The specs for this bow are 68" NtN 24" riser,3 lam cypress with 1 3/4 glass. Finished bow 52-55lb. A special thanks to Mike Mecreedy over at Maddog for his tec advice on this build. A few pic of my building process along with the new owner (BigFoot)and his bow. Hang with me while I figure the picture thingey.
Pic #1 glueup
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/gluelams.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/gluelams.jpg.html)
pic #2 grinding off the shrink wrap
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Grindingoffwraponedge.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Grindingoffwraponedge.jpg.html)
Pic #3 shaping the limb tips
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Grindinglimbtaper2.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Grindinglimbtaper2.jpg.html)
Pic #4 cutting the sight window
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Grinderlimbedge2.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Grinderlimbedge2.jpg.html)
Pic #5 The bow after double wraping and in the form. (http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Clampedhalfform2.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Clampedhalfform2.jpg.html)
Pic #6 finished bow
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Bowonwall.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Bowonwall.jpg.html)
Pic #7 BigFoot at full draw
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Larryfulldraw.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Larryfulldraw.jpg.html)
Pic #8 Lazy man shooting
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Larrysittingdraw.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Larrysittingdraw.jpg.html)
Guys this has been a fun project. The bow shoots suprisingly good and the OWNER is happy.
James
Here is BigFoot with my bow and his new bow
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Larrytowbows2.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Larrytowbows2.jpg.html)
That's a great looking bow. I've always been a fan of the sleek looking recurves.
Super job!
I bet she`s super smooth and not the slowest... how long`s that riser- long? I say it could be even longer without any stacking, just like an olympic one...
(Sweet bow!)
Classy looking stick!
Thanks for sharing....
><>>
glenn
I'll bet that thang is smooth at that length! Ole Larry looks like he likes it, too!! Sweet lookin bow.
I bet that's a real pleasure to shoot, nice looking too.
-Jay
Very nice.
Great job! A true example of class
And thanks for the idea using an angle grinder! When sun is shining I always thinking about taking my beltsander out of basement and into garden- much easier with this!
If you want to get even quicker try using a diamond masonry blade in the grinder to take it close to the lines, rough finish with sander and 36grit, then finesse with your sanding blocks. All done super quick! Love the long 'curve too!
awesome job :clapper:
LESKEN2011,,, watch that OLE stuff,,, i'll get to 70 in September.
The bow is sweet, the riser is 24" and pulls about 53 pounds at my draw of 28".
there is enough physical weight to keep it steady at release which was one of my reasons for wanting a long recurve, I build longbows out of hickory and the ones I build to 6 feet {I am 6'4" tall} are really smooth to shoot and no jerking when I let go. sooooo I bribed jamesv into building a looong recurve for me. He did not want to see me throwing fits all over his yard and front porch,snivveling and whineing, so he agreed, and did a wonderful job. I am very pleased with the bow. it has a cherry and persimmon and bamboo riser and is gorgeous.
Wild porky pigs ,,beware,,,
Very impressive. I bet that is a smooth draw! It is tough to zero in on stack height when you change the length so radically from your normal builds. Excellent work!
Bonner
James, Impressed with your work, especially your use of that offset grinder.Amazing what can be done with one.My favorite tool in the shop. I never hear of many people using them though.Wonder just how many guys do use them for shaping bows..
Using the sidewheel grinder to shape a bow can be really tricky but once mastered it is one of the best tools for the job. Another tool I use quite a lot for shaping and rounding the limbs is a Mekita belt sander. Using this tool is really fast but can destroy a bow very quickly.
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Shapinggriparea2.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Shapinggriparea2.jpg.html)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Shapinggriparea.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Shapinggriparea.jpg.html)
Adding some final touches with the 1/4 sheet sander.
I use 24-36 grit grinder discs, 50 grit belts and 80 grit on the 1/4 sheet sander
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd390/Hy42dra/Larrys%20bow/Sandingedge.jpg) (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/Hy42dra/media/Larrys%20bow/Sandingedge.jpg.html)
I'm going to have to check out that Makita sander.Looks like it saves a lot of hand sanding.
That is a Makita model #9030, might find one on the auction site for cheap. If they are still avaliable new you will need to turn up the amps on your pacemaker before you see the price. These belt sanders are big with the custom black powder rifle builders and the stained glass workers.
This sander`s amazing... like a powerfile but a tool not a toy^^
it is smooth, the short bows are nearing their maximum bending limit at my draw length, this one is probably close to 10" away from that limit.
it is smooth on the draw and release is not jerky like a short bow.
My rusty cotton weighing scale says it pulls 56# at 28" we were trying for 50/55# james done good.
James, do you give lessons?
Mike...............
No lessons given here. If I ever had the time and opportunity to come to Rupert, Idaho I would certainly want to spend a few days in your shop, watching and learning your building process. You Da-Man and again, thanks for your help with this build.
James
Anytime. But my shop's usually a mess.
-Mike