Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: John K on June 25, 2008, 04:05:23 pm

Title: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 25, 2008, 04:05:23 pm

This is one i'm working on at the moment. Kiln dried Maple board that i got from a friend who was using it for stickers for his lumber.
There where 2 that had some nice grain and he said i could take them. I have it tillered to 50# @ 23" i'm shooting for 28" it's 67 " ttt. I also had some Purple Heart sitting around so i thought i would try my hand at glueing on some tip overlays and a handle.

Hope you enjoy the pics !
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow6.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow5.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow3.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow2.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/stickerbow.jpg)

John

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: chessieboy on June 25, 2008, 04:22:39 pm

looks good. I'm taking it that your still working it down since you said that you wanted it 27 or 28". The right limb looks a little stiff if so. The other thing I saw was that in the close up of the nock the groove closest to the handle looked a little sharp. I would sand or file it down just a little so it doesn't nick your string. Bow does look good though.
Bill

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 25, 2008, 04:45:24 pm

Thanks Bill, The next bow i make i'm going to do my tips a little different and come more with a 45 degree angle instead of strait across.........

John

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: adb on June 25, 2008, 08:49:25 pm

Hi,
Your bow looks OK, but it is very square looking. If I was you, I'd round off all the edges. Round edges are stronger, and more pleasing to the eye. A square edge is more likely to lift a splinter, especially on a self bow. Your tiller looks decent, except your picture is at a bit of an angle, and it's ahrd to tell if your tiller is in fact even. Also, you need to cut your nocks at an angle!! Measure 5/8" on the back, and 1 3/4" on the belly. Draw two lines across, and then corner to corner, and cut your nocks along that line. A bit longer, and more tapered riser would probably be more comfortable too! I love maple... I'd have to say it's my favourite white wood. The grain on the piece you selected looks super.

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 25, 2008, 09:15:16 pm

Tiller looks good. I would consider using a rope and pulley rather than a tillering stick. I see some pretty significant run ups or run outs at the tips. They are areas where the grain lines on the edge go belly to back. Anymore than 2 per limb and I would back the bow with silk, burlap or linen. There's board info on my site. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: medicinewheel on June 26, 2008, 02:34:35 am

yes, tiller looks good but hard to tell whether it's even; everything george and adb say i would say the same!
good bow, though!
frank

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Pappy on June 26, 2008, 07:16:29 am

Nice job,what the others have said.Right limb dose look a little stiff about mid limb,The main problem with the tips is it will probably cut or wear your string pretty quick.I would straighten that out if I didn't do anything else.I love the color contrast on the maple and purple heart,looks very nice. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Marc St Louis on June 26, 2008, 08:32:00 am

Coming along nicely.

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 26, 2008, 10:58:39 am

Thanks for all the advice guys ! It really does help. Since this is only my second bow that is not 30#'s or under i'm pretty happy with it.....Adam i will round off the edges and try and fix the nocks. I've shot about 30 arrows through it so far and after being unstrung it only took 1" os set ! That Maple is some hard stuff !!

Pappy, I like the color contrast too !!

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: cowboy on June 26, 2008, 11:04:48 am

I agree what others have said on the little fixes - love that color contrast also!

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 26, 2008, 11:20:16 am

Thanks cowboy !

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: DCM on June 26, 2008, 11:21:36 am

Fantastic.  Thanks for posting and being a good sport about the suggestions.

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 26, 2008, 11:46:46 am

David, Thats why i posted it, if you can't take some criticism i think  you shouldn't post pics...i'm hear to learn.

Thanks John

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: OldBow on June 26, 2008, 12:10:38 pm

This is a neat bow. And if you do more with it (I wouldn't), post another picture. But it is bookmarked for June Self Bow of the Month, anyway.

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 26, 2008, 12:14:03 pm

Don, I dout i will get anymore work done on it before the end of the month, so put it in BOM as it is  ;D

Thanks John

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: kayakfisher on June 26, 2008, 11:10:28 pm

As you stated that it was your second bow ,I think you did a excellent job on it the contrasting colors are pretty neat. the run off in the limbs is what caught my attention,
                            good job
                                      Dennis

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on June 27, 2008, 10:49:48 am

Thanks Dennis ! If it breaks i start on another one  ;D
Thats the joy of getting the wood for free  :D

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: recurve shooter on June 27, 2008, 02:06:38 pm

nice. i like the handle and tips. i think im gonna try some tip overlays if i can ever get a bow to work.

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on July 16, 2008, 04:30:11 pm

Hello, I changed the grip and tips on the this bow and just thought i would share. Also a full draw pic.
I'm going to be shoting this one in the Wisconsin Traditional Archers State shoot this weekend, wish me luck !
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0454.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/bow71608v2.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0449.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0451.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0453.jpg)

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Joe M on July 16, 2008, 10:55:58 pm

Have a good shoot John, and good luck.  Bow looks good!  I like a good piece of maple for most the bows I make even if I'm partial to birch.  I started another bow myself today that will have wider limbs then I've made in the past.  It'll look much like yours I hope when it's all finished. :) 

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Pappy on July 17, 2008, 05:57:09 am

Nice finish,bet it shoots great.Good luck at the shoot. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: DanaM on July 17, 2008, 06:44:34 am

Very nice John, You did a bang up job on her. Shoot straight eh :)

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on July 17, 2008, 10:54:48 am

Thanks everyone for the good luck, i'll post the results on Tuesday  :)

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: OldBow on July 17, 2008, 11:38:05 am

You've made yourself a dandy bow. Spot on for the tiller. Bookmarked, too, for July Self BOM

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on July 17, 2008, 12:03:56 pm

Thanks Don, but this bow was in the June BOM contest, and it even got 1 vote  ;D and it wasn't from me either  :o

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: The Burnt Hill Archer on July 18, 2008, 04:03:37 am

i like the way you fixed the tips, like was said before, just next time at more of an angle. good job on it though, i love the contrast of the woods.

Phil

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on July 18, 2008, 02:37:32 pm

Thanks Phil, i like the cloros too, thats why i put a clear coat on it  :)

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Jesse on July 18, 2008, 10:47:54 pm

looks great have fun at the shoot. I wont make it to this one. :(

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on May 12, 2009, 10:45:01 am

This bow had some hand shock so i narrowed the tips some and rounded off the corners, shoots much better now !
and since i had the bow all sanded again i thought i would try to put some snake skins on it.

I got the skins from adb on a trade here, Thanks again Adam !!

I think they turned out OK !  Plus i added the Hemp wrap.

JohnK

[attachment deleted by admin]

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: Pappy on May 12, 2009, 12:39:23 pm

You just keep on refining that bow,looks better every time.Skins look great. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on May 12, 2009, 12:45:50 pm

Thanks Pappy ! It seems i keep coming back to bows i've made and touch things up, my Osage is the same way  :)

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: smokeu on May 12, 2009, 11:53:08 pm

Good job man I love to see em' come out good!

Title: Re: kiln dried Maple selfbow
Post by: John K on May 13, 2009, 01:01:16 pm

Thanks smokeu !