:) Well, started my first bow build today with the gracious help of longbowhuntr :notworthy: . He has been walking me through a stave takedown. Now I understand the meaning of chasing a ring. ;) I thought that I knew what it meant from reading articles and Bowyers Bible. Now I am somewhat sure I understand. We picked out a stave and got started, then David felt that it was not going to be a good first stave to start with. I think he knew that I was in way over my head with that one. Then to the second stave and it looked good. After a bit of looking and thinking about it we, David, felt that he could get 2 from one. It worked out great, split where he thought it would. He walked me through chasing the rings, early growth and late growth, how it felt when you cut through one to another and all. How to work with pin knots and knots in general. Now I can tell you without reservations, I got a good portion of it but some just spilled right out of my head when I bent over. I wasn't sure just what we were going to do today so I didn't take pictures, MY BAD!!! If all goes well, I will be going up to see him Sunday and make a good stab at it again. I, for sure, will take pictures of the progress. He sure make nice looking bows and I hope to not goof up to much. Kind of felt like a kid at Christmas, going from ring to ring and around pin knots was like unwrapping a package with wide eyed anticipation. Fun and informative, wish I had started this way back when. I will post more when I get more done with David's AKA longbowhuntr's help. Oh yes, pray for him, I think he just may have bitten of more then he can chew. :pray:
cant wait to see it, when your all done.
That it great! It all makes sense once you get thru that first ring and start chasen. The knots are my only slight worry for now. Did I do them right?
Can't waite to see PICs.
God Bless and Happy Building,
Kelly
I still remember that "lightbulb moment" when things started to click. It will start getting easier from now on...not the bow building but the understanding.
This is whatI like to hear :thumbsup:
sorry wrong thread....
Looking forward to the next play... uhh I mean work day.
You caught on quick! We made alot of progress for just one days work. We'll see how it goes next time.
David
I kind of like the play work myself, looking forward myself friend.
:wavey: Worked on my bow today with longbowhuntr and got lots done. :thumbsup: I will post pictures in the morning to show how far we have come so far. ;) I should say he got done and I did some after he showed me just what to do. :biglaugh: I'am am a monkey see, monkey do and this monkey got some done. :biglaugh: :biglaugh: More to come.
Looking forward to some pics.
Learning to make selfbows is kinda like bein a hungry stray cat who finds a steady food source and warm place to sleep. Once you get it you wanna come back day after day. The only problems are petty stuff like jobs and sleep that get in the way of time in the shop. Good luck can't wait to see some pics!
Been having trouble getting into Photobucket, :notworthy: :notworthy: They are two fine people, so here we go to post pictures of the album. Hope it works. :pray: :pray:
http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/
Can't see pic,go to p-bucket, put pointer on pic wanted, will drop down some choices, clik IMG and paste here.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Let's see how it works now.
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Closeupofbow001.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild001.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild004.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild013.jpg)
More
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild015.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild016.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild027.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild021.jpg)
Lookin good! see em now!
Last for now.
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild023.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild026.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild027.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bowbuild027.jpg)
Nice, looking good. Must be a pretty good tutor you got there! Keep it coming.
Stan
Stan, he is one fine bowyer for sure.
That's looking like a bow to be, though my understanding of stave bows is close to nil. You're a braver man than I am! I understand the mechanics lam bow building and the use of the tools, but I'm just in awe of you guys who get a bow from natural growth. I'm sure it's a lot more physical work than what I do, too. You go, man. I'll be following along and pulling for you.
Lookin real good.
looks like to me you are doin a fine job. everything looks great so far. keep us posted. ruddy
Looks good. Good stuff. Making bows is fun. Jawge
Looking good.
Wow, looks like it is really coming along. I've never built one of these, looks like some hard work. Look nice.
Savage, thanks, it sure seemed to me, before I got started with the help of longbowhuntr, that it would be to much for me. Man let me tell you, it would have been except for the great advice and help. It is not easy but it sure is something that just about anyone can do with direction and guidance. This will not be my last one for sure. I have found that it is addicting for sure. When you see something come alive from a piece of wood it is special. You must give it a try, I am sure someone on here is close enough that would be happy to teach you how. I know that since I got on the site I have meet so many helpful people. Right now I have along with longbowhuntr, 3 other members who wish to help me learn to do bows. From stave bows to r/d longbows to recurves, all of them it seems.
I am going to do my best to learn all I can and teaching an old dog new tricks can be tough.
Man thats alot of work,your doing a nice job.
Got to do more work on the bow today. Shots of what I did. Both limbs are at floor tiller now, the one I worked on today need a bit more. I will work more on it tomorrow.
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20Bow%20Build/StavesandBow014.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20Bow%20Build/StavesandBow011.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20Bow%20Build/StavesandBow021.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20Bow%20Build/StavesandBow010.jpg)
Lookin good
You have been busy.
The bow is looking good.
The next time you come over we'll see how far we can get it to bending.
Hey I like your vise bench. Sweet design. HaHa!That turned out nice. Good job sir!
Maybe we can get together soon. Talk to you later.
1oldbowguy: That's great stuff!
Longbowhntr: I wish you would have got me hooked on making bows when you drove to Ozark years ago. There are so many people with the bowyers wisdom that I never would have guessed.
"bowyers wisdom"... funny Goose.
I may be alot of things but don't think that's one of them.
I've just always liked to whittle since I was a little kid, now instead of whittling the whole stick to shreds, I try to stop when it kinda looks something like a bow. Well sometimes it looks like a bow.
David
Goose, don't let him kid you, :thumbsup: Not only that but he knows how to pass it along in a very easy to understand way. This is a mark of a good mentor. Knowledge and the ability to pass it on in a easy to understand format and not loose his cool with dunder heads like me. :notworthy: I feel blessed to know this man and call him a friend. :clapper: :clapper:
Did a little more work on the bow today, got the lower limb bending a bit more. Have a couple questions about a pin know that I need worked on. I will post some pictures tomorrow.
Worked on the bow more today and got both limbs working about the same. We put it on the tree just to see how it was looking. The bow was a little cockeyed but we could see it was working. ;)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Moreboardbuild012.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Moreboardbuild014.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Morebow006.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Morebow007.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Moreboardbuild005.jpg)
Getting there, slow but sure. More shots on next section :pray:
Few more shots. ;)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Moreboardbuild006.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Moreboardbuild007.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Morebow011.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/More%20bow%20build%20getting%20it%20down/Morebow012.jpg)
Getting there! :pray:
lookin good so far . ruddy
Looks really nice, oldbow. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Stan
Worked on the bow today with the help of longbowhuntr and got a lot done. Started thinning out the limbs to get them bending more, scrape 10 here then 8 there, you know the drill. Then we put some deflex in the last 8" or so. The bow had some natural reflex so we just added some deflex in.
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex004.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex005.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex012.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex015.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex020.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20with%20deflex%20put%20in/Bow-Deflex018.jpg)
The last pictures are of longbowhuntr checking the measurements.
Going to let it set for 5 or so days to let it re-hydrate. Then we will go from there and see just what it is going to pull and how even it looks. Right now it seems to be real close on the limbs.
Any more progress??? I got one that is WAY behind yours but I like the Build, keep it coming!
:thumbsup:
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/Morebowbuild005.jpg)
Second nock not to bad! :)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/Morebowbuild011.jpg)
More to come.
Ok, here we go again. ;)
Working on the handle area ;)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/Morebowbuild014.jpg)
Dang got to run, got a phone call I have to take, I will return soon. :wavey:
Good job! You have alot more patience than I do.
Pretty bow you have in the making!
Looks good so far.
Looking nice, good job.
;) Ok here we go again, this is, if it works :thumbsup: :clapper:
http://s1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/video/?action=view¤t=Morebowbuild023.mp4
She looking good,can't wait for the final project.
Looken good, got a kick out of the video:)
:thumbsup:
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/Morebowbuild026.jpg)
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff441/oldbowguy/Bow%20completion%20blow%20up/Morebowbuild028.jpg)
On the middle picture you can see dirt of the end of what was part of a knock, that was, or I think it was the piece that struck me and then stuck in the ground. :dunno:
Oh well not use in :deadhorse:
Phillip, do you have any Urac? Some (most) will call me crazy (stupid), but the bow I'm finishing right now has a top limb that has tried numerous times (3 to be exact) to "finish" itself, as yours did. I thought about splicing a new limb at the handle, but I'm kind of (really) stubborn (stupid) and wanted to test the strength of the Urac I just received. I put plenty of Urac on the pieces, fitted them together, and held them with rubber bands while it cured. Then I backed it with bamboo, again using Urac 185.
My curiosity (stupidity) has paid off now, as I'm finish sanding a beautifully tillered (for my stupid self anyhow) 45# @ 29" bamboo-backed-maple bow for my brother. (I don't want to be the one shooting it in case it decides to "finish" itself again.) ;) Decided to name it "Plan A" as in the status given to prisoners on suicide watch when I worked at the prison.
Also, Dean Torges has a repair-along on his website where he sands out a pin knot that caused a belly fret and replaces it with good wood.
http://bowyersedge.com/patch.html
If you're as stubborn (stupid?) as me... this dead horse might just rise to be beaten again ;)
Thats always disappointing but happens to all of us. You seem to have the right attitude to be a success at this. Just a question, was the break started at the mid point of the right limb in the video. May just be the geometry of the limb but it looks to have a slightly inconsisten bend right there. Was my guess for where it blew.
Glad to hear that you didn't get injured.
keep making them shavings.
All I can say is you should have been there!!!
After making sure Phil didn't need stitches or anything along those lines... :scared: :scared: :scared:
It was pretty funny.. the look on Phil's face was .....(and I'm sure mine had the same look)
What do you say?? Stuff happens!
All total I think the bow had close to 75-80 shots thru it if you count the half draw shots etc. working up to full draw. It gave no warning (other than the slight "tic" a half second before she blew)
It sure was a sweet shooting bow while it lasted.
David
I'm glad you're OK. maybe I won't last long at this cuz it hurts just thinking about that. Hats off to you sir!
Looking at the video about 6 times though I'd like to guess: It looks like just past the 2nd knot on the right limb there is a bit of a hinge developing just inside a flat spot. it looks minor, but doesn't bend the same every time? I'm just starting to train my eyes for this so I could be very wrong.
Sorry it ended that way!
We all have some broken ones hanging in the shop!! I have at least 6 :bigsmyl: Sorry that happened to you it was purty!! :)
Looking at the bow, in it's new form, 3 piece take down :bigsmyl: it doesn't seem to have any thing to do with what was the flat area. We had tilled that out to where it was bending very well it that area. We have looked and talked about it and just seems to be the way things go with wood. :thumbsup: , not with the same results that is. :biglaugh:
Sorry that happened to your bow 1oldbowguy. It was really looking good too! Glad no one was injured.
Hard to really know the "why" of things sometimes, but before I got to this page, I noticed you had some aluminum foil under your limb as you were heating it. That kinda worried some. Then I turned the page.........oh no!
Last thing you want to do is get blow-back, or any scorching on the back of the bow, IMO of course. If I had to guess, I'd have to say that the MC of the back of your bow was to low. Either that or the heat reflecting off of the foil make the back off your bow brash........Art
Damn bud, that pretty much stinks...I know it happens and is all part of the journey but I bet that doesn't make it any easier to experience. I have yet to complete a bow and know "day" is coming sooner or later...something I'm sure I'll take with less grace than you have shown.
I loved that bow with all the character knots and such on the back...was a real sweet looker.
Regards,
I feel for you, oldbow! Was looking great, too. Glad you weren't hurt seriously. Better luck with the next one.
Stan