Just finished up my 2nd bow. It's 60" ntn, 65lbs@28", Elm backed hickory with osage tip overlays, osage handle lams. This bow went a bit smoother than my first and really out shoots it as well. A great deal learned in another build. Enjoy and any pointers or critiques are appreciated.
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1611.jpg)
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1607.jpg)
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1599.jpg)
Nice, NYA. I like working with hickory myself.
Stan
Looks great from what I can tell. Those pics are tiny.
Looks nice. Can we see an unbraced pic? Is it flat or do you have some reflex in it? And how wide is it at the fades and what thickness are the limbs?
Here is an unbraced pic. It has little to no string follow which I really give my self a pat on the back for. I had three goals when I started this bow, tiller slowly and well to prevent string follow, meet my target weight of 65lbs and make it durable to get a long life out of it. Sorry for the small pics, when I copied the link they just popped up that way. (http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1597.jpg)
right limb
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1598.jpg)
left limb
(http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/dustin21wells/th_102_1596.jpg)
Very nice work!! I'm interested in how you built up the handle area, may try on some bows I have planned. Did you put osage on belly and back?
Hope your fam is doing ok!
it could be the wall in the background playing tricks with me,but it looks like you have a couple of slight hinges on top and bottom ,but more on top
right were the corner of the wall sits,you can see them in the braced pics to. but if it shoots good I wouldn't worry to much,especially for your second bow.plus hickory and elm is a tough combo it should be able to take it. it could just be an optical illusion. nice work
Thanks for the comments!
Johny Cash my fades were 1 3/4 and I carried that out to 16" from the tip, from there I did a straight taper to 1/2". As for limb thickness 5/8" at the fades, 5/16" through mid limb and then I widened them back up to 3/8" for the last 6" of the limbs. (trying to keep them stiff and avoid a whip ended bow)
K-hat the handle started 1 1/8 wide and 3/4" thick. From there I laminated a piece of osage on the back and the belly and tapered/sanded to shape.I'm not sure how well this will work out, the handle bends more than expected so it may not work at all. I haven't had a chance to shoot but maybe 30 arrows through it yet. After this weekend I should know if the bow is going to make it or not. I hesitate to call is a bow until there are 150+ arrows through it.
looks good Dustin , i think you got another bow there !!
Thanks Ken!
Except she didn't make it! It was a bend through the handle bow (unintentional) so handle overlays popped off. In removing them I think I lifted a coupled of fibers. So I sanded a bit and attempted a rawhide handle to no avail, the dreaded "click" clicked. So I removed the rawhide, cleaned up again and wanted to try using bow tuff 100, a longer overlay and wrapping with b-50 like crazy. Still failed. The failure was the exact center of the bow, on back (handle area). Tough lesson learned again! Back to the drawing board.
Sorry to hear bro, that's always a heartbreaker, but a good reason to get started on another!!
May she rest in peace(s) :rolleyes:
burn the bad mojo. i dont burn enough of my bad mojo , but then i always think maybe i can save it...lol...
i would think you would do hickory backed elm. elm is way more compression strong , and hickory is happy in tension... can you elaborate or am i just reading it wrong? what was your cross section like?
-hov
Dustin dont get down when you break them , your just paying your dues . i think i cleared about 35 acres here on my place tryin to make a bow before they started working. and i still break a few . im up to 93 shooters now ,but i may break one tomorrow
Hova,
That is correct I made a hickory backed elm. I goofed at the top in the description sorry for the confusion. Between the fades I have a 5" handle, 1" thick. The fades were 1.5" long and 1 3/4" wide. So essentially a cross section of 8" long from fade to fade. I really thought it was enough wood to keep it stiff, but apparently not. I'll lam. in a riser for my next build to prevent this. Hope that answered you question.