Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ravenbeak on September 29, 2008, 12:34:10 am
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I named this one silkie. 30 pounds at 27 inches. Nice and light for the shoulder rehab. 61 inches nock to nock.
This was the inside of a piggy back stave, from a great big blown down i found awhile back. This is also the same wood as adb's yew self bow a week or so ago ( a beauty i might add)
When the stave was split it pulled a splinter deep on what would be the back of the bow and another splinter pulling in towards the handle. The stave was set aside in the burn pile for quite some time before I pulled it out, and said what the heck. I'm at that stage in my bowyers learning cycle where I almost try to make the mistakes so as to learn the lessons. This is my first all heartwood yew bow and my first silk backing. Also first bow with a built in arrow rest.
I didn't use a tape measure laying this one out, and now that it's done it's interested to look at it and analyze. The arrow rest is half in above centre, but the interested part is that the handle, yes, a bit too big, extends down into the lower limb. So the bending area of the lower limb is a couple inches shorter than the upper. During the tillering the bottom limb was stiff, bottom limb stiff, bottom limb stiff, wow, bottom over bending. I took a bit off the top and called it done.
Pardon some of the pics were taken before the tru-oil was applied to the sides and belly, also.
I was most impressed, this bow has taken the least set of any to date, I'm not sure if it's the silk or the tillering, but it feels good.
Jamie
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Hey, Jamie
Nice job!! I guess with these two latest bows you've made, it answers the question if you can make an all heartwood yew bow!!
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Neat bow and bookmarked for Sept Self BOM, too. Thanks for the post.
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How does this one compare to the other one, the unbacked one.
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OK I'm satisfied go ahead and send it to me at .............
Seriously nice lookin bow sir.Ronnie
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thanks guys,
Limey josh, as compared to the unbacked, it took less set but is also less stressed. I really like the silk and will definitely do it again, actually have one on the go.
I personally like the unbacked philosophy as a self bow is a hunk of wood, no riser handles, no tip over lays, just a chunk of wood
jamie
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Both bows are very nice! But edjamucate me a bit on the term, " Piggy back stave ".
Wayne
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I'm not sure if it's real or if I made it up. But I consider a piggy back stave to be.... when looking on end grain if the tree is split into eighths like a pie. now take one of the slices and split it midpoint outside of tree to centre of tree, making sure each piece is atleast 1.5 - 2 inches thick. so, the inner stave was essentially piggybacking the outter. or said differently, the back of the inner stave is one growth year earlier than the belly of the outter stave. confused?
Jamie
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Welllllll, uh, I think I kinda get it. If you mean that you take a stave, and split in half between the bark side, and the heart side......otherwise, yepher, I'm confused.
Wayne
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Nice job Jamie,well done. :)
Pappy
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that's right stickbender, it takes a big tree to get piggy back staves
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Yeah, I guess it would take a pretty big tree to do that. thanks, and again, very nice bows.
Wayne
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this particular tree was approx 350 years old
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What? 350 years old and you cut it down?!! I'm calling "Granola Central " in California !! Man, how did you manuver it to cut it in sections? And what did you use to cut it in sections?
Wayne
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the tree was a blown down, i'd never have the heart to cut down a live yew tree. It was growing in a section of old growth surrounded by thousand year old firs and cedars.
I cut it into 6 foot sections 4 of them, with a little handsaw and carried them out with a buddy. The bottom section we could barely lift. I split up the 4 sections and got about 25 staves.
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Nice find! It sounds like you paid your dues in sawing it into sections.
Wayne
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Well done! Looks like it will be a good shooter for you. Jawge
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Nice job Jamie.Tiller looks good! God Bless