T/d Elk riser longbow build along

[voodoofire1]

Hello, My name is Steve, and I've been asked to do a build along with one of my bows, This is a friends bow,and the specs are to be ...a lefty, 58-60" in length, 50-55# draw weight @27, Elk riser, Walnut limbs and arrowhead shaped antler limb bolts..... but there is a bonus too, his birthday is Jan. 4th, and I've decided to add some things free of charge for this birthday bow, Canebrake skins,Elk antler shields and tips. He did inquire about these, and doesn't know I'm going to do this, bet he'll be suprised so here goes........... I start with a whole Elk antler like this...


Trim it down to the basic size I need and then impregnate it with epoxy(which I can't show) then I rough it out ... and it looks like this...

Note* this is not the actual riser, this is just a representation, remember it's a lefty! actual pics to follow...

[BT]

Whats the size going to be like on that riser?
I cant get a grasp on it's size.
Maybe lay a dollar bill beside it for scale?

I like the idea....never seen that before.

[easternhunter]

admin said:

Whats the size going to be like on that riser?
I cant get a grasp on it's size.
Maybe lay a dollar bill beside it for scale?

I like the idea....never seen that before.

I have, looks really good once the finish is appplied.
Should be nice and rigid too!

[smj]

If you'd not mind, give us the dimensions of the parts being made... How long the riser is, diameter, and then limb lengths, too, when you get to those! How much limb is to mate with the riser, the distance they engage, number of screws and or studs. Limb width, layers used, glue type, temperature if baking is required. Limb angle, and how you cut the antler to the right angle would be good stuff!

Thanks man!

stevej

[voodoofire1]

Ok, I'm back, the riser is 13 1/4" long, and 4 1/2"diameter at it's widest point, the limb pads are 11 degrees and 3 1/2" long and 1 3/8ths wide, there is a 5/16" tapered allen bolt and a 1/4" locating pin per limb, the limbs are 1 3/8" wide and 27" long and consist of 5 layers ,2 of .050 gordon glass, 2 of .065 walnut .001 taper and one .070 walnut .002 reverse taper for the center core, and are held together by smooth on epoxy, they cure for 45 min. at 160 degrees, the riser is rough cut with a bandsaw and limb pockets and preliminary smoothing is done with a 24"x4" edge/spindle sander and checked against a blank I have, guys no two of these Elk antlers are the same, and each require a little different approach to making, they're not like wood billets where you have flat, square sides and a consistant size to work with, It's pretty difficult to get these right, time consuming is more like it, as I have 30 to 40 hrs in each bow and probably a third of that in just the riser, I'm kinda under the gun on this one with the holiday hoopla so just consider this a preliminary build, didn't get pics of some steps cause the wife took the camera with her out of town today, and I couldn't wait due to the time constraints, I will take some pics of what I have done already , and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions about the missed steps,pics will be added soon...Steve

[BT]

Thanks Steve

[smj]

Excellent!

[voodoofire1]

ok guys here are some more pics:
preparing to lay up some limbs-

Cooking them under 60#'s pressure, 160 degrees for 45 min.


Grinding Darrells limbs-

finished ground limbs with limb buck pattern laying next to them-


riser and unfinished just out of the form limbs:

here are some finished pics of Darrells bow:



Guys sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been really busy with the holidays and getting this bow done ant two other I had to get out before X-mas, here's a pic of them..

[red]

Wicked cool...thanks for taking us along on the ride.

[BT]

I must say....these are very nice looking bows

Do you chrono them....just for refrence?