2021 1st Newbie build along challenge

[Allyn T]

Great idea,  I know from experience that beginners are great at that

Lmao

[Deerhunter21]

I’m here!! Sorry I’m late!!! Lol! This is my last bow blank I got. Let’s see how this goes!!

[Zugul]

I signed up to this forum few days ago and I'm already here to share some of my work! I'm trying to make a 64" ttt pyramid style selfbow out of this Black locust stave. It has some character (2 knots just below the nocks, a big one in the handle, a small one just above the upper limb's fade and other two small ones mid lower limb). It also has a narrow crack running from half lower limb to the fade of the top limb. It stays pretty much always in the middle of the back of the stave. It formed during the drying process because I thought the stave was already dry enough to be put inside my house (winter here is very wet, so a stave left outside will always be too moist to make a good bow during this season, no matter what) but it was not... It lost 15% of it's initial weight in less then a month. I've tried to find an intact ring on the back of the stave, so I chased 2 rings deeper but the crack is still there. At this point, what do you think? Is it firewood or can it be turned into a selfbow?

[Yooper Bowyer]

That crack sounds like a drying check, which is no problem because the wood fibers are not damaged, just separated.  If it ran off the side you might have trouble though.  That stave looks quite nice.

Deerhunter, is your stave HHB, hickory, or something else?

[Fox]

Great more people ! Glad you found us deerhunter! Welcome to pa zugul ! We’re glad to have ya !

(Posting progress soon)

Looks like lots of BL being used!


-Fox

[Fox]

Zugul. That crack is no problem, fill it with liquid super glue if you want. like tradecraftman said so long as it doesn’t run off the limb there’s no issue.

[Fox]

Ruffed out, time for straightening and reflex!
Untitled by Livvydog, on FlickrUntitled by Livvydog, on FlickrUntitled by Livvydog, on FlickrUntitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Deerhunter21]

so theres a knot thats gonna be right on my fade... gonna need to find a way to work with that. gonna be a 1" thick handle so sorta bend in the handle. honestly, im just winging it lol. this isnt a stave i think im gonna be able to get a bow out of easily.

[Allyn T]

Looking good fox. Deer hunter winging it is how I got through most of my life so far : )

[Fox]

Thanks Ally! yeah deerhunter This is a really awkward tricky stave as-well. I also have a huge knot in my fade. not worried about it though id rather it there then a more working portion of the limb...

[Fox]

heating out some wiggles ....

Untitled by Livvydog, on FlickrUntitled by Livvydog, on Flickr

[Hawkdancer]

Welcome aboard, Zugul!  We like pictures !
Hawkdancer

[Zugul]

Thank you very much guys! I really appreciate your kindness and enthusiasm.
today I made some progress on my stave, bringing it down to final dimensions; then I did take off all the earty season wood from the back and cut the nocks. The stave was already floor tillered a bit, so I put on a long string and gave it a few pulls. This is what it looked like.
the limb on the left is going to be the top one, but at this point is stiffer then the right one. I'd say it bends pretty evenly, so I would scrape off some wood from all of its lenght.
On the other hand the right one does not bend much in the outer 1/2 limb, so I'd scrape a bit off from there.
Am I right about my considerations? Please correct me if I'm wrong   

[Fox]

Lookin good zugul!

[Yooper Bowyer]

What is the front profile like?