I haven't posted a one of my oddball bow projects in a while so here is the latest.

I took a piece of super grained osage with more twists, roller coaster, lean and deflexes than I have ever worked with and started straightening. It probably took me a dozen or more sessions to tame this piece of wood. The final result is a super premium perfectly straight piece of osage.

I really started this as an ambush bow project but it evolved into an experiment. I am planning a reflex-deflex, sinew backed, 58" NTN, high performance bow.



After tillering the bow I have it back on my form putting the reflex back in that pulled out during the tillering process. Sinew goes on this afternoon. No telling how this will turn out. This should be interesting.

I'm interested in seeing this one.

Dennis

Me too - I will stay tuned...

Jake

Me too - I will stay tuned

Jake

QuoteOriginally posted by Eric Krewson:
I am planning a reflex-deflex, sinew backed, 58" NTN, high performance bow.

I haven't been bitten by the selfbow bug but that right there sounds like something to get addicted to! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

The caul looked like a lot of reflex but the stave only keeps about half of it when removed.

Here is the bow off the caul, handle back shaped, back roughed up and ready for sinew. I bought a crock pot at a thrift store yesterday for $3 to keep my glue (Knox gelatin) warm.

eric... i can't wait to see how it goes....

Sure is purty sitting in the vice. Hard to tell that was ever a problem stave.

Just a warning, Eric.  Your sinew will introduce reflex as it cures.  You could real easily end up with 5" or more of reflex in that beauty...

Depends on how much he uses Jeff. If he puts one course on it it shouldn't change much at all. Should just help it hold the reflex that Eric has already put in it. If he puts 3 or 4 courses on it, yea it could pull further into reflex.

I wanna watch this one, looking pretty awesome sofar.
Bert

One limb done, 2 courses.

 

Four hours later the sinew job is complete. I like to apply sinew one thread at a time, this takes a while.

 

I usually put on more than I want for the finished bow and sand it back to a nice smooth surface. This one might look like an unstrung  Mongol bow after it dries.

It will be a while before the next installment.

Eric really looking forward to seeing how this baby is going to turn out. One of the reasons I never tried self bows is I don't have the patience you have. Sure hope you are enjoying making this bow as we are watching.

This will be a very cool bow, Eric. Beautiful unbraced profile. How long will you let it cure before you continue on? On the few sinewed bows I've made, I gave each course a month to cure. Even when the sinew has dried the wood has absorbe some of the moisture and that moisture has to evaporate. Pat

I cant wait to see this, I know its gonna be a beaut. Im already wishing I could go from rh to lh because of another one of yours.

I will let the sinew cure naturaly for a couple of weeks then I will hot box it.

Eric, how is this beut looking?

Edit, after a quick search, it looks like this one failed? What a shame   :(

Please use safety glasses!    

Ok, now carry on.