Pignut hickory self bow (Updated with finished pics)

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:06:00 PM

Here is my first bow. After three prior tries with red oak I changed materials and went with a piece of pignut hickory.

I did learn alot with the other tries and from reading here & the bowyers bibles.

This bow is 67" NTN 1 5/8" at the widest point, 4" handle & 3" fades. I recurved the tips on a caul after boiling for 40 min each side and ended up with 2 1/4" curves. Then it sat for a week before final tillering.

Did most of the tillering below 12" draw then slowly worked it to 29" draw. It comes in at 53@28" for now.

I still need to shape the handle, at overlays, align the tips & decide on final finish but I wanted to share this with all that helped.

29" draw on tree

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:11:00 PM

Caul copied from one of 4esttrekkers builds

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:14:00 PM

Slight twist in both tips

Pin knot that had me worried

Loctite & sawdust patch on back/corner of bow

red hill · December 30, 2011, 10:17:00 PM

Good job, Sport. I like hickory too. It's tough and is easy to work with.

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:21:00 PM

Bow just after unstringing

The amount of shavings from final tillering didn't look like much when swept up but it took a good 4 hours of work to get there.

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:26:00 PM

The recurves lost a bit of curve on final tillering day but still have 1 5/8" & 1 3/4" curves, the rested set is at 5/8" on both limbs.

Remeasured 01/24/12. Looks like it settled in at 1.25" of set & the recurves are actually holding still at 2" of recurve with the horn nocks.

I did leave the recurved limb section just a bit thicker by increasing the limb thickness taper before and through a portion of the curves if that makes any sense.

Thanks for looking & helping me along.

I will post the finished product when its finished.

Roy from Pa · December 30, 2011, 10:31:00 PM

Looks very nice, congrats.

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 10:42:00 PM

Thanks Red & Roy. Feels good to finally have a shooter.

Thougt about backing it due to the pin knots & some grain run off but I decided to go for it unbacked and left a small mound of wood around the pin knot on the belly to give it extra strength. Also left the curves slightly thicker.

KellyG · December 30, 2011, 11:23:00 PM

Good Job and great looking bow.

SportHunter · December 30, 2011, 11:28:00 PM

Thanks Kelly. I've been smiling since finishing yesterday.

I think the bow weighs a few more pounds that I originally thought as i forgot to account for the hanging weight of the pelouze scale but thats fine with me.

GREG IN MALAD · December 31, 2011, 12:00:00 AM

That is a fine looking bow! And I love the tiller, I bet it shoots great.

burnt · December 31, 2011, 12:04:00 AM

great job. you are on your way. tiller looks perfect.

Osagetree · December 31, 2011, 04:49:00 AM

Nice looking bow! But,,,, your shop is too clean

stringstretcher · December 31, 2011, 05:46:00 AM

Love the lines, and the tiller. Great looking bow there. Post some pictures of the finished bow when you can.

tenbrook · December 31, 2011, 09:18:00 AM

Great Job. Nice work on the tiller.

SportHunter · December 31, 2011, 09:48:00 AM

Thanks guys.

I need some tips on how to properly straighten the tips. I ruined my first bow trying to fix that so with this one I want to make sure I get it right.

I know you can make the groove deeper on one side but what do you guys prefer to touch up tip very slight twist?

Since they are recurved I dont want to use heat.

Bruce Martin · December 31, 2011, 10:12:00 AM

Hopefully you left your tips wide and will have up to 1/4 inch to deepen the nock groove on the strong side, in addition to thinning the strong side. You might be able to get away with heat and a weight (use a jug of water tied on the tip to bend the tip even while applying heat along the limb). I have done this with r/d osage/bamboo bows with very good success. But I would try thinning the tips and deepening the nock groove(s) appropriately first.

Bruce Martin · December 31, 2011, 10:13:00 AM

BTW, real nice job on the bow and tillering. Did you cut and dry the hickory yourself?

SportHunter · December 31, 2011, 10:25:00 AM

Bruce, I got the wood in board form from curts custom bows. I have some osage & hackberry drying that I cut in August but I wanted to build right away. Just felt I had to keep going to get a shooter, now I'm hooked...

The total width of the tip without the nock cut outs is now 5/8". What's the minimum width at the string groove should be?

The handle is mahogony & oak. Haven't decided on tips yet, I have horn, antler & some very dense red wood brazilian something or other from a cabinet makers shop.

Kris · December 31, 2011, 10:47:00 AM

I love making self bows...fun/rewarding. Outstanding job! Third bow? Awesome in every regard. I use a lot of pignut hickory as it local to S. Wisconsin. Love to see finished pics.

Kris