Building a bow

[easternhunter]

smj said:

Eastern!!! Dude, that is a nice looking bow! I am impressed, and sorry to be so long getting back to you on this.

What is the tiller on it? (I mean above and below the grip.) Just curious! From the pics, it has a nice shape to it unstrung - in the pic has it been just unstrung or sitting for a while? I would guess that the lesser angle on the reflex was a bit more forgiving during tillering...

I don't think you needed to put in the extra tapered insert in the tips, but I have thought about giving it a try myself. Where I have seen it done most is on recurves - it would certainly stiffen that last section of limb! Do I detect a hint of a hinge in the lower limb where the stiffener ends? (May be just the photo! I don't see it when strung at all.)

I like the shape at the grip, and the way you finished off the grip and the rest, or shelf, is great!

As to the tongue oil, I don't know how water-proof that stuff is. If the wood can absorb moisture from the air it will. You will know it as the bow will slow down and not shoot with the same authority. If so, just dry it out again! (Like I say, I don't know about tongue oil - may not be an issue at all!)

If I were you, I'd be very proud of that bow! To pull this one out of "kindling" is a great feat indeed.

I guess my only question is - when are you building your next one and what will you make it out of?

SMJ, tiller is 1/4" positive on uppe rlimb at fades. Guess I stumbled on that, but I did check it and tillered abit extra to get there.
- BRace ht. is 7 1/4 above-7 below.
- In that pic, it's been sitting abit.
- I agree that the shallower sweep was easier to deal with...

- LOL, SMJ, those wedges at the tips are actually the remnants of the old maple belly. I didn't want to take it all the way down at the tips. Wasn't planned, but they look cool huh?
- I think it may be the pic, but I don't see any hinge at the lower tip personally. It shoulda showed up in the full draw pic.
- Yup, the shelf worked real well...better than trying to carve wood to fit tightly against the riser. Once the glue sets, it's harder than wood ever thought of being too!
- Well, I liked the tung oil, and it really glows! if I'mout in the wet, I can rub in some paste wax as I understand some folks do.
- Well, I worked hard to complete this one...I didn't want to give it up for dead. I think it worked out OK....
- SMJ, I'm currently tillering a hickory backed Jatoba shooting for 50-55lbs. I got one tip which twisted abit on me, so I gotta try to straighten that one first. Stillearnin' is supposed to help me this weekend.
- I'm already planning 2 more bows to finish this summer. One will possibly be Tigerwood, straight limbed, and the other, I'd love to try a Grumley style brush nock static recurve. It took a while , but they grow on ya! Not sure if I can pull it off, but "nothing ventured-nothing gained"...have you ever tried a static???

[smj]

If you have a limb twisting on you as you tiller it - take a look at the thickness of the limb - as you might look at a cross-section. I have had bows start to twist a bit and once looking at the limb, the issue was that I had one side of the centerline more thick than the other side - hence, the limb was more stiff on one side and as a result would flex in a twisty way towards the thinner, weaker side. So, if the limb twists a bit to one side, thin the side away from the twist direction. Make sense?

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A limb with this cross-section will twist
(The edit functions are slim here! Sorry about all the dots, spacers they are!!!)

Nope - I've never tried a recurve of any type.

[easternhunter]

Yeah, SMJ, I just finished steaming this limb tonite...just a bit to realign it. If it springs back, I can thin down the thick side...You are right on about that BTW. it was a tiny bit heavy at the reflex toward the tip...I doubt the flex I put in it tonite willstay any way so I'll check it on Sunday...I'm goin' fishing tomorrow.

[huntingdude16]

Ok, sorry for not reading the whole topic, as the answer may be there, but I have a question. Recently we had a cottonwould split from high winds and has some thick pieces. I did an internet search and found one source saying cottonwood is no good for bow-making. Is this true?

Also, I know next to nothing about making bows, and if i'm going to make one I want to keep it very simple.

[smj]

huntingdude16 said:

Recently we had a cottonwould split from high winds and has some thick pieces. I did an internet search and found one source saying cottonwood is no good for bow-making. Is this true?

Yeah, it is true. I have not tried to work it myself - but other who I hold a high opinion of tell me not to bother. Also, I have yet to see a board of cottonwood that I'd want to try to make bow out of! For a first bow, try hickory or ash. It is hard to go wrong with either of those woods for a first bow. Get them clear and straight grained, with no run-offs, then you can get started on that first bow. If you like, start a thread and we will work you through the details. You might read through this one from the begining for starters, it might give you some direction! Either way, make sure you keep us posted! stevej

PS - If you want, I have a pattern in mind that I think would be easy enough to make... I'll share with you if you like.

[huntingdude16]

Thanks. I don't think i'll start it until next summer, as I don't feel like working on it in the cold of winter. When that time comes, i'll let you know.

[smj]

Fair enough, I will no doubt be here! Just let me know...

[easternhunter]

SMJ....I'll take you up on that offer of the bow pattern for ash/hickory....I may build an ash bow before long.
Also, just to update....I set aside that Jatoba bow with the twist in the limb til I feel like tackling it some more...
I went ahead and glued up bow #3....also hickory backed Jatoba, but straight limb this time...simpler and soon to be tillered.

[smj]

I was wondering where you were at with your bows...

I'll work up a posting for the bow I am thinking of and try to get it up soon as I can! You will have to let me know what you think...

[red]

admin said:

Look on the members sale board.
There are staves for sale there

Alright...I admit I am an idiot, Where is the "Members' Sale Board"