This is my first attempt at a short bendy handle bow. It is 50" NTN and pulls 55# at 26". Let me know what you think. I can use all the advise I can get as I have a lot to learn!
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/104_zps324a42ed.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/104_zps324a42ed.jpg.html)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/103_zpscb445b20.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/103_zpscb445b20.jpg.html)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/102_zps638d949b.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/102_zps638d949b.jpg.html)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/101_zps1739ad3c.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/101_zps1739ad3c.jpg.html)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/100_zps005ba6eb.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/100_zps005ba6eb.jpg.html)
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag58/mjwhitby146/097_zpseaa8e06e.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/mjwhitby146/media/097_zpseaa8e06e.jpg.html)
man!! that is absolutely gorgeous!! great job! if you get bored of it, send it my way.
I would say your first shot hit the mark :archer2:
Beautiful work!!! Nicely done, if that is your first you did very well my friend.
Congratulations on a fine looking bow!!
Bert. :notworthy:
Wow!! That's nice!
Very nice.
Very nice. Only things I would recommend: I would have a more circular tiller. Midlimbs need to bend more. Handle needs to bend less. Also use a rope and pulley tillering system. You'll get less set on your bows.
Looks excellent. maybe slightly stiff in the outer 1/3 but I'm really just saying that so you keep making more bows trying to improve. In reality that's as close to perfect as anyone gets. Great Job!
That's a heck of a fireplace BTW. Very nice as well.
Very nice!
Looks great. Like that snakey osage.
Great looking especially for your 1st!
thanks for sharing
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Glenn
Awesome!! Do you have a picture of the profile unstrung to show the R/D? Just learning and I can't wait to try my first selfbow like this.
Joel
Thank you so much for all the kind words. Ive learned so much from you all on this site. I would have to say the bug has bit me. All I can think about is building bows. I'm wanting to try some kind of backed bow like bamboo and Osage or ipe.
Mr Scrifes what is it about the rope and pulley that gets less set. That's got me really intrigued. I definitely want to try that.
Nice
Tillering, by its very nature, is done to expose flaws in the way a bow is bending. These flaws are made up of places where the bow is bending relatively too much or too little. Those flaws can lead to damage of the structure of the wood if the bow-to-be is bent for too long or too far with the flaw present.
A pulley system allows you to watch a bow bending just small amounts for short periods of time, leading to less damage of the structure of the wood.
Alternatively, systems where you pull a bow-to-be to a certain draw length and hold it there while you evaluate it exacerbate the damage by bending those flaws longer than necessary.
Ideally, we would cut the bow out and it would be perfectly tillered and at the exact draw weight we want before it bends at all. Since we function in reality though we have to minimize the negatives of our process.
"All I can think about is building bows." You are in the right spot for sure!
That bow looks great. Everything about the finish details is perfect. I especially like the tracks though!
great looking bow
Thanx for the info Mr Scifres. That make a lot of sense. Gonna give it a shot on the next one.
Nice bow, MJ! I like the artwork as well.
Where do you live in AR? I'm in El Dorado near the Louisiana state line.
I live in Paragould just north of Jonesboro where I work.
It ain't worth the wood it's made from. You should send it to me and I'll get rid of it for you. :bigsmyl:
Just kidding. Man, that is one awesome bow! :thumbsup: I just hope my first try at an osage D bow comes out looking that good! :clapper:
Man, I wish I could do that! It's gorgeous!
DF
With a rope and pulley tillering system your bow doesn't stay in a static position while you view it. That static hold puts a lot of unnecessary strain on a wood bow.
When I work a bendy handle bow I try to get the mid limbs bending well then bring the bend back into the handle. I like to feel a bit of give in the handle right as I hit full draw.