Primitive Archer

Very nice work.

Those strands will work but the finer you can get the strands to in dry form it will save loads of works and make combing them later when wet.  The ends tend to be clumpy and can hang up your comb even when wet.  The finer you get the sinew the better imo.  It will give cleaner more uniform layer too.   What ends up happening often is crossed fibers in the under layers of your bundles the create voids when it drys.  The key is to get it combed well which means combing through the hard clumpy bits at the ends.  In dry form I use my fingernail to scrape some of the end bit as good as I can prior to washing.  Your grooving looks fine and does not need to be perfect and straight even.  So long as it’s cleaned and free of any scrapings debris in the grooves to create possible air voids.   Size coat till the surface is saturated with glue.  Heat slightly to open the pours a little will help.  Not too much so as to have oils raise to
The surface like in the case with oily woods like Osage.  1.6 ounces is on the lighter side but could still work fine if you place it on critical spots.  I would lay around 50-60 grams so closer to 2 ounces.   I know it’s a short bow and if only looking for a little increase in weight or more for protection for a longer draw perhaps you’ll be fine.  I certainly would feel like any more than 60 grams would be needed.  The more smaller bundles could be more work for sure and may not be necessary.  You would smooth out with you fingers or the back of your comb anyway to make smooth.  Make your life little easier. It will still work.   Just stagger the bundles and blend them together as you lay them.  If it seems lumpy still wet your hands and flatten it down more as needed.  You will hear little air pops as you do this.  There is benefits to laying you first strip down the middle of each limb as you add to the sides to blend.  You will get a feel for it.  Just have a tub of water for your hands near by when laying.   I’m actually doing a little Osage 48” recurve right now!   I’ll see if I can take some video to post later. 

The first couple of coats of size is going on.

Got it braced today and the back scored with hacksaw blade. Had a bit of an issue with it getting fluffy as I wasn’t diligent enough keeping the lines straight but I got it cleaned up. Degreased with isopropyl alcohol.
It looks like it’s getting pretty well soaked in already.

I’m sorting my bundles for sinewing tomorrow.

I’ve got about 1.6 oz. I was counting strands to groups of 6 which quickly became obvious it wasn’t enough so I doubled it to 12 and for the one limb Ive got over 50 bundles. Does this seem reasonable, should be the bundles be bigger or smallr? I imagine smaller bundles will give a better backing at the expense of more time?

Ozy. I’m not an expert Atlatl maker by any stretch.

I have made three. They all cast a dart well, but this one fit me best. I seem to remember seeing the Atlatl itself should be about an arms length long.

This one is my arm length from shoulder to wrist.

The dart itself is about 3 1/2 times the length of Atlatl.

Bjrogg

  I wonder how far that can shoot with a 34" draw? Looks great and not overbuilt at all. I would have been at about 78".