Christmas - 5 bow build along.. Dare you to keep up...LOL

jess stuart · December 18, 2010, 04:05:00 PM

You sure you don't some elves helping you out. LOL. Doing a great job, its is going to be merry Christmas at your house.

Bradford · December 18, 2010, 05:06:00 PM

No elves, but the wife does ask how "santa's sweat shop is doing".. LOL.

It's a race now. Less than a week left!

red hill · December 18, 2010, 05:39:00 PM

This is terrific! You've got me printing off Bingham's catalog and looking for laminations for a bow now. Surely I could squeez out one bow if you can spit out all those. Which all look great, by the way.
Good job.
Stan

John Lipinski · December 18, 2010, 08:25:00 PM

...Are you willing to sell bow #4? It's absolutely gorgeous. (I'm just joking about buying it--too low a poundage) Can't wait to see all of them finished. Your quality of work is fantastic

KellyG · December 18, 2010, 10:08:00 PM

Bradford,
Looking good and now you want to add another bow. You are a machine I say a machine.
Kelly

Bradford · December 18, 2010, 11:26:00 PM

Go for it Red.. you can do it!

Thanks John.. didn't that wood combo turn out AWESOME... I am going to build my self one with the same wood combo with higher pounds!.. I like it.

Thanks Kelly.. I know.. We will see. Need to finish these 5 first. In fact, just taking a break from the wood shed. I got Bow #1R final shaped and sanded.. just need to go over it with the 220 grit.

Also got the stain on bow #2 touched up. It will be ready for Tung oil tomorrow!

Got Bow #5 cleaned up and re-taped. Will mark it up tonight and do cut and rough shape tomorrow.

Busy - Busy

Bradford · December 19, 2010, 03:07:00 AM

Wow.. worked late tonight!!!!

So here is bow #5 out of the oven and excess sanded off...

Then went back to bow #1R.. finished sanded it up.. strung it up.. pulling 35# at 28". Then did an Antique thing with the maple. I used a minwax express color stain.. onyx and wiped it on. I have not been real thrilled with the stains. They do not cover as well as I would like. But, it still looks good enough for the kids.

Got the first coat of tung oil on it!

So tomorrow More work! =)

BenBow · December 19, 2010, 09:41:00 AM

Nice work to say the least!!!!

KellyG · December 19, 2010, 08:00:00 PM

looking good soooo close!

Bradford · December 19, 2010, 09:30:00 PM

Even closer tonight!

Got bow #5 all shaped up..

Got the tips gluing on Bow #3 and Bow #5 under the fireplace

And, started working on the take down for my dad!

Here are the wedges I had to make real quick..

Got one limb built and in the oven right now. Will get the other limb in the oven tomorrow.

Got tung oil drying on bow #2.. Bow #4 is done! just need to finish buffing it up.

Bow #1R is on it's second coat of tung oil.

I tested bow #2 before I applied the tung oil, and it pulled at 35# at 28".

So I think I am going to make it!!!! Very productive weekend.

Bradford · December 20, 2010, 01:15:00 AM

Okay... got one limb done on the take down.. here it is sitting next to the riser..

Need to get the other one done tomorrow.. then bolt the up.. center line them and trim em up!

Here is the line up..

Two under the fireplace curing, 4 against the cupboard and the take down!

slivrslingr · December 20, 2010, 03:35:00 AM

This is a really cool thread. Gonna be some real happy kids and FIL come X-mas AM. Shoot me a PM if you need a home for the lefty.

Bradford · December 21, 2010, 03:03:00 AM

Worked real late tonight.. still lot's to do.

Got the other limb built for the take down...

Need to get that bolted all up and centerlined..

Then got the tips done up on bow #5..

Completely finished bow #4..

Then had a bit o' problems with bow #3 again. The area I fixed separated again under the heat of the fire place. So pealed it back again.. and trying it one more time. I am going to wrap it with leather lace and epoxy as well tomorrow.

So.. getting tired! But it will be worth it.

I also used some steel wool on bow's 1R and 2 and added another coat of tung oil. Those should be finished up tomorrow or Wednesday. I finally got the finish to cure over the Bocate.. that oily wood kept the finish tacky. But left it on long enough and then rubbed it out. Going to look good!

Trux Turning · December 22, 2010, 02:00:00 PM

Looks good- Might as well build at least 1 more since you have time-lol- just think for the firing line christmas morning!

Bradford · December 22, 2010, 04:16:00 PM

Thanks! I actually am going to hold off on the take down till after christmas. Getting a little in over my head.. hehehehe

I put the limb bolts in and found that I need to make some minor adjustments to the limb pads to make the limbs flat. So.. time to put on the brakes.. I don't want to rush it. My dad's birthday is in January, so I will finish it up after christmas and he will get a nice bow for his birthday. Went out and bought him some gifts for christmas yesterday!

Got the blue dye on bow #5.. will clear coat it tonight.

Also epoxied the leather lace on bow #3 for looks and additional support. Worked till midnight last night. Will be close to done tonight without doing the take down!

KellyG · December 22, 2010, 04:24:00 PM

one down and looking great, tic toc tic toc getting close, but it looks like you are going to make it.

KellyG · December 22, 2010, 04:26:00 PM

Is that leather or cork for on the rest of #4?

Bradford · December 22, 2010, 04:47:00 PM

Acutally it is craft felt. I figure I would use that first till I get them all shooting good, then swap it out later with some real fur.

But the craft felt is self adhesive and has multiple colors

Bradford · December 23, 2010, 01:05:00 AM

Okay.. almost there!!! YEEEEE HAAAAAW

Got bow #2 and bow #1R done!

Check out these cool pics.. might be pics worthy of my website I want to build!

Bradford · December 23, 2010, 01:08:00 AM

Also got bow #3 and #5 sanded, stained and first coat of tung oil on..

Wish I had one more week! I could finish up that take down proper as well.

That is the way it is! But these are going to be great! Lot's of fun.

The kids stare at them everyday and ask why I want to sell them...hehehehehe.
I already hid bow #4 and told them I sold it! That will throw them off the trail.

HoHo HO.