Latest Bow... Hickory backed Walnut

[GentlemanArcher]

This is the bow bow I've taken all the way to completely finished. I've made a few red oak board bows and a few other experiments...but this one seemed to warrant taking the time to finish up.

64" NTN, hickory backed walnut.  Pulls 30# at 26 inches.  The riser is walnut and hickory.  It started as a 70" long bow but after shooting it a few times, I saw that it was very slow for it's draw weight.  So I piked it and added glue on tips to counter the set some.  

 
 

     

I'm super happy with the look of the bow.  The walnut finished beautifully.  I use 6 coats of tru-oil and 2 coats of wipe-on poly.

The arrow shelf was tiny, so I added some leather under the wrap.  Its the first time I've made a wrap and I really like the way it turned out.  In place of a strike plate, I drilled a shallow hole and glued in a dot of leather.  this isn't my idea, I got it from a bowyer here, but I'm afraid I don't remember who.  

Now for the not so great.  as you can see from the full draw pic, the middle of the limbs is doing most of the work.  I left the tips too stiff, the outer third of the limbs aren't really bending much.  Because all of the stress is being handled by the mid limbs, the belly is "fretting".  I wasn't able to get a picture of it.  I am bummed, but overall, I think the bow was a fine exercise.  

Thanks to everyone on this site for knowledge and inspiration.  On a side note, two months ago I was involved in a bicycle crash that left me with 5 broken bones and collapse lung.  It took a plate and 9 screws to put my collar bone back together.  The simple fact that I was able to complete this bow at all has me happy, satisfied and relieved.  While I was laid up, this site helped me stay sane.  Thanks again.

Gentleman Archer.

[GentlemanArcher]

Oh...and I'm not sure what is up with my "Is it time for tea" pinky ?!?!?!?!

[PEARL DRUMS]

Not bad at all! Your wood combo is suitable and your tiller isnt too bad at all. Im suprised the walnut chrysalled.

[Black Mockingbird]

Is it fretting upper limb 9" above your handle?....it looks like a hinge is there....do you use a tiller gizmo or run a straight edge under the belly to find your flat spots?...other than that your finish work looks nice. Im sure it looks pretty in person with that wood combo and tru oil. I glued up a hickory backed walnut a month n a half ago that i need to tiller n finish out yet...this might give me a lil nudge to finish mine.

[GentlemanArcher]

Yep...more fretting on the top limb and just a bit on the bottom.  And nope, not gizmo...which I realized as I was applying the finishes.  I have one and have used it with success on a few red oak boards.  I think I was so caught up in getting a real finish on the bow that I lost the plot on the tillering task.  I didn't notice the hinge on the tiller tree.  It might be beneficial for me to take picture of the bow on the tree in the middle of tillering.  Seems you can see things on pics you can't in real time.

the color contrast between the walnut and hickory does look great (imho).  I'll have to make another bow with this combo in the near future.

[oops sorry]

Very nice, an elegant bow! 'Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope that you recover fully.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Its not quite a hing yet. Tweety bird may have been exaggerating a touch. Its more like a "soft" spot. But your right, pics show you some things real time just doesnt do. Not to mention I think thee worst thing you can do to a wooden bow is hold it at full draw. Snap a quick pic an study that rather.

[mwosborn]

I agree - love that color combo.  Better get to work on the next one!  Glad your healing up!!

[JamesV]

Great looking bow too bad it developed the frets. My experience with walnut and hickory was the same. Mine was a hill style that took a lot of set and began to fret after a few outings.

James

[GentlemanArcher]

Would a layer of light fiberglass fabric be enough to prevent the fretting?  I mean in addition to a better job of tiller?  The hickory seems to be holding up just fine, as expected.  I used the fiberglass fabric/tape on a maple backing and its holding up just fine.  

thanks again for all the input and kind words.

GA

[PEARL DRUMS]

I would rasp that belly pancake flat and add a 1/8" thick osage or ipe lam. Then retiller it. It will add 10*20#'s of draw and secure the belly. Its easy as pie.

[wood carver 2]

X2 for adding a belly lam. That would turn that beauty into a hunting bow.
Dave.

[jtbluefeather871]

Beauty!

[psychmonky]

Hickory/walnut/Ipe trilam would be beautiful!

[PEARL DRUMS]

Some folks say hang them up and start another. Im not one. Think of it as an unhealthy bow donating its body to science.

[GentlemanArcher]

No source for Ipe or Osage at the moment.  Would it be worth it to use a lam of hickory?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Hickory could work, but its more of a tension wood rather. Give it a try.