Winter project #1 (TG trade bow)

TroutGuide · January 17, 2012, 06:44:00 PM

I have a stave that will be close to that when I start working it. It will be all heartwood but very rounded on the back. How do you handle the middle/handle section of this type of bow? Are you leaving it alone and tillering the limbes only or are you working all the way down? I know there can be problems with a hinge developing on bendy handle bows but yours looks nice and stiff still. So how are you handling the handle?

mwirwicki · January 17, 2012, 10:25:00 PM

Nice, Pat. Your progress on that pole is great. It ought to be a shooter and definately unique. The recipient of this one will surely treasure that one.

Pat B · January 17, 2012, 10:40:00 PM

Brian, I have a 4" handle centered in the stave and 1 1/2" fades. The bend will come right up to the handle when done. I leave that area stiff for now then I'll bring the bend back into the fades. I can feel the handle give a little now when I pull the bow by hand. I'd like to be able to feel that bend right at full draw.
After tillering I will shape the handle somewhat and add a short handle riser made of thick leather set in super glue. This type of handle will bend with the bow.

TroutGuide · January 18, 2012, 04:46:00 PM

Thanks Pat. I have a little while to wait untill mine is ready to work but I will try and be patient. Yours makes me feel good about the stave and its sister. How long is yours? Mine will only work out to be about 60" NTN after I cut off a small end check. I hope to get 50#@28" what do you think. Would you do anything different if that was your goal. If I need to build a lighter, shorter draw bow that is fine as well but I would rather it be good for me.

Trout

Pat B · January 18, 2012, 07:23:00 PM

With a high crown like these pole bows have you should have your 60" bow bend through the handle for a 28" draw. I would flip the tips a bit too to help with the string angle.

Stiks-n-Strings · January 19, 2012, 02:41:00 PM

Looking good Pat.

Pat B · January 19, 2012, 04:37:00 PM

Thanks Kris.
I backed her with rawhide today. I feel better about it with the high crown although there is no indication there will be a problem. I'll probably add snake skins later too.
Here are a few pics of the rawhide backing...

I decided to go around this knot with the rawhide instead of cutting the knot off and going over it.I used a rubber band wrap to secure the rawhide around the knot until the glue dries...

Osagetree · January 19, 2012, 04:47:00 PM

That gonna be so cool!

Stiks-n-Strings · January 19, 2012, 05:09:00 PM

Pat I love snake skins :D

Art B · January 19, 2012, 05:11:00 PM

Man, that's looking great Pat!

Dmaxshawn · January 19, 2012, 05:41:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Stiks-n-Strings:
Pat I love snake skins :D

I'm wif Kris Send it to me.

Pat B · January 20, 2012, 04:45:00 PM

This morning the rawhide was hard so I rasped the excess rawhide from the belly and sanded the edges smooth...

Next I added shoe leather handle riser. I traced the handle area on the precut shoe leather and cvut it out on the bandsaw...

I tapered both ends on the belt sander so the leather riser fades into the limb. It is lots easy now then once it is glued down...

Then I soak the leather in warm water until it becomes pliable...

Once the leather is pliable I take it out of the water and blot off the excess water. I now add the glue to both the leather and the belly of the bow. I decided to use TBIII for its water proof properties.You can see the center pith where the riser goes. The riser will cover it.

Pat B · January 20, 2012, 04:47:00 PM

Once I mput the pieces together I wrap with cloth strips and rubber bands and set it near the wood stove to dry...

Pat B · January 21, 2012, 03:24:00 PM

I cut out and shaped up the handle area a bit. I decided to add another piece of leather to fill out the handle. After it dried well over night I shaped the whole handle riser on my belt sander then saturated it with super glue. The super glue firms up the leather so I can get a good smooth finish on it. If necessary I can add more glue and sand smooth. It will have a really cool look to it when done...and it will flex with the bow. I'm planning to use leather for the tip overlays agso. Same process!

Stiks-n-Strings · January 21, 2012, 04:52:00 PM

I done a bow with the leather tip like your talking about Pat and it does look sweet

Pat B · January 21, 2012, 05:06:00 PM

I got her to first brace. She looks pretty good to me. The string tracks well and the bends are even. I have pulled her to 22" now and she pulls about 50# at that draw. A few more scrapes and she'll be ready to shoot. I can't wait!!! Here she is at low brace(5" from the back)...

...and looking down her length. You can see the string is tracking pretty good...

Osagetree · January 21, 2012, 05:17:00 PM

It's gonna be a sweet bow Pat!

Send me a couple pics of your wood bunrner. What's the river rock sitting on it for?

Hunting season is about gone so I'm on here trying to get inspired so I can get to harvesting some osage and making some bows. Your posts are helping with that very much.

Pat B · January 21, 2012, 05:25:00 PM

Joe, she'll be almost as sweet as Flip Flop! I'm very please with the outcome so far.
Its that time of the year Joe so get on the stick!(literally)

You want pics of my wood stove? It is a Fisher Momma Bear, about 35 years old or so.

Dmaxshawn · January 21, 2012, 05:30:00 PM

Looks great pat. I can't wait to shoot it

Pat B · January 21, 2012, 05:36:00 PM

Here you go Joe. The critters on the wood pile are a few of my wife's paper mache projects. Don't worry, they don't bite!

Just like on the porch we have redneck hardscape on the wood stove too. d;^)