Finally managed to build my first selfbow, wouldn't have been possible if not for my teacher and friend Eric Krewson. Eric sent me a PM last year some time and let me know that he would be willing to help if I was interested in trying a selfbow, he even had a hickory stave I could use. I showed him some of my feeble attempts at a build he even showed me how to fix one of them and now I think I might can tackle it. But in the mean time he helped me lay out, do a little heat treatment and tiller using the gizmo, gotta love that thing. This bow took a while as Eric's wife was sick and he went through a lot during that time, on top of my wife, four kids and work. Eric worked with me through all of this and I am more than satisfied with the results. Been a while since I had homework but every time he sent me home with something to work on. I finally got the finish complete and have shot about 300 total arrows through it since roughing out the handle about 100 since complete. Sorry whole bow ain't in all pics. but son took them, anyway I think they'll do. All I can say is Thanks Eric again and Wow never figured it would shoot half as good as it does. Gotta get those osage staves dried out now!! Hopefully here she is 65" ntn about 53# @ 28" by my scales anyway. First Hickory selfbow!! (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_211445.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_211445.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_211514.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_211514.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_211601.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_211601.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_211616.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_211616.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_212051.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_212051.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_212101.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_212101.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_212150.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_212150.jpg.html) (http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj633/darinputman/IMG_20131013_211921.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/darinputman/media/IMG_20131013_211921.jpg.html) Last picture taken imediately after being unstrung had just put about 45 arrows through it. Now it's time to take it to the woods.
Great looking bow, Darin! :clapper:
It looks really good, too. Congratulations!
Fun ain't it! Now you're Hooked. Congrats on your first. d;^)
Good looking bow. Congrats :thumbsup:
Very nice...
Darin was great to have in the shop, talk about a good worker, no quit in that guy!
Congrats on a fine looking bow. What did you finish it with. I like how it looks.
Excellent bow! You learned from one of the best. Jawge
X'2 what George said.
Eric does very nice bow work, and flintlock stocks too...
Nice looking bow! Great job!
Thanks for all the comments,been shooting today getting ready to have some fun, deer open tommorrow here. For a finish I put walnut over the whole bow, let cure sanded finish off with 400 grit sand paper,that left the dark lines in the grain. I used walnut on the belly again, golden oak on the back and sides of limbs up to the fades so the dark lines in the grain would show through. Left the handle area to fades natural with just the dark lines and put about 7 coats of the massey finish over the whole bow, I really wanted to work a couple of points back down and redo a bit but season opens tommorrow and can be redone later if decide too. I deviate from the original massey finish and use denatured alcohol instead of acetone same as I use on my arrows. Something else Eric taught me.
That's a great looking bow!!! I like the braced profile and the color. Well done..You should be very proud of it. That's great of your Eric.
Nice looking bow Darin, good luck with the deer.
Sweet! Good job.
Great job Darin and Eric!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice. Go get one with it now. Good luck!
Came out great. Congrats!!!
Looks good. Now it is time to take a deer with it!