Hey all!
So was asked to build one of my "shorties" for a friend for his girl. Said she would only shoot a bow if it was lime green and pink.
I know.. I get all the fun ones! LOL
So here is the main riser. Ash and pink ivory wood.
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/100_2434.jpg)
Got it all prepped and thru it in the oven last night...
cleaned it up and now adding the tips and accent pieces. Pink ivory is NOT cheap.. so I just bought a very small piece, and no piece is getting wasted!
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110924153531.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110924153518.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110924153553.jpg)
So letting that dry up tonight and tomorrow the shaping begins!
I got the craft store today and found some lime green ink.. tested it on a piece of ash..
(BINGO)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110924153540.jpg)
Love the way the green ink picks up the grain. I am hoping that the tung oil will help preserve the color for the long haul.
That's gonna be sharp! Bet nobody laughs at her pink bow! :eek:
Lookin good Bradford, I'm sure that one's gonna be a sweet shooter just like mine. I bet she will absolutely love it cause you make some fine recurves for sure! :thumbsup:
Thanks guys!
It's fun making the off the wall bows.. This color scheme will be one for the books
Man that is some lucky friend and little girl. I bet she is going to love it. :bigsmyl:
Nice! I like your progress, Bradford. Keep on the good work:)
-Moen
Alright... epoxy dried this morning.. so.
Got the window rough cut...
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925102506.jpg)
Then started the handle trench...
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925105104.jpg)
Then a lot of sanding, rasping and more sanding..
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925133708.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925133718.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925133729.jpg)
Being a girls bow.. I am trying to put some "sexy" curves in the handle. I am liking it. I think my next bow might have some "sexy" curves in it as well... :p
Hey.. it is only 2pm over here.. I best get back to it! LOL
Well.. got the knock grooves in...
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925161727.jpg)
Went to string it up.. and ..........SON OF A B....
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925161735.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925161822.jpg)
The only thing I can think of is there was a micro crack in the ash. I had it only bent about 2 inches to get the string on when it went. I have used ash before with good success..
Looks like this bow might be a bit late.. bummer.
First bow that has ever broken on me. I am so bummed.. it was coming along so nice.
That is a bummer! I feel your pain, every time I use really expensive materials something bad happens.
That sucks! I've only broken one so far and I'm still mad about it, but mine was originally my fault so I can't really blame it on the materials, but that hurts even worse.
Hopefully you'll be able to recover some of the materials to use again like the pink wood maybe?
It looks like the pink ivory separated cleanly from the fiberglass... so that would put all the pressure on the ash which was really thin right there. The ash and the fiberglass held great.. in fact it split the fiberglass all up. But the pink ivory side looks untouched????
The pink ivory does not feel oily at all... so I am not sure.
Well, luckily I bought more glass at the same time. I was going to build two other youth bows. This time clear and white.. so maybe what I will do is a basic riser with a stripe in it, and epoxy in some pink camo in the clear glass and then use the lime green ink in the wood. I might be able to use some of the pink ivory for a few accent pieces.
Gosh Darn It.... first one that broke.. and I have built what.. 20 bows now. I now my walnut riser is not usable because of flex, but it did not break!!!
O well.. need to get on it. Got to take a mental break tonight. Tomorrow after work: cut and glue riser.. get lams ready.
Wednesday.. cut riser into shape and glue up..
Thursday.. rough cut and shape.. Friday: finish sand and stain.. Saturday get some clear on it. Get it shipped off by Monday I hope.
Was planning on shipping off that bad boy Thursday.
Bradford,
Don't rush it I am sure you friend understands. Too bad, I am always bummed to see a bow break.
Oh man what a bummer, that's to bad. But I'm sure you will have the next one ready within a few days. I wonder how the lime green ink will look with the pink camo.
----------
Andy
Something came up last night after work.. I hate getting off at 6pm... feels like there is no time during the week.
Got the riser cut:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110925191617.jpg)
But made more progress tonight. Got the riser glued up with a black/white/black stripe.. thru it in the oven and prepped all the lams.
Check out the pink fabric.. This should be cool looking!
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110927214017.jpg)
So tomorrow.. throw the riser in the drum sander to get it to 1 1/2" exactly and cut it out.. if time allows I will glue up the bow tomorrow. Since I have to watch the oven for 4 hours I need to make sure it goes in before 7pm
Well this one should be pretty cool also. :)
Sorry to see the first one break, it was coming along great. Good luck with the second attempt.
Glad you like Kelly! I think it will be a real fun one!
Thanks sport hunter.. it's a bummer. But get off the ground, dust off and hop right back on that buckin' pony! LOL
Dang, Bradford! I was likin the looks of the first one, sorry you had bad luck.
I'm sure this next one will be just as sweet!
Yeah Kenny... I hear ya! It was looking sweet.. I stood there for a minute in disbelief that it broke..
I kept looking at it like I should be able to put it back together..LOL
Got the riser cut out and sanded tonight. So glue up and oven in the morning. I have the day off..yeah!
Productive morning..
Finished shaping and cleaning all parts with acetone.. then to glue up
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929093600.jpg)
Really laid the smooth on thick for this.. also got to remember what side the fabric goes down on the glass! LOL
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929094403.jpg)
A lam sandwich
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929094409.jpg)
Some sandwich wrap
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929100153.jpg)
Then I put the first 2 lams down and clamp in the handle.. only slightly tight at first.. otherwise the handle moves around under the pressure.
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929102912.jpg)
All banded up and into the oven for 4 hours. Should have more to report on this eve!
Well this is shaping up to be an awsome bow. You always do great work. Can't wait to see it finished.
So Thursday night I got it out of the oven and sanded off the excess glue.. stripped the tape off:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929154641.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110929154625.jpg)
Then I taped it back up and laser lined it for center line and got it drawn up.
Yesterday after work made all the rough cuts:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110930192105.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20110930192116.jpg)
You can see all the wood burnt from using an old bandsaw blade.. but it's the quickest way I have found. I throw on an old blade and cut it up. Then got a little sanding done as well.
So tonight after work there should be some major shaping going on!
That Fabric under the clear glass worked like a charm and looks great. Can't wait to she her finished. I think your friends daughter will love it. Can't wait to see the lime green ink on it.
Kelly
Yeah.. it is coming out nice. I was hoping the pink would be a bit more vibrant, but it still looks good. I should have the green on her Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Tonight and tomorrow will be sanding and shaping.. as well as gluing up the tips and any accents.
okay.. home from work and got into the shed..
did the "trench" with the 1/2" dremel drum sander
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111001171449.jpg)
Then I use a hand held belt sander, then a rasp, then the mouse sander to get the handle in shape. Takes me a about 45min to do this
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111001175606.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111001175616.jpg)
Then did some other sanding as well. Really getting there now! This Ash has some wicked grain to it. Almost a figured look in real life. I think with the green dye it is going to really POP!
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111001183359.jpg)
More tomorrow!
That is going to be one lucky little lady. She better hope her daddy does not dicide to take and use it. LOL
YEAH! Got past my point.. It's like in Top Gun where you have to fly the plane thru the flat spin and get out, or like in Days of Thunder and have to drive thru the wreck again to regain your confidence...LOL
I put a string on her and no breaking or cracking or any kind of noise at all! Yipppeeeee
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111002101606.jpg)
So got it on the tiller tree and this pic is at 22". Let it sit there a while and looked for imperfections.. none! So exercised it and no creaking or cracking. Then got it tested at 28lbs at 26". So real close. I still have a lot of finish sanding to do, so it should come out at 25lbs at 26" which will be perfect for a young girl. Limbs looked nice and straight and no twist.
Bow should hit hard for a 25lb bow! It is working the fade areas as well as the tips.. There is a lot of energy stored in the fades. Now I am getting excited. Was getting a little worried after having two in a row fail at this point.
Look what I was able to save from the broken bow:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111003185422.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111003185504.jpg)
Got those all sanded in shape and got the tips all shaped up:
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111003185439.jpg)
So tomorrow nights agenda: Break out the 120 grit.. then the 220.. maybe even get it stained tomorrow night! Getting close now!
Love those wow it was looking good with out that pink heart but that really added something.
It looks great! Do you think the pink cloth contributes to the draw weight of the bow?
When I saw that pic of the broken bow it was liking watching a movie where the hero gets killed only half way through.
Boy, is that a dumb analogy?
Thanks boys! Looking forward to seeing this one completed.
No, the fabric did not seem to add anything in the way of weight. Came in about the same as my other kids bows.
The hero did die in the middle.. but then gets ressurected with even more grace and power!
I like it.. we shall call this bow - "The Phoenix" ....LOL
So here she is after sanding with 120grit and taking the tape off
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111004191622.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111004191555.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111004191541.jpg)
Then I sanded it down again with 240 with the mouse. Now it is time to do some "finger" sanding. I use 1" 240 and 320 grit paper with towel on my lap in front of the tv and finish sanding it up.. all the little stuff.
Very nice. I might try that cloth under the glass thing. Opens up many possibilities.
I really like the looks of it, great work.
Thanks guys. Yeah, the cloth thing has been on my mind for a while. I have a few designs that have been brewing in my mind for a while.
Well, got the lime green ink on it tonight...
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/20111005205331.jpg)
Letting it dry up and I will sand with 220 along the glass areas to clean them up then do a real light sand with 300 plus grit to clean it up. Tomorrow will be tung oil time! Yeah.
Oh that turned out really Cool.
All right.. after 2 days of final sanding and applying tung oil, she is all done..
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/phoenix1.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/phoenix2.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/phoenix3.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/phoenix5.jpg)
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/timberwolf177/Daughters%20bow/phoenix6.jpg)
Came in at 25# at 26".. it flings arrows real good! I ran quite a few arrows thru it this afternoon and did real good. Then had my 13 year old son shoot it and he did real good. So this bow is now complete and ready to ship.. hope they are happy!
That looks awesome. I hope your friend daughter likes it, I am sure she will though.
It turned out great, a one of a kind for sure!
Thanks guys.. not a color combo I would pick myself.. but that is what "custom" means.. and if it makes the recipient happy -- well then all is good.
Bradford, you did a great job of giving the recipient what they want!
Well.. according to my tracking number, the recip got the bow today at 2:55pm...
So waiting to hear back!
Ok I was unable to get pics of it when it came. My baby girl was at the high school football game buy the time I got home. But to day here she is with her first bow.
Thanks Bradford it turned out quite nice. I know you were thinking what is he crazy. Back story is before I deployed I had made a deal with my lil girl (not so little any more :( ) that if I could find a lime green bow she would go hunting with me. Well I got one but I just want here to shoot with me.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e383/gillk/Cameronandhernewbow.jpg)
Glad it made it! Hope she liked it. She looks good shooting it!