A bow was born today, and I wanted to share it with my buds.
This will be for my buddy Brad, whom I have hunted with since junior high school. That was in the late 70's! He is not a trad hunter yet. I built him a bamboo backed ipe, which exploded a few weeks ago. I was standing right there when it happened! :hair::hair: Our friend Brian was trying it out. He turned and looked at me and said, "well I guess I'm ready for one of those fancy glass bows". After shooting this one, I'm hoping he will gain the confidence to put the machine bow down.
This one has a wenge and bubinga riser, bamboo cores, and bubinga limb faces. I'm shooting for 45@28 and 62" NTN.
When I cleaned up the blank and peeled the tape, I was like a kid on Christmas morning! This is the closest to perfect blank I have built. Not the first streak in the glass, air bubble, or visible glue line. My others were great bows, but a bowyer can spot small flaws that others may never notice.
I am so excited that I had to share.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/8-21-09-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/8-21-09-2.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/8-21-09-3.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/8-21-09-4.jpg)
Job well done Marty. I know you wont let him down. By the way thanks for thew info. I have it figured out now its just procurement of materials.
Shawn
This is going to be a beauty Marty.
Lookin great Marty! Have ya started filling on the wenge yet? !
I love the looks of it so far. I'll be watching this one!
Looks great Marty
:thumbsup:
Outstanding Marty. Like that wood combo also.
Can't wait to see more. :thumbsup:
Very very nice ! Thanks for sharing !
Man you crank out some bows!!! Looks great as usual.
Marty, I have not visited the site for awhile so I have not seen your work latly, This one really looks great, you have great talent!
Steve
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IN GOD WE TRUST
I love the swoop without the added lines of glass or lam. It looks perfect - simple, elegant, and subtle but very much complete.
One of your best yet IMO, Marty!
Thanks guys! I'm in the tillering/timing stage now. I laminated buffalo horn overlays, which really is gonna pop against the bubinga. I'll show the completed bow in a few days.
Marty, that is a looker to be sure but, I like mine and if there are any flaws in it, I'd be hard pressed to find 'em. You definitely got the feel for building and my hat is off to you! :thumbsup: :D
Marty,
I keep thinking about how nice and how much I would love one of your R/D bows. Another great job, as usual!
Do you have a plan on how you are going to fill the wenge riser on this one?
I figured out the wenge pore issue! Bunches of thin CA. I coated the riser with thin CA (Super Glue). As it dried the unfilled pores were very visible. I applied more to the visible pores, and let it dry again. It took about 5 coats or so. Once it looked pretty level I sanded it down. A little touch up, and it was good to go!
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-2.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-3.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-4.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-5.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/H02209-6.jpg)
Wow Marty that looks great. Must have been alot of coats of CA. Beautiful bow
Beautiful!!!
Now thats a sharp looking bow.
Chad
Once again Marty you have outdone yourself :clapper:
Marty, I'm impressed!!
what a gorgeous bow! i love that sickle-shaped accent strip! it looks like you coated that bow with something, as the transistions(??) are incredibly smooth!
when I tried the same thing on wengé, with superglue, the contrast in the wood pretty much dissapeared. It just got real dark... but indeed, the pores dissapeared. how did your wengé look before the pore-filling? ( as I've seen much brighter wengé with more contrast on your bows)
marty, I want a bow of yours :)
BNick
I use Fullerplast for a finish Nick. It looked much the same before finishing, but a little lighter.
WOW, I don't know if thats a bow or a work of art. I believe its both.
That one's your best yet, Marty - simply incredible!
SMOOTH!! Great job Marty!
Smooth like buddah!
Good Lands, Man, that is so impressive. As my grandpa used to say, "That's the bestn, yet!"
I've built a hotbox, arranging the tools and equiptment needed, slowly compiling the lumber and such and still need to build the forms but I look at your work and wonder if I should even bother. You've taken your craft down to an art.