Another longbow build-a-long

[Apex Predator]

I pulled this out of my laminating oven this morning.



Let's see what's under all those rubber clamps.



Plenty of epoxy on the limb edges!



Of to the belt sander to clean this bad boy up a little.  I like it!!!!









I just love that eastern red cedar!

[TNstickn]

Great looking bow. I admire your setup and its simplicity. Awesome results.

[ron w]

Looking good.........

[Russell S.]

Lookin good marty, one of the boys from work said he was going to give you a call.  That red ceder does look good under the glass. one of these days i will move up to clear glass!

[dutchwarbow]

nothing so beautyfull as ERC under glass....

keep it coming marty  

Nick

[Apex Predator]

Last nite after work and dinner, I prepared the buffalo horn overlays.



This morning I started by finding the centerline of the riser.  I use a little jig that I made.





I then run a line from tip to tip.  By sighting down the bow I adjust the string at each tip until the line is bisecting the riser center and the limbs.



After marking the tips center, I will make marks to draw in my bows back profile.  I make my tips 5/8" wide at this point.  I draw straight lines from 3" outside the fades to these tip lines.



Now it's off to the belt sander to take the limbs down to the lines.  I will further narrow the tips until they fit in my string groove marking jig.



Now I cut rough string grooves in and put a string on her.  She was way heavy at around 61 pounds!  No worries though, because a lot of excess bow material removal left.    

[Roy from Pa]

Marty, would  you consider adopting an old fart like me?  I'll clean your bow shop for ya every day. LOL, you do very nice work and great tutorials.. Thanks, Roy

[Mike Most]

Marty, I have got to admit, that the little jigs you have made would sure make some things I do by hand easier. Centerline, and string grooves.

Very good job.

Mike

[Apex Predator]

I now need to narrow the limbs to final profile.  I first draw some lines on the limb edge, so that I can visually tell if I'm taking too much off one side.  Right now the string tracks down the center of the limbs, and I want to keep it that way!  I use another home made jig for this.  It's a little piece of plastic with a 90 degree angle on it.  I drilled some holes to fit an ultra-fine tip sharpie.  Works like a charm!

 

 

 

Here she is at brace, and full draw.  I need to do some tweaking to the tiller, but both limbs are timed pretty well at full draw.  I want to get those outer limbs bending just a touch more, and will get that with trapping the belly.

[Dmaxshawn]

As usual Marty your right on time with your work.  Looking great so far bud.  

Shawn

[kennym]

Some cool jigs there Marty!!

Lookin good,can't wait to see it done! That ERC looks even better than I thought it would!!!!

[bow loving man]

Dang creative innovations in those jigs you made...I like the way you think...nice bow too by the way...

[Apex Predator]

This morning I got her down to 53#, timed, and got the overlays glued on.  Next step is to file the string grooves into the new tips and shape the overlays.  









With trapping the belly of the limbs and final sanding, I should bring her in at 49-50 pounds at 28".

[bjansen]

Nice jigs Marty.  We all learn something each time you post.   Those tips are going to look nice.

[Teagus]

I'm not real clear on the art and mystery of trapping limbs. Hope you can work it into your lesson plan. Thanks for the great build-a-longs.

Mike W.

[kat]

Great build-a-long.  You might just convert me to a long bow shooter

[Scott F]

I couldn't say it any better than Brad did, we all learn something everytime that you post a build along -- thanks!

[Oliverstacy]

This is awesome...are you going to do another build along in late February...this looks to be an Ossabaw.  

We need a Cumberland build along also!    

Josh

[dutchwarbow]

Oliver, Marty already did an cumberland buildalong if I recall correctly...

He's done quite a few buildalongs, and I remember one with a straight rubberband form...

Nick

[Apex Predator]

Nick, I think he wants his bow to have a build-a-long.