Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: backtowood B2W on April 29, 2019, 01:36:54 pm
-
Hi folks!
The roughed out bow was in the corner for several months because I could only imagine a left hand bow in it. As I started shooting with the other hand too, I thought I will give it a try.
Quite some character in it: one hump in the upper fade, one in the lower followed by another, arrow pass closer to center - for left hand draw. Also a bit of a twist.
First 3 gowthrings are very close , so I removed them. Wanted to make some carvings in the handle area so I left them there. I tapered it roughly towards the limb and forgot to work them down more.
By bending, I heard a bad cracking noise - a delam crack in the lower fade towards the grip. I superglued it, worked down the remaining upper growth rings to the handle. Then I glued a thick rawhide piece from fade to fade with hide glue. Wasn’t so happy with the rawhide look, so I decided to back it with silk, also glued on with hide glue (first time hide glue for me!). The splice in the handle wasn’t so nice too, so there came this little piece of snakeskin in my mind which I kept as a bookmark for 30 years I guess. It´s a protected snake! I was about 13 and wanted do observe, and release it. Sadly I suffocated it when I catched it with a bucket and covering with another….
My Brother skinned it. The head and tail are still in use as a pocket for my abalone marbles (my Mum made it). I felt very sorry for the snake and made the best out of it. Hopefully you are not blaming me to much - it was in interest of science!
Also glued on with hide glue. With all the backings and the 3 growth rings I brought the handle forward about 1/2“ and a very nice rounded handle. Bindings made from a serving thread soaked in CA .
The outers are steam bent and reflexed about 4“ With the natural deflex in the handle I started with about 3“ reflex. I could keep 1.5 with about 0.5 stringfollow.
A milestone for me and as I mentioned in another thread: permission to put hands on OO (or wood, which I have to pay for) when I am able to hold some noticeable reflex with white wood.
The arrow pass inlay is made of epoxy mixed with pigments and will protect the snake skin. The inlay tutorial I found at Simons homepage.
Accuracy is a bit hard to judge as it is too heavy for my left arm but I made some groups. - Goal was around 40# but I felt there is so much more in it. I just draw it a bit further observing set and the tiller. I reached 45#@27“
I can throw about 20 arrows through it than I start shaking badly. So it took some time to shoot it in and finish tillering, I have shot about 300 arrows by now. I´m very satisfied with the performance.
Stain is black (handle and tips) and blu-black ink for the working part of the limb. Came out very nice and I will do more with ink on ash. Finish is Tung Oil - 8 coats with 2 steel wool rubs in between.
Specs:
64" ntn
45#@27“
Bh: 5 6/8“
asymmetric (upper 1“ longer)
10" - 11,3#
12" - 15,5# +4,2#
14" - 19,3# +4,3#
16" - 23,7# +4#
18" - 26,8# +4,1#
20" - 30,5# +3,7#
22" - 34,2# +3,7#
24" - 38,3# +4,1#
26" - 42,5# +4,2#
27" - 44,7# +2,2#
-
4more
-
last4
-
Nice work sir.
-
Man...I really like this one, beautiful primitive look to it.
-
Ooooh nice!
-
Thank you SLIMBOB, stixnstones, bear - glad you like it!
Forgot to mention: The bow is heat treated.
-
very nice congrats (SH)
-
Nice looking bow. I like what you did with the snake skin.
-
I really like the finishing work on this. Not something you see all the time.
-
me likes, the snake skin looks cool as well is it white ash.
-
Thank you, bradsmith,PaSteve, airkah and delta wolf!
-
lovely work mate! awesome colours in there and real nice shape.
-
Hey b2w - another looker - glad you accepted the bow swap challenge! What kind of snake is/was it? Do you have vipers where you live, north of the alps?? Cheers
-
Love those full draw pics.
Congrats!
-
That's a nice bow! I really like your finish work. Lower limb looks a bit stiff but it has this nice waggle in it so might be ok! (if your upper limb starts taking more set you might consider scraping the bottom limb a bit)
-
Thank you rakau!
Thank you simk. It is a Kreuzotter, Vipera berus, and yes they are around here too.
Thank you knoll, when it is braced it doesn't look balanced, fed looks better than.
Thank you leonwood, actually this is the bow I told you I was struggling to get the bottom limb to bend. It was already so thin I was concerned it will collapse. Hollowing out was the clue. And i hollowed it out too much, so my last scrapes tillering were on the upper. I also traced the reflex on paper. I checked yesterday - it is still the same.
-
Sorry I missed this one B2W. Very nice! )P(
-
Thanks leonwood! I put some more attention at the upper limb. Like you concerned it started to take more set there.
So I took the scraper and reduced weight at the lower inner limb, where the wiggles are.
Also I shoot it right hand draw, to have a better feeling for it.
How do you guys shoot in bows which are build for the other hand?
It came out know 4# lighter but I can draw it further to 43#@28".
-
few more
-
some more
-
thanks for watching!
-
Nice.
-
Love the craftsmanship and attention to detail.
-
That is a beautiful bow, B2W!
How on earth did you get that stain finish on the handle/fades? I'd love to try something like that, since I can only get access to Ash about once a year down here in South Africa.
P.S The scenery in your photographs is gorgeous as well!
-
That's a sweet bow btw. I really like it. As I was looking at pictures and reading replies I was thinking exactly what Leonwood said. I wasn't sure how the unbraced profile was but it didn't seem that much different. I like your fulldraw better now.
Your finish looks great. It does have a aged look that very appealing. The snake skins look like they belong there. Everything just seems to flow together. Great job.
My wife and three of my four kids are left handed. It felt very awkward drawing a bow left handed at first, but now it feels almost comfortable.
Bjrogg
PS always enjoy looking at your scenery. Beautiful place.
PPS I love your hat
-
Thank you guys.
Matt, Stain is black ink for the handle and tips, blue black for the limbs. It bleches out quite a lot, but I like the final result.