Ok guys, I have everything for the kits posted on my site. PM me and I can explaine what you will need in order to get everything at once. I don't have the buffalo hide finish on the site yet, but if you email or call, I can fix you up.
Pricing is on the site.
thanks, bigjim
Am still working on the build along and should have it ready next week.
What is buffalo hide finish? Bow finish?
Yes Chuck, it is the same popular epoxy finish that has been used for years on the upper end bows, I just package it under a different name. Since I use it to cover buffalo bows, I only thought it fitting to call it buffalo hide. tough enough for a buffalo! :)
I buy it in bulk from the mfg. and repackage it as does the other company.
thanks, bigjim
Glad to see the take down kits. Can't wait to see the build along. Thanks Chad
Cool bean Jim! :bigsmyl:
Just sent you an order Jim, now hurry up with that video :D
I gotta go build a perfectly good bow to chop in half :scared:
I have a couple of bows set up to do right now. My wife will video most, if not all tomorrow. Shouldn't be too long now.
thanks, bigjim
Can wait for this build along. I am sure that everyone will greatly appreciate the build along.
I got my kit. I am looking forward to the video.
Jim says he has most of the video done and will hopefully finish this weekend.
TTT
Any news on the video?
I've attempted this twice and both times cannot get the bow apart. What have you guys that have done this used for a release agent?
My tenon is parallel on all four sides. Should it taper a little???? Chad
A little taper seems to work best Chad. I didn't taper the first one. Had to put a clamp on it and drive it off with a 3# hammer. Been using a wax dip (don't recommend it)for a release agent The next one will be with a release agent like Big Jim uses.
Paul
I'm not even trying until I see the video :D
Well I'll share my experiances while we wait for the video. I have been discussing this system for about a year with Big Jim and John Sturtevant. I have had plans to start experimenting for some time but just haven't gotten around to it between filling orders and such. I decided that this was the time. I ordered the kit from Big Jim and thought I'd do one up while waiting for the video :banghead: so when I saw the video I would understand better.
I am still not sure of how far to shape the grip before making the tenon. It seemed easier to just square up the whole blank then set the table saw 3/8" depth and make a series of cuts on both sides, rasping it smooth. I did the back and belly with a sander and by hand. I cut the bow in half by clamping it to the table saw and cranking the blade up through the bow.
I used the epoxy resin BG provided. It is the consistancy of, well a little thicker then milk, but not much. It was messy to work with but went fast. It took several hours to cure. The next day I shaped the grip some and tried and tried to get it apart. I didn't want to make a one piece bow out of it because it was a learning exiperiance. I clamped it in the vice and put a C clamp on the bottem portion and pounded away. Wasn't going to happen. I kept grinding the sleeve off and trying it until finally I just ground it all off and started over.
On the second try I used smooth on for the epoxy to see if I liked it better. It went on well. I let it dry for 24 hours and same thing I couldn't get it apart. I ground everything away that overlaped and even took the hacksaw around the trasition and cut in 1/8". No go. John suggested warming up the sleeve with a heat gun to see if it would let loose. Finally with some reefing and pounding it gave. There is no epoxy stuck to the male tenon so the release agent worked. I think what happened is; although the sides are parallel and the top (long part) is straight, the 1/2" side of the tenon is not quite parallel with the top. It is slightly and I mean slightly wider on the outboard side, so to speak. The fit is so tight that maybe it was enough to hold it up. I'm not sure though because the bow goes back togather nicely now. I think next time I'll shoot for a slight taper on the tenon.
I took some pictures of this battle scarred bow so you can see what my tenon looks like.
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m433/HolmMadeBows/DSCN6402.jpg)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m433/HolmMadeBows/DSCN6404.jpg)
Sorry about my hairy belly hanging out and my zipper down. LOL I ran out quick to take the pictures before jumping in the shower. (I'm not as sexy as I use to be I guess)
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m433/HolmMadeBows/DSCN6405.jpg)
To add insult to my injured pride, when I was pounding on the clamp it slipped and damaged the glass in the fadeout area. I grabbed some Loctite 420 off the shelf to patch up the glass. I was not in the right frame of mind and glued my finger to the glass. 420 bonds faster and harder then any super glue I've worked with. I had to rip my finger off the bow leaving a good size patch of skin. :banghead:
One word for you Chad, De-Bonder!I think that counts as one word)
By the time you feel the heat,it is too late.
I hope you are OK.
It sure looks like you are on the right track Chad, farther than I have been. With my grip and belly overlays I will have to cut the angle from the pocket down, backwads from yours. Do you think it will matter?
I have the kit, just waiting for the video :D
Not really sure what you mean. I don't think Big Jim does anything different for his thunder child bow and it is much the same as yours. Chad
I guess I never thought of the TC, it does have a similar riser design. I would still like to see the video before I give up on the 2-piece. Have ya heard from BigJim lately?
He has the video taping done but has to edit it yet.
What is the latest on the video?
QuoteOriginally posted by recurvericky:
What is the latest on the video?
Yeah....I'm waitin' on buyin' the kit till I see the video. "I'm from Missouri, you gotta show me". :saywhat:
I am selling my kit in the Trad Bow Building area if interested. $37 off of what I paid!
a thin coating of vaseline on the tenon might act as a release agent for the epoxy.
something to try??
What is the latest on the video?
Ok, I have all the video at my web designers. He is haveing trouble splitting and separating It because it is rather lengthy. U tube will only allow 15 minuet videos and I didn't kow that when I taped the build along. I met him at compton and he told me that he had everything ready except a couple blocks of it. I will call in the morning to see how it is going.
The video has been done for over a month, but I am completely unfamiliar with how to post such things.
I use the spray release that I sell with the kit. I never have to grind off the sleaves. I changed epoxies a while back and didn't change release agents. I promptly glued those bows back together. Since I started using the new release agent, I don't have anymore problems and no more beating the bows to separate.
The release agent directions say that one coat is adequate and more won't help. That is designed for use on non porus molds and not wood. Seal your lower tennon with thin super glue a couple of times and then lightly sand it so it is smooth. Then spray the tennon and let dry. spray again and let dry and I always do it a third time for good measure. If you have any dry spots, spray it again. Make sure that you seal and spray the shoulder of the lower tennon or you will not get it apart!
Trust me, it is not that difficult. When you finally get it, it will be worth it. The strongest and least noticeable takedown on the market bar none.
bigjim
If I were to try a retrofit on an existing bow that doesn't have any overlays on the back of the handle, how do I do the reduction of the existing handle without cutting through the glass on the bow backing? It doesn't seem to me that it would be a good idea to cut through that glass because it would compromise the strength of the bow.
Would it be advisable to first add overlays and then reduce down through the thickness of the overlay in order to keep the glass intact?
Personally, I have no problems with the built to take down bows. Retrofit scares me a little. Also, you can add the overlays to keep from cutting through the glass, but I do know some who don't have problems cutting the glass and if you look at most one piece recurves, the glass is non existant across the back of the riser.
bigjim
Good to hear BigJim. Once the video is available and I watch it multiple times, I will be retro fitting either a Martin X200 or an older Bear Grizzly. Neither have glass across the back of the riser. I guess we will see how it goes.
Some of the video is already posted on my site. Go to bow building suplies and click on the takedown kit and it will ask you if you would like to see the video.
There are several parts missing, but we are working on that. There should be some helpful info there as of right now.
good luck, bigjim
Nice job on the video. I can't wait to see the rest.
thanks ricky, I can't either :)
Hopefully he will get it separated and posted soon.
bigjim
Hey Big Jim,
Thanks for this, I just watched the videos that are there, brilliant!
Pete
All the video's are up. I appologise about the wait, but there is much more to putting a lengthy video on my web site than I would have thought.
thanks, bigjim
It has been worth the wait. Thanks for the videos.