2016 Primitive Archer Bow Trade Sign up and Information

[half eye]

Ryan, that shows me you have a real "feel" for this bow makin stuff sir....
rich

[Loope]

I pulled the bow off the clamps tonight and didn't see any damage, so that is good.  The heat correction brought the string much more in line.  I had bent it past where it needed to go, but got enough spring back that I still need to straighten some more.  Will also need to heat correct the limbs some, one is reflexed and one is deflexed.

I also found some knots on the edge of the limbs.  I tried to miss one of them by leaving wood outside my layout lines, but didn't leave quite enough... the pin showed up in the edge.  The other knot I thought I would missed completely, but it had angled in towards the center enough that it also showed up in the limb.

The red line in the picture is a string from the center of the tips.  Got a little more straightening to do...

[Loope]

Here are some pics of one of the knots.  This one I thought I had missed, but it angled in to the center enough to show up.  I am not sure if I can miss this one.  I can take off just a little more from the limb width and that might put it right at 1/2 inch from the limb.  What do you guys think?

[Loope]

Here is the other knot.  I thought I had missed this one, but there was a small pin that came out the side.

[ajooter]

Loop that's one snake son of a gun!!! Did you try localized steaming on the handle to get the tips in line yet?  I just had to steam mine again...some twist tip had me fooled on my alignment.

No pictures but I had the limbs bending nicely and at 30#@ 16" at 4" brace height.  I'm gonna try and get 30#@18 and up my brace.

If this one doesn't work out I'm gonna try a plan c...bendy handle recurve.

[Loope]

I used dry heat on the handle.  It was a little over 2 inches out of alignment and I am a little less than 1 inch out now.  It needs another heat to get it more in line.  I have never tried steam, only used dry heat.  Anyone have thoughts on dry heat vs steam?

[ajooter]

If you look in the build along section Gordon shows how he does his handle steaming....I believe it's in the vine maple and hazel bow tutorials.

[ajooter]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,53195.45.html

Found the page loop

[jeffp51]

Well I haven't worked on my trade bow, but I have a good excuse--more bows.  These two are still Christmas gifts for my first and third boys.  The osage is a belly split from my last bow and is ready for sealing.  Bigger bow is a white oak stave  that came to me floor tillered in the Christmas trade.  The bow I had planned for him broke during tillering the week after Christmas.

[half eye]

I'm getting the heavy Iroquois closer to final bend but a small amount to go. And sneeking up on an Osage for a friend.....a pics attached
rich

[ajooter]

Your an animal rich!!  That rawhide is on its way along with some sinew I found at the grocery store  .  You'll have to let me know if it's usable stuff.

[Knoll]

sinew at grocery store?

[PatM]

Beef tendon is a major cooking ingredient. Tends to be short though.

[Ranasp]

Alright, I sawed off the ends and this is the end of the leftmost Black Locust staff that I was thinking of going after.  Is this about the right size?  Just double checking if I'm heading in the right direction with knocking off the rings.  What I'm seeing is the sapwood ending where the thick blue dots are, and I should try getting to the thin red dots.  Is that right?

[mwosborn]

Looks good to me Ranasp!

Rich - you are an animal.

Jeff - those bows look good - bet your boys can't wait.