Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 03:40:55 am

Title: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 03:40:55 am
Hi Guys!
Finally I forced myself behind the computer and became a member to PA forum, because i love Bows and making them more than Computers :D.
I started archery 3 years ago with 2 glass bows; 1 re curve40#; 1D/R Longbow but l always wanted to make a bow myself.
So there was this huge wild cherry tree (70 cm diameter!) which shadowed the hole garden and had to cut some years ago. I fired all of it (lol) and left one piece to make a stool and one big Brunch for a bow.
In Spring 2017 my Dad died and I needed to distract myself and so I found its time to give the wooden self bow a try.

I splitted the brunch and i got 3 pieces where probably a bow is in.
the first stave was pulling about 25# had a triangular cross section and broke in front of my mum :BB
the second was very narrow, i put a flaxbacking on it and it exploded in 7 pieces (--)
the third had a hole in the handle area and I discovered some little borer holes by removing some sapwood  :P.
Meanwhile a neighbour borrowed me TBB2 and I understood much more (=) I discovered PA much later but wanna thank you autors of TBB and PA members for showing how its done.
Back to black holes:
During tillering it cracked right at the borers hole. So superglue, rawhide backing and tapering the sides where my solution( I didn't taper the borer spot and wrapped it instead after finishing tillering)
I really didn't wanted to end up with another broken bow and put a lot attention to it. I finished her in November and she turns out very accurate, took set so arrow speed is not the best. She still gets shoot by my friend (The Guy in the FD pic).
Why did I gave away my first shootable bow? Because I made 13 more since then and also she stays in the family and i can still shoot it :OK
Yes , the bug bite me, and now its time to show off my work so maybe someone else get inspired.
My glass bows have a thick layer of dust on it and my username should describe that as well as you donīt always need highly sophisticated technology to have fun and satisfaction.
backtothewood
Martin
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 03:59:32 am
more pics
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 04:11:53 am
and more
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 04:19:33 am
that's it!
Thanks for reply - I'm open to suggestions and critique
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: bjrogg on August 10, 2018, 05:00:33 am
Welcome to PA backtothewood. Congratulations on your first shooter and great to hear your in production mode. Sorry to hear you lost you dad, but I'm sure he's proud of you. I understand the needing a distraction and often get lost in a piece of wood myself. Probably one of the reasons I keep
myself busy. I also understand the not liking computer much. Never been much of a user myself, but I'm pretty sure you'll not regret joining PA. I sure haven't.
   As for suggestions, I believe you already are doing my first. That would e to keep building bows and making them better.
   Number two would be that the nock point looks pretty low to me on that full draw. Seems like arrow could come up a few inches, but maybe it's balanced best there.
   Finally keep spending a little time behind that computer and show us some more bows. We love looking at bows. Looks like you live in some beautiful country to. I really like beautiful bows in beautiful country.
Once again A Big Welcome To PA
Bjrogg
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: leonwood on August 10, 2018, 05:25:12 am
Welcome to PA, that's a nice introduction! Pretty tough wood to make your first bows from and you did really good! Now you know how it is done, post some pics of the other thirteen bows ;D
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: burchett.donald on August 10, 2018, 06:33:35 am
  Nice intro...Also, nice "even" bend in both limbs...I can tell it's canted in the picture, used to seeing that...Keep on making and posting...I bet that one is a smooth shooter...Welcome to PA...
                                                                                                    Don
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: BowEd on August 10, 2018, 06:55:46 am
Good to meet you and welcome.Like said cherry is a tough wood to try to learn on,but your bow looks fine.You've got skills and sure we'll see more of your bows.The feeling is the same about natural materials used for bows.Your at the right place.
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 10, 2018, 01:11:15 pm
thanks for the nice and friendly welcome
bjrogg, you are absolutely right, we have been shooting this weekend and adjusted the nockpoint as your skilled eyes told you.
leonwood, i tried it already twice which failed, so this stave had to became something. Tapering the sides towards the belly was beginners luck ,i didn't know cherry likes     that
Don, yes she throws very smooth even the little hand shock doesn't bother imo, maybe a bit to smooth - i think i could have made the rawhide a bit thinner
BowEd, yes this place is right, already feel the good vibes which motivated me to post another, and yes i guess most bowyer are fed up with plastic planet
backtothewood
thanks again welcoming me
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: upstatenybowyer on August 10, 2018, 03:51:52 pm
Very nice work on both of the bows you posted. Great to have you here! :)
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: Parnell on August 10, 2018, 07:20:46 pm
I'm really impressed at how well you carve shape into your work.  And, your pictures are superb.  Welcome to PA.
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: Badger on August 10, 2018, 08:39:45 pm
  Great job, looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: selfbow joe on August 10, 2018, 09:24:00 pm
Cool bow
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: simson on August 12, 2018, 12:13:35 am
Nice looking bow, cherry is a beautiful wood especially with the bark combo
Some tips:
now need for cutting through the back for string nocking, side grooves is all you need. On some wood it is a cry for break when you cut through like you did. Try thinner strings out of other material than Dacron ( http://primitive-bows.com/about-strings/ ).
Try a bit shorter designs, 70" for that draw and weight is a bit long, I see you have the skills to do that.

Are you located in the alps area?
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: NorthHeart on August 12, 2018, 12:15:33 am
Awesome buddy! Where do you live? Those mountains in the background are calling...
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 12, 2018, 01:14:00 am
Thanks again I really didn't expect such positive feedback, I really appreciate that. It tells me I'm on the right way
Simons,
I didn't cut through the back, it's an additional growthring, you cannot see well because the tip of the rawhide overlays it. Take a look again at the sideview of the nock. And, yes, Dacron doesn't make me happy to. I have some linen which makes good strings but I use it economical, I'm not sure if I ll get it again - normally it's used for bookbinding (Buchbindergarn). Any suggestions for stringmaterial which isn't that expensive as FF?
yep you are right I live in the alps. I live in Maishofen, close to Zell am See, Salzburg, Austria. So I can probably throw a bottle of Stiegl Beer in your garden >:D, just kidding!
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: backtowood B2W on August 12, 2018, 02:25:33 am
Simson, I Will go for452X ang give it a try! thanks for that! Maybe I'm gonna need help for making doubled servings and padded ears.

And I wanted to make her shorter but I put everything on the secure side and left it as long as it was. I should have made some fotos of the little holes, before I wrapped it with linen yarn.
Thanks again for suggestions and criticism.

Now it's time, to put away the tools. We are heading to Slovenia for some family camping adventures 8) Does anybody know about Parcours around soca valley? I'm wondering to take the family bows with us....mhm
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: simson on August 13, 2018, 12:29:58 pm
Simson, I Will go for452X ang give it a try! thanks for that! Maybe I'm gonna need help for making doubled servings and padded ears.
....

Ja, hallo Nachbar!
Let me know if you need help. I will continue my article about strings in some weeks or so, just now little time - we have a huge garden and it's harvest time.
Title: Re: 70" wild cherry 39#28"BlackHoles" and about myself
Post by: simk on August 14, 2018, 08:21:19 am
Hey Martin, you do very nice bows. And yes, since I read about strings on Simson's page some time ago I also use the B452x - it feels good to have racing-strings  8) 
Cheers from another place in the alps, Simon

[By the way: I also need help for making doubled servings and padded ears. Can somebody share the secret on how to do them without a string board...basically I'd know how to, but I don't no how to get the length correct...]