Author Topic: Elderberry hld, 60@28  (Read 14231 times)

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Offline leonwood

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Elderberry hld, 60@28
« on: October 22, 2017, 08:18:29 am »
So I am just trying out all the local woods which I think can make a bow.
This elderberry stave was cut last may with a hld in mind. I split it immediately, debarked it and threw in the corner of my shed. Thickest part was about 2.5 inch. A few weeks ago I decided to take it out of the corner and start work on it. The hollow pith was split across the whole stave while drying but this was only a problem in the handle. Roughed it out and steamed a sideways kink in the handle straight. After that I rasped the handle flat and glued on a small piece of acacia over the split and the remaning hole.
First plan was to make it short but I kind of liked the snakey tip so decided to keep it long and see what would come out.
The limbs where also twisted about 40 degrees, got some of it out during heat treating and left the rest. (Twisted staves plays tircks on you while tillering because it looks so different from opposite sides!)
Ended up at 60@28 and shoots really smooth! I think hld and lighter woods like elder make a great combo! Shot it quite a bit and still shows no sign of set so I probably could have gone narrower or shorter. Did not really measure anything, just chopped away and left it as wide as the stave allowed.
The back was dyed with ecoline ink. This stuff soakes in quite deep. It will probably fade a bit over time, just an experiment to see if it will work.
The handle was wrapped with four peaces of leftover leather lace.

Specs:
Wood: elderberry
Lenght: 66" ntn
Draw weight: 60@28
Max width: 1.8"
Nocks: ipe
Handle: leather lace
String: 8 strand fastflight continuous


// side


// top


// braced





// belly


// details











// fd

Offline S.C. hunter

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2017, 11:06:55 am »
Leonwood,
  Wow , that looks great!  You did a great job on a stave that had to be a challenge to work.  You obviously know what you are doing, keep it up.
  Steve

Online bjrogg

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2017, 01:08:33 pm »
Another beautiful bow Leonwood, looks like a killer. Thanks for sharing
Bjrogg
A hot cup of coffee and a beautiful sunrise

Offline leonwood

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2017, 01:51:42 pm »
Thanks guys, this wast just to try a bow from elderberry. I must say it surprised me, works really easy, a bit like hazel, but the performance is a lot better than hazel. Will search for some cleaner staves in the spring. There's loads of it around here but usually grows with extreme reflex. Will be fun to try that as well😝

Offline Morgan

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2017, 02:03:25 pm »
Gorgeous bow!

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2017, 02:04:41 pm »
Very nice looking bow.  Great job on it.
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline Hans H

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2017, 02:46:44 pm »
well done!,
Hans
Hans,      Bavaria, Germany

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2017, 03:20:48 pm »
looks great congrats (SH)

Offline Del the cat

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2017, 03:27:06 pm »
Great looker :)
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2017, 03:28:30 pm »
Awesome! Congratulations! Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2017, 03:51:25 pm »
Very nice. I really dig the dye on the back  ;)
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2017, 04:19:22 pm »
Looks to me like you nailed right on
good job
Guy Dasher
The Marshall Primitive Archery Rendezvous
Primitive Archery Society
Having  fun
To God be the glory !

Offline Parnell

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #12 on: October 22, 2017, 05:31:03 pm »
Looks beautiful!  I really like how the hollow design moves into the handle.  The tiller looks great!
1’—>1’

Offline selfbow joe

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2017, 06:02:02 pm »
Pretty cool looking bow. Nice work

Offline simson

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Re: Elderberry hld, 60@28
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2017, 06:33:05 pm »
Very very nice, Leon. I like theprofiles also the execution work over all. If you have access to a chrony - let us know! Mass is also interesting.

And yes elder is great bow wood - if you find a non heavily twisted (at least here in my homeland). It is one of my fav woods among the native growing here, if you have access to euonymus - try this one for HLD, works even better.

Congrats on your bow!
Simon
Bavaria, Germany