Author Topic: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)  (Read 7289 times)

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Offline shofu

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While waiting for wood to dry to make my first bow, I couldn't wait, so I decided to practice on a throw away piece of wood.
Please give advice and let me know if you think this is a waste of my energy...
Pacific Yew 3/4" diameter 30" NTN slight deflex to roughed-out 'stave'
Cheers,
George

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2017, 02:34:23 am »
It's never ever a waste of your energy...
You can play at heat bending it in line and all sort of stuff.
I've even added side overlays on a bow like that to get the string across into line*.
It's how you can experiment and learn new tricks without the anxiety of spoiling a lot of hard work. If it turns out to shoot well, you can the pretty it up. It can also be a good give away as kids bow etc.
Never ever a waste of energy... unless you'd rather be indoors decorating shopping or doing some chores?  >:D

If you can put it somewhere warm/hot and airy it will season in a few weks now it's roughed out.
Don't over bend it until it's had a bit of time to dry out.
Del
*Here it is:- http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/stick-bow.html
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline DC

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2017, 12:34:16 pm »
Yew is never "throw away" George ;D If it was good enough to bring home you must have seen something in it. It's funny, we don't know what a lot of PA members look like but I think we've seen all their feet ;D ;D ;D

Offline aaron

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2017, 01:53:18 pm »
Seems like good practice to me. Give it to  a kid when done. Remember most stiff tipped bows typically have tips only about 1/8 (or less) thicker than the main limb. Anything more just slows down the arrow and causes hand shock.
Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline Pat B

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2017, 01:55:52 pm »
It's never a waste if you learn something.   ;)
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2017, 10:48:10 pm »
Here it is after I practiced steaming.  FYI, for some reason with yew, the nice copper color steamed out and stained my ceiling - wife was not impressed.  Had to scrub all morning...
g
Cheers,
George

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2017, 10:53:57 pm »
Pat B thanks for encouragement
Aaron thanks for 'tip' I will try reducing tips
DC Haha! I noticed that about feet.  Maybe I should get some bowyer shoes...
Del - that's what I thought and was hoping I wasn't out to lunch!

Here it is at first 3" brace
Cheers,
George

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2017, 10:55:48 pm »
Here it is at 9" and 15" draw.  Obviously having some growing pains.
g
Cheers,
George

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2017, 10:57:12 pm »
Here is how she pulls now and the 1.5" set it has taken
g
Cheers,
George

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2017, 10:58:37 pm »
oops. full draw (ish)
g
Cheers,
George

Offline DC

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2017, 11:06:42 pm »
Looks pretty good. I've had my steaming water turn color but I've never seen the steam carry a stain. Weird.

Offline shofu

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Re: good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2017, 11:22:45 pm »
Thanks DC maybe left it too long.  Better get a steamer like yours or paint the ceiling brown...
g
Cheers,
George