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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Sparrowhawk on February 12, 2014, 08:12:00 PM

Title: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Sparrowhawk on February 12, 2014, 08:12:00 PM
Hello!  I attempted to post this in 4est's 'So you wanna build a bow' thread, but sadly found out that the topic had been closed.  Many thanks to him and his instructions, as well as other individuals who posted in that thread and served as a source of inspiration.

My Xmas project was to build a red oak pyramid bow, and I'm happy to say that it worked out quite well!  Rather than taking the traditional route of all red oak, I sourced a piece of bubinga from the local Woodcrafter bargain bin, and utilized it as the riser. Sadly, the very dense nature of bubinga complicated the project a bit, as this was completed without a band saw. A jigsaw was used for some of the bulk cutting, and a belt sander for much of the bulk tillering.  Once the board measured uniformly with the caliper, the tiller was pretty much spot on.

Very first woodworking project for me.  A band saw would have seriously sped things up, but I am happy with the result.  With the correct arrows, it shot fantastically, too!  Thanks again 4est for the walkthrough.  ~43 lbs at full draw.

   (http://i.imgur.com/nfst5QJh.jpg)  

   (http://i.imgur.com/UUN7fnLl.jpg)
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Echatham on February 12, 2014, 08:25:00 PM
You know we gotta see a full draw pic!  Welcome to the addiction and the forum by the way
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: LittleBen on February 12, 2014, 10:03:00 PM
Not half bad! Love that bubinga. Welcome to the gang, and cheers to many more of your bows to come!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 12, 2014, 10:05:00 PM
Looks very nice, congrats.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: macbow on February 12, 2014, 10:10:00 PM
:clapper:    :clapper:  
Welcome aboard , looks good.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: mwosborn on February 12, 2014, 10:34:00 PM
Looks nice - welcome!  Time to start on the net one!!   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: KellyG on February 12, 2014, 10:35:00 PM
Well from those pics it turned out very well. Congrats.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: wood carver 2 on February 12, 2014, 10:44:00 PM
Nobody would have guessed that this was your first woodworking project. Nice work!
Dave.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: red hill on February 12, 2014, 11:18:00 PM
Agreed! Very we'll done! Welcome!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Buemaker on February 13, 2014, 04:09:00 AM
Very nice. Bue--.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: BCWV on February 13, 2014, 06:52:00 AM
Great job!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: swamhuntr on February 13, 2014, 09:02:00 AM
looks great!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: EHK on February 13, 2014, 09:06:00 AM
Bubinga looks real nice with the oak.  Welcome to the addiction.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Zradix on February 13, 2014, 09:27:00 AM
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  


full draw pic....????  hint hint...
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: takefive on February 13, 2014, 11:07:00 AM
Nice work and congratulations on your first bow!  That is a neat build along; followed it for my first one, too.  Welcome to the bench.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Sparrowhawk on February 13, 2014, 01:49:00 PM
Yea yea yea..  Took a step out on the back porch for a draw picture.  Please don't critique my form here; this isn't how I normally shoot   ;)    

 (http://i.imgur.com/ICWtFsdl.jpg)

I usually shoot with an ILF setup, so it has taken a little bit of adjustment with respect to this bow.  The first few shots were terrible!  It wasn't until manually checking the spine on the arrows that I discovered that they were appropriate for a 70lb bow (~.300"), rather than the meager 40-45 that this bow draws.  The arrows bounced terribly off the handle to the extent that I was tempted to throw the bow into the fire.

Thankfully, I found some more appropriate arrows and the bow suddenly began to 'work'.  I may wrap a small portion of the center of the handle, but we'll see.
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Zradix on February 13, 2014, 02:12:00 PM
Tiller looks good to me....nice view there bud!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: takefive on February 14, 2014, 03:22:00 PM
Really nice job on the tiller, especially for your first one.  Beautiful backyard you have there, too.    :)
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: bornofmud on February 14, 2014, 04:50:00 PM
Nice job!!  That bubinga and red oak look great together.  Very nice tiller, especially for a first bow!
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 14, 2014, 05:24:00 PM
You did a sweet job on the tiller..
Title: Re: First post, and first bow completed...
Post by: Sparrowhawk on February 14, 2014, 11:18:00 PM
For what it is worth, while I did make a sort-of tillering tree, I never threw the bow on it except to make sure it wasn't going to blow up in my face.  I merely used a micrometer and caliper to check for uniformity in thickness, and the rest just worked itself out.  

As for the next bow?  We will see  ;) . I'm not in a big hurry to make another, but a stave/sapling could be fun.