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

[Bradford]

Here is that pic above.. don't know why it did that..

[Bradford]

Alright.. got to do some work today!

First off fixed my form.  Added a few new screws and replaced the dowels.

 

I lay a large straight edge in the middle.. looks good!

 

Then got parts ready for glue up on bow #4.  You can see how much gunk comes off the wood when you use Acetone to clean everything.

 

I got bow #2 strung and shot a few arrows.  Shoot real fast.. feel's snappy.. a little bit of hand shock, but I think that is because how small and light weight they are.

 



It will need to be tuned a little.. but I was at least grouping them.

[Bradford]

Then got some more shaping done on bow #1R.. starting to look real good.



Finally got bow #4 out of the oven and stripped down.  Looks good.. can't wait to see it all shaped up.







So a productive day.  Only one more bow to glue up.  Still have a couple of weeks left!  Doing good..

[sulphur]

This is the first i've looked at this thread.  thats a great little recurve design you have there.  Going to be lots of happy kids in your house.  Great job.

[KellyG]

They are coming along nicely. Can't wait to see what you got planned for 5.

[Bradford]

Well Kelly.. since you asked..LOL

here is the first cut .. need to glue this part up tonight.



Since this bow (bow #5). will be for my 10 year old, I am going to stain the maple blue and it will have white glass.  I think it will look pretty cool doing the blue and white theme with some zebra wood thrown in!

I got bow #4 shaped up and looking good..





And here is the line up as of now...





I guess I should of thrown in bow #1L.. So there is 5 total.. One more to glue up.  I think I can save bow #3 and still make it look good..

But having fun and learning how to really make a sweet bow.  You learn a lot doing 5 at a time.  Each one has a little problem.. nothing major, and now I know how to correct all these issues and make a really sweet shooter.

[Bradford]

So I was so encourage by the above photos, I added in the left hander as well!!

[KellyG]

Thanks for the prompt responce. They are all looking good. I like the lefty.

[Ricky Wallace]

You are a machine!! looks very nice!

[Sal]

A machine indeed!  I'm tired just following your posts.

[Swissbow]

Now that's a nice line up ! Fantastic work, Bradford.

----------
Andy

[dposalski]

Still keeping up and loving it.  This may be what I needed to move from making board bows to laminated.  They are awesome.  

[Bradford]

Thanks everyone!  It has been a lot of work.  But the learning experience is worth it.

I have been learning tricks to make things faster..

I have been learning things to make a better product..

and over all I know what  my capabilities are when building a bunch at once.

So back at it tonight after work.  Need to start wraping these things up.

[Bradford]

So last night got a little done.. more gluing.  That is really what eats up a lot of time.  If I where to calculate actual work hours, it probably would not be that much.. but the fact you have to glue this or that and let it dry up.

Got riser #5 part 1 glued.  Then I tack glued the second piece to it for tonight...



Then cut some material and glued the tips on bow #4... let that set up over night.  Then this morning sanded them down..





So tonights work will be to cut and glue the second piece in to riser #5.. then glue the tips on bow #1R..   Maybe some sanding if I feel up to it!

Getting there!

[KellyG]

ooooohhhhhh so close, I am smelling the barn from here.

[Bradford]

LOL.. a real barn burner eh Kelly!.. I like it.

Very close.  Getting excited to start seeing some Tongue Oil on these!

[Dmaxshawn]

Can't wait to see all lined up again with bows on the bows.

Shawn

[Bradford]

Alrighty then..

Got the tips shaped on bow #4..



And put on a small accent of the front of bow #4.. still need to shape it up a bit more..



Also did some finish sanding with the 120 grit.  Just about ready for finish sanding and clear coat!  Yeah!

Also got the tips ground on bow #1R..



Went basic on this one.. all black.  Black glass with black phenol tips.  My oldest likes the black!  I need to get this one finish sanded so I can stain the maple black.  Think it will look cool.

Also got the second part of the riser finished up on bow #5..



Need to finish cut that one up and get it ready for glue up this weekend.. keep forgetting that this is my LAST weekend.. I need to get moving!

Then I did a bit of finish sanding on the pink died portion of bow #2.. the stain was a bit thick in a few areas.  So sanded it down and will water down the stain and give it one more coat.



Getting there.. I think I will just make it.

Tomorrow will do the tip sanding on bow #1R.. need to glue the tips on bow #3 then do more finish sanding!

[Bradford]

Got the tips roughed in on bow #1R.. then worked on bow #4.. got it finished sanded with the 220 grit... I will do a little touch up, but feels smooth as a baby's bottom!!!

Got it strung up and looks good.  I have not put the scale on it, but feels to be right around 28 to 32.  So perfect!

Here are the pics.  I will get the finish on it this weekend!

[Bradford]

So got everything ready last night to glue up my last bow.



Had to work today from 10-4, so had enough time in the morning to get her glued up and in the oven.  I left the lid open just a crack so the heat box will hover around 140 instead of 170.  When I get home I will let it cool and sand off all the excess.

Also was thinking that I might squeeze one more in.  I already have all the stuff to make a take down recurve... so my dad might get a new bow for christmas as well.



I bought the 2 quart size of Smooth On for this adventure and it has really paid off.  After 5 bows, I have only used about a 1/3 of the stuff.



And I also got a couple of coats of Tounge oil on bow #4 last night.  Looking sharp!  I will get a few more coats on tonight.