Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on March 15, 2020, 08:04:40 am

Title: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 15, 2020, 08:04:40 am
This is another bow I started several years ago that did not get finished.  I started this bow at a time when there was a heated debate here on length of bow versus draw weight.  One member, no longer, insisted that shorter bows could not be tillered to a heavy draw weight.  Nothing I could say to Adam could convince him that you did not need a 6' long bow for 100#, or more, draw weight.  At the time I had started this bow with the intention of making a heavier draw weight bow, heavier as in around 75#.  During the debate I considered cutting this bow down to 60", it was 68" long, and making 100+ lbs bow to show him it could be done but then I thought "why bother".  If he was not experienced enough to know better then it wasn't my problem.  In the end Steve (Badger) decided to show him it could be done using Osage, of course Adam merely praised the Osage for being able to accomplish this

Anyway, on to the bow.  I pulled the bow down from one of my racks a few weeks ago and worked it down a bit before starting, I don't and cannot comfortably use a 75# bow anymore, and re-did the heat-treating.  The bow started out with just under 5 3/4" of reflex and ended up with just under 3" remaining.  It had a bit of a kink in one limb, from the remains of a knot, which I partially took out with localized steam heat.  The bow is 64" N to N and I tillered it to pull 57# @ 29".  I made a linen string for the bow and have been shooting it quite a bit in my shop, too much snow outside.  It shoots quite well.  Here is the bow

(https://i.imgur.com/FV3QcQ3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/W1x2Ppz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/69v0Yo2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/af10xqc.jpg)
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Swampman on March 15, 2020, 08:22:39 am
I don't get tired of seeing your bows Marc. Thanks for posting.  This bow looks great in all respects and the fact that it hold 3 inches of reflex says a lot about this bow.  I bet it is a pleasure to shoot.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Pat B on March 15, 2020, 11:06:54 am
Another nice bow, Marc. Well done.  :OK
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Del the cat on March 15, 2020, 11:18:31 am
sweet  :)
Del
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: bjrogg on March 15, 2020, 11:24:53 am
Sure glad you still have some unfinished bows hanging around to finish up Marc. Always enjoy looking at your full draws.
Bjrogg
PS and unbraced & braced
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: silent sniper on March 15, 2020, 03:28:18 pm
 Beautiful as always, great looking bow Marc!
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: aznboi3644 on March 15, 2020, 03:41:48 pm
Jeez that’s a beaut.  You are the damn master of heat treating white woods and the reflex game.  I need to build a reflex caul and get off my butt lol
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Parnell on March 15, 2020, 05:08:44 pm
Always a pleasure, Marc.  I’m always intrigued with your style of arrow pass/shelf and also your string work.  The bow is not bad either!  Ha.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 15, 2020, 06:01:01 pm
Thanks guys

The string works out to about 400# so it should be good for awhile
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 15, 2020, 07:37:04 pm
Very nice! Super tiller! Jawge
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on March 15, 2020, 07:52:28 pm
That's so nice thanks for sharing (f)
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: PaSteve on March 15, 2020, 08:54:32 pm
That's beautiful. I really like the reflex profile and yours are always top notch.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Bob Barnes on March 15, 2020, 10:40:57 pm
Love the profile, but it's still too heavy.  :)  Thanks for the share...   :OK
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on March 16, 2020, 03:44:21 am
Very nice work Marc.Sweet lines on that bow.I was wondering what's the average amount of time yet you let a bow rehydrate after heat treating?
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: GlisGlis on March 16, 2020, 04:54:10 am
your bows allways have that grace and elegance... never get tired of seeing your work  :OK
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 16, 2020, 08:14:06 am
Very nice work Marc.Sweet lines on that bow.I was wondering what's the average amount of time yet you let a bow rehydrate after heat treating?

No idea what the average would be but I let them sit for at least 24 hours before I start working on them
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 16, 2020, 09:40:46 am
You know you are doing everything right when you can take a piece of HHB and make it stand straight like that at 64" ntn. Good work, Marc.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: DC on March 16, 2020, 10:05:56 am
Good job Marc. :D
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Hawkdancer on March 16, 2020, 10:36:26 am
Nice!  At 400#, the sorting should hold up!  With 2 reworked shoulders and hands, I am also in the "easy draw weight" group, not that age doesn't play a part, too! 
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: BowEd on March 16, 2020, 01:34:24 pm
Very nice work Marc.Sweet lines on that bow.I was wondering what's the average amount of time yet you let a bow rehydrate after heat treating?

No idea what the average would be but I let them sit for at least 24 hours before I start working on them
Thanks....Taking in for granted this heat treating is done with most success with woods that are overly tension strong on their own,by saying an average I meant nowadays for yourself.In the past I thought it was longer.Knowing that it's the outside surfaces doing all or most of the work I suppose at least a couple days would be ok to wait.Factors of how strong a heat treatment or dark must be taken into account also.
I know in stiff areas of a bow like the tips just a couple of hours can be ok.
I'm superstitious though.I just did one on the full length of both limbs.I'm going to wait at least a week yet.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Santanasaur on March 16, 2020, 03:32:14 pm
Very elegant bow with some serious stage presence. Cambium streaks look really nice with the yellow handle.  Impressive keeping so much reflex despite the tricky knot limb. Nice one, I really like hhb
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 17, 2020, 08:32:52 am
The time I wait does depend on the RH.  If it's really dry I might wait a couple days

I lightly brushed the back with a small brass wire brush and water to take the cambium off.  Worked well
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Will B on March 17, 2020, 09:23:18 am
That is a Great looking bow!  I love the unbraced profile and your tillering is always spot on. Thanks for posting this.
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Pappy on March 17, 2020, 08:12:33 pm
Nice bow, got to love HHB. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: HHB Flatbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 19, 2020, 07:48:08 am
Thanks guys