my techniques. decided to make some changes so went back to the wood pile and picked up a blank I had roughed out for this upcoming season. I decided to use it. It's a cool stave with just enough wiggle and snake to make it look neat. worked it down on the long string to just about brace level. registering #55 as is so I think this one will actually make it. still still outer limbs but I'll wait till I brace it to worry about that. any critiques and tips are welcome.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on September 19, 2018, 08:25:32 pm
  Timmy,
              Looking good...If it were mine I would get that left outer moving a bit before bracing...Right side looks good...
                                                                                                                                                                                   Don
                                                                                                                                                                             
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on September 19, 2018, 08:36:46 pm
Timmy, I promise you I feel your pain. I’ve had more issues on this trade than I’ve had in a long time. Looks like you’re coming out on top though!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 19, 2018, 08:50:20 pm
Hey Timmy, looks like your off to a fine start on this one(osage?). Looking at things as if I was working on it....I think the left limb is bending more than the right. left limb has more reflex in unstrung pic and then is lower when pulled on tree. only by an inch or so each way. That said I do like the profile of it when strung at this point. Looks to me like the right limb has some character to it so that makes it hard for me to judge just where it might be stiff. Looks like  out of the fade, but then mid limb may be bending more than the left limb is.

I'd use a tillering gizmo. Get things bending even or confirm they already are(even if what I stated above is wrong this will not lie). You could also slowly work towards the outer limbs using it and thus have more limb working for you before you get to bracing it.After brace i'd continue to use gizmo  out to 20" maybe more. also watching for even side to side thickness as I go. Check, 10-15 scrapes on stiff spots, exercise wood, repeat. If I feel its bending even but feel I start to stress limbs I know I need more working limb. That's what I think and how id work on it if it was mine.

From what I can see it does look like a neat piece of wood and your well on your way. Hope you find this helpful. Good luck! Mike             
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on September 21, 2018, 10:18:07 am
It looks to me like the right limb is bending slightly more then the left, just near the fade. I would ease up on the right limb near the fade for a bit, and get the entire left limb bending just a touch more, but it's great start. Keep at it!

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 22, 2018, 07:28:37 am
Ok i started with birch so I’m gonna try to get one done and finish the way i started. My Osage is good to go but I’ve got unfinished business with this birch stave. I set aside the sinewed birch i started because the knot collapsed during tillering.  So here’s the stave and floored tillered bow. As soon as the tip overlay glue dries I’ll get it on the long string and quickly to brace. This stave is amazing as it has no knots at all and straight as an arrow so if i fail it’s all on the bowyer.  Hopefully the link works. I’m never quite sure.

http://imgur.com/gallery/I4StqbD
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on September 23, 2018, 08:36:19 am
More progress. Tillered to near final heat treated and reflexed a bit. I’ll lose most of the reflex
I think as it was starting to take some set.

https://imgur.com/gallery/mGwfFmp
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on September 25, 2018, 02:00:25 pm
got her down to 22" today. it's raining so didn't want to bend her too much today. I think she is looking pretty good. the character limb is on the left looking at the pic so that is why that limb bend looks a little different. you all see anything that I'm missing?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on September 25, 2018, 07:17:53 pm
  Nice Timmy, would like to see it drawn in hand soon...
                                                                                  Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on September 26, 2018, 06:04:31 am

Looking good Timmy.

Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 01, 2018, 11:14:40 pm
Looks good from here timmy!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 01, 2018, 11:50:15 pm
Been busy here but been finishing up when time allows. Got the dye and stain on and sprayed with shellac. The shellac was a failure so I cleaned it all off with alcohol and have a bunch of thin coats of tru oil on. I need help now. I’ve never written on a bow. I would like to write on this one and cover with a couple more coats of tru oil. What kind of pen do y’all use that you can cover without smearing?
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on October 02, 2018, 07:08:22 am
I use a black sharpie and put a few coats of johnson’s Wax over it. Seems to hold up fine.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 02, 2018, 06:05:59 pm
Thanks Hoosier. Does the paste wax keep the sharpie marker from coming off? I had a scrap piece that I was testing. Tru oil will go over a paint pen, but I can’t write legibly with a paint pen. I have silver sharpies that show up on the dark bow belly but the tru oil wipes the sharpie off.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on October 02, 2018, 07:53:15 pm
I use India ink. Being a pigment suspended in a super thin laquer, it holds up very well without fading and once dry, try oils will cover it well without smearing. I’m pretty sure you can get pens filled with India ink, but I use a dip pen. A nib with a reaerviour hold enough ink to get all your markings without having to redip. Laquer or anything with a string solvent can still smear te India ink, but a coat of truoil over the top prevents that.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on October 03, 2018, 06:08:15 am
Thanks Hoosier. Does the paste wax keep the sharpie marker from coming off? I had a scrap piece that I was testing. Tru oil will go over a paint pen, but I can’t write legibly with a paint pen. I have silver sharpies that show up on the dark bow belly but the tru oil wipes the sharpie off.

Morgan the wax keeps it on quite well and doesn’t smear.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on October 04, 2018, 02:45:13 pm
Has there been an update on who's ready to ship? Just curious. I just don't want to send a bow to someone who is not ready to ship one out.

Tattoo Dave.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on October 04, 2018, 04:22:03 pm
I should have my bow finished this weekend and ready to ship next week.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 04, 2018, 08:55:27 pm
Has there been an update on who's ready to ship? Just curious. I just don't want to send a bow to someone who is not ready to ship one out.
Tattoo Dave.



I would ask that no one ship yet.  I was confident everyone would be ready to ship by the deadline but I am not certain yet.  I do have a reserve bow ready to go in case someone doesn't get a bow built.  I will post a status update next week.  I do know not everyone has posted pictures of a finished bow so if you have one done and haven't posted a picture, please do. 

Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 05, 2018, 10:57:15 am
I just have to write on the belly, put a coat of wax over and lace up the leather.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 06, 2018, 08:39:31 am
I would really like to mark on the bow that I’m sending, but right now I’m not sure if it will happen. Dark inks and dark sharpies will not show up, and have tested light colored sharpies on a test piece and tru oil, Johnson’s wax, and MinWax finishing wax all immediately rub the marker off. Black and blue sharpie marker stays put. More experimenting I guess.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on October 06, 2018, 06:09:16 pm
Morgan,
               Would a wood burner show up, pyroglyphics? How dark is your bow?
                                                                                                                     Don
                                                                                               

Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 06, 2018, 07:18:03 pm
Don, it would have but I had read somewhere to sandwich the writing between two layers of top coat and I had a bunch of tru oil over the bow already. I found a blue sharpie that pretty much shows up and didn’t rub off so I used that. Got the leather on the handle. I will twist up a string and post pics tomorrow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on October 09, 2018, 12:34:03 pm
well here she right after a shooting session. right now pegging 57@26 so I'm real happy with that as my plan was 55@26. got a little sanding to do and then pretty her up. all in all I'm happy with it. it's a character bow with wiggles and pin knots so it kinda made the profile a little wonky especially since I'm used to hickory bows where you basically snap lines for your profile. but I'm happy with how it turned out. wish I would have drawn my own name lol. I now see why so many love osage. very minimal set and after a while the limbs come back with a little reflex.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on October 09, 2018, 01:19:42 pm
  Nice Timmy...I like character, that's what makes them perfect...
                                                                                                Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on October 09, 2018, 01:28:07 pm
Nice one Timmy!  Good draw weight and no set.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 09, 2018, 07:25:16 pm
Alright, I sent a couple messages out to some that have not posted they have a finished bow or have told me they have a finished bow.  If you got a message from me, please get back to me as quickly as possible.  If you didn't get a message from me, that is because I know where you stand (ready to ship). 

I will update as I know more. 

Thanks.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on October 09, 2018, 07:53:01 pm
Nice Timmy! Looks great.

Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 09, 2018, 08:01:29 pm
Very nice timmy!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 09, 2018, 08:05:32 pm
I lied about getting pics up. Rained cats and dogs while I was off. Hopefully tomorrow. I would like to ship Thursday. If I don’t, it will have to be Monday as I work Friday-Sunday 6-8 so shipping fri or Saturday isn’t an option for me.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on October 12, 2018, 07:03:31 am
sprayed 2 coats but having fits trying to get this stuff dry. must be something in the black dye that is reacting with the finish. actually stuck it in my drying box for a day trying to get it dry. still a little tacky. if it's not dry tonight I'll have to remove the finish and go with something else
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on October 12, 2018, 08:51:08 am
Timmy, try exposing it to sunlight and the breeze outside. Usually after a day outside they remain tacky but they seem to cure overnight when i bring them inside.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 15, 2018, 12:20:05 pm
Has anyone shipped or are we still supposed to wait? I’m ready to ship when we get the go ahead.
My wife took pics of the bow I made, waiting on her to download so she can email them to me and I can get them posted here.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 15, 2018, 01:43:49 pm
I currently have 2 members of this trade I can't get in contact with. I just tried calling them again but no answer on one and no way to leave a message. The other says the number is bad but it is the number given to me at the beginning of the trade.  This is after they have no responded to my PMs. 

I will send individual PMs to everyone so you will all know if you can ship or not and i f any of this affects you.

Thanks.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 15, 2018, 02:20:52 pm
PMs have been sent to everyone. Any questions, let me know. 

Thanks.  Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 03:53:23 pm
Here’s my offering. Hackberry, 60” long 47# @ 28” Should arrive Friday.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 03:59:12 pm
Only allows 4 pics at a time
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 04:00:49 pm
Apologize for the full draw background. If ya look hard you can see the top limb lol.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 04:02:36 pm
My first and Will be my only attempt at overlays.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on October 16, 2018, 05:56:42 pm
That's some good stuff right there Morgan. Nice bow! I think the overlays look good. nice unstrung profile as well.

My pvc glue is all gummed up, to my surprise. Will get some tomorrow or just glue pipe up at work for shipping. I should be sending out Thursday. Mike     
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 06:13:36 pm
Thanks mike.
The ups store here wanted caps to be taped on by them. I didn’t like it, but that’s the way they wanted it so I went with it.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 16, 2018, 08:53:45 pm
That is a real nice bow Morgan.  Very nice job!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 16, 2018, 09:50:46 pm
Thank you sir.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on October 16, 2018, 10:27:44 pm
    Morgan, really nice looking bow man...I like all the profiles, especially unstrung, nice reflex...The bend looks even and balanced...
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on October 17, 2018, 06:19:05 am
Very nice bow Morgan.  Well done.  I will be shippong Friday when I’m off work.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on October 17, 2018, 02:14:33 pm
So here is a status update for everyone.  There was one participant that couldn't get a bow completed due to issues that came up.  There was also one participant that I lost contact with quite a while ago.  My attempts to make contact have failed (leaving me quite concerned about him)  I did just a bit of shuffling and everyone that built a bow should be getting one in the mail in the near future.  This was a small trade but there were some really nice bows built.  I sent shipping notices out to all those left in the trade.  If any issues come uo, please get in touch with me.

Please make sure and post some pictures of your new bow when you get it.  I am looking forward to seeing them.

Mike
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on October 18, 2018, 06:14:04 pm
Was waiting at UPS store for them to open today. I shipped out. So they tell me it should be to its destination tomorrow by this time :) 

In my haste to pack things up I realized the string was still hanging on my bow rack.... so its in a zip lock bag right on top but its in there.

Looking forward to see where these bows all end up. Mike   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on October 19, 2018, 04:58:30 pm
Got home tonight and sitting in the cellar was pvc pipe.   ;D Great job Morgan! Thank you! Love the color of that hackberry. Handle is shaped out real nice and feels good. Was getting dark when I got home so couldn't get good pics tonight, but going to take it to work tomorrow and run some arrows through it and get some better pictures I hope. Thanks again Morgan, made my day! Mike
 
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1925/45436717721_67992fbd45_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ce64bR)IMG_2379 (https://flic.kr/p/2ce64bR) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1924/43619200330_b6549c906e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29stNA7)IMG_2380 (https://flic.kr/p/29stNA7) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on October 19, 2018, 05:21:46 pm
Mike, I’m glad you like it. I’ve really enjoyed this trade. I’ve made bows for friends and family, but never anyone else, so I’ve been pretty stressed out through the whole deal. In all, that bow has around 200 arrows through it. It is pretty short for a 28” draw, but I have another almost exactly like it that has been shot a ridiculous amount of time and held up well. I hope it lasts a long time for you, if not, let me know and I’ll make you another.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: timmyd on October 20, 2018, 07:24:13 pm
I had one waiting for me as well. mike...I'm totally thrilled. tons of character in this bow and the bark handle wrap and snake skins  were just added bonuses. seriously man you hit this thing out of park. I only took one pic because Mike put a lot of pics of this up when he finished it. check them out under handle M2A. we have a couple weeks of archery left and I'm hoping to get one down with this. again Mike awesome job. half embarrassed to send mine out lol
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on October 20, 2018, 11:19:00 pm
So glad you like it Timmy. Was such a fun build. After a few failed attempts this one just kinda came together real well for me. Skins and bark were 1st's for me. Good luck the rest of the season, the rut ought to be in full swing right soon.

Morgan, put 100 shots or so through that hackberry today. Well done man. I need to put a string nock on yet but there's a sweet spot about 1/8 of an inch above the mark you put on the serving. When I knocked there and had a clean release....I was right on target with no hand shock to speak of. I'll put a pic at the bottom here of the unbraced profile right after unstringing. I'm a sucker for nice grain in wood, like elm I think hackberry has some of the prettiest grain of anything so I did my best to take a few pics to show that off as well.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the swap. I enjoyed following along in all the builds. And thanks Swapman for running things for us.

Cheers, Mike
 
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1934/31586569828_44857439d1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Q8cqKw)IMG_2387 (https://flic.kr/p/Q8cqKw) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/43644406680_4ee5a943b9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29uGZym)IMG_2383 (https://flic.kr/p/29uGZym) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1906/45461716671_f6309b5258_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cgibve)IMG_2385 (https://flic.kr/p/2cgibve) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/45461685471_c9383167b9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cgi2ei)IMG_2382 (https://flic.kr/p/2cgi2ei) by Mike Allridge (https://www.flickr.com/photos/158435722@N02/), on Flickr

               
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on October 22, 2018, 02:35:41 pm
Just dropped off at the post office. Now for the wait.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on November 01, 2018, 09:28:00 am
I received a heck of a nice bow from Timmy yesterday. I did shoot it a couple times, and it shoots great!! Nice work Timmy! Thanks for the bow.

I'll try and get a couple pics up later after work. I'll be sending out a bow in the next day or 2.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on November 02, 2018, 04:00:49 pm
Ok I’m shipped. Scheduled to arrive Thursday.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on November 03, 2018, 11:04:16 am
Mark me as shipped also.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on November 05, 2018, 08:29:32 pm
Came home from work to a surprise waiting on me from tattoo Dave! Thank you very much for the bow Dave. I love the birch bark and boo and the paint makes a nice contrast. Handle feels good and the bow draws very smooth. Can’t wait to shoot it, be Wednesday before I get a chance if it ain’t raining.
Thank you again Dave, well done!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on November 07, 2018, 04:05:33 am
Glad you like Morgan! I hope it gives you years of service.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on November 28, 2018, 07:26:52 am
Alright everyone, if you have received your trade bow and have not yet posted pictures, please do.  You all know that without pictures it didn't happen.  I really want to get this bow trade closed.  I am waiting on shipping confirmation from two of you so if you haven't shipped yet, please do so.  I currently have Christmas trade projects to work on so any time I spend trying to track you guys down is taking time away from my shop. :BB ;D
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on November 29, 2018, 09:57:33 am
I havnt seen any sort of tube on my porch yet. But I’ll post pictures as soon as one shows up.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on November 29, 2018, 12:57:32 pm
Ditto
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Taxus brevifolia on November 29, 2018, 02:46:33 pm
You guys are awesome!

I'm definitely going to participate in the 2019 event.

Whoops better get a bow finished and posted so I'm eligible...
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on December 07, 2018, 06:41:24 am
Got an awesome mulberry bow in the mail from Springbuck last night.  The man has skills. I’ll post pics over the weekend but it is very cool.  Can’t wait to sling some arrows. It is very light in the hand. I can tell it will be a very lively shooter.  Thanks Stephen and Merry Christmas everyone.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on December 07, 2018, 02:19:04 pm
I can't wait to see the pictures. Sounds like a nice bow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: YukonCornelius on December 07, 2018, 03:55:04 pm
I'm new to the board and not sure what all of the prerequisites are but would love to participate in next year's trade. Over the past few months, I've found myself here more than any other forum. You guys are awesome.

Cheers,
Jason Foster
Fair Oaks Ranch, Tx.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on December 08, 2018, 05:21:28 pm
No one here for f/d picks. Awesome.

https://imgur.com/gallery/DmLlFwM

I’ll post some more info over this weekend. The tip underlays are locust and the glue lines are invisible. I’ve learned things just studying this bow.  Thanks Springbuck!
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Morgan on December 11, 2018, 03:28:18 pm
I want to apologize for the late posting. This is the first day off that I’ve had where the weather and other obligations permitted me to take pics of and shoot my new bow. This bow draws buttery smooth and hits where I’m looking with the right arrows. Thanks again to tattoo Dave for making me this bow!
Current Lighting and my phone don’t make for good detail pics, but the birch backing on this is beautiful
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on December 11, 2018, 05:57:05 pm
That is a nice looking bow Morgan.  Looks like a fun bow to shoot.  Thanks for out to g the pictures up. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: burchett.donald on December 12, 2018, 06:05:41 am
 Looks like a fine balance from Dave...Nice bend.......
                                                                                Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: M2A on December 13, 2018, 07:11:26 am
Nice bows Hoosierf and Morgan!(Tattoo Dave and Springbuck)
I bet that bark would look pretty awesome in the sunlight Morgan.
Some great character in that bow Springbuck made. Wondering if Springbuck could share about the finish he used on that one?
Mike   
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: hoosierf on December 13, 2018, 02:53:46 pm
And i still owe you fellas a f/d photo. It’s a cool bow.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: tattoo dave on December 13, 2018, 06:49:39 pm
Glad you like the bow Morgan. I almost didn’t want to let go of that one. I love a bamboo bow.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Sign Up
Post by: Swampman on March 12, 2019, 12:43:34 pm
I am heading to the post office tomorrow with a package.  This is the reserve bow I built in case someone didn't fulfill their end of the trade.  This package is heading to Missouri. 

This will complete the 2018 trade as everyone that sent a bow will get a bow. 
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on March 15, 2019, 01:01:21 pm
Here is the final bow from te 2018 trade. It came in a day early. I couldn’t be more happy with it. A short wide bendy handle black locust. I’m not used to that width of the tips? But it sure does shoot well and feel nice at the shot. Thanks a bunch Mike, I’m proud to add another of your bows o my collection. It’ll definitely see some good use.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: Swampman on March 15, 2019, 09:50:59 pm
I am glad it made it early Kyle.  I can't believe how fast the USPS was.  I made that bow after a bow in the book, Native American Bows, Arrows and Quivers.  It is not an exact replica of the bow on page 25 but it was close.

I hope it serves you well.
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: burchett.donald on March 16, 2019, 12:35:58 am
    That's a balanced looking bend Swampman...Really like that one
                                                                                                   Don
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: sleek on March 16, 2019, 07:10:04 am
Kyle, whoever stiffed you on a bow sure did you a favor. Thats a sweet bow right there :)
Title: Re: 2018 Bow Trade-Completed
Post by: M2A on March 16, 2019, 07:17:29 am
Great bow, From the tiller down to all details. Congrats on getting that one Kyle. Looks to be well worth the wait. Knock out job on that one Mike!