Did Someone Say Snaky???

[razorback]

Great looking stave John, can't wait to see how she turns out.
Never had the pleasure of meeting Mickey but I did save most of the stuff he had on his web site. I know I have the pictures of all his how to's and I think the instructions, as well. He could do an incredible how-to, just check out the how to forum on here and see how many of the older ones has his name on them. Pity he hasn't been around here in years.

[John Scifres]

Went to the lake this weekend and took the snaky bow to get it tillered.  I did a little more floor tillering and got it looking pretty good and light enough to brace.  Here' the first pull.  Not too bad but still way heavy.



I gave it 20 scrapes on the bottom and 10 on the top.  Pulled a little farther it shows a little weak on the bottom and still way heavy.  
 
 

30 on the top, 20 on the bottom.  Looking pretty round but the top is still too stiff.
 
 

20 on the top, 10 on the bottom.  Getting lighter yet, still strong on top.
 
 

[John Scifres]

Not too bad.  Still heavy.  20 on top and bottom.

 

10 on top and bottom.  Not bad.  

 

The handle is really blockish and the string is off the right hand side.  I thought I'd shape it and see if I could get the string closer to the center without doing any heat bending.

 

[John Scifres]

I gave it another 10 scrapes top and bottom and then bent it again.  I think the camera cought me with a look of trepidation as I heard a click in the upper limb.

 

I gave it a full lookover andcould find no splinters lifting or other problems.  There was a windshake that I glued up with some superglue and assumed it was some of the excess glue letting loose.  I scraped it all down and gave it 10 or so scrapes on each limb.

 

It's looking pretty good and I am starting to get excited about this thing living.  It's still abit heavy so I scrape it down a little more and start cleaning up the limbs anticipating the finish job I'm going to put on it.

I pulled it back to full draw and disaster struck.

 

She let go in the spot where the grain ran off really bad in the upper limb part of the handle.  I had thought that I left it in the handle enough so that it would not flex but I guess it let go anyways.  I've been seriously bummed for 2 days.

Physically, I guess I was lucky it hit me in the ribs and not the head.  I don't have a tiller tree set up at the lake so I was pulling it by hand.  The bruise is painful but the broken bow of a lifetime is the real pain here.

 

[J. Holden]

Ouch!  That's why I have my wife pull the bow back and I take the pictures.  I'm way to pretty to end up with a bruise like that.  

[red hill]

 Hope you're not hurt bad, John.

[ChristopherO]

Sorry to see that, John.  The broken bow, that is, more sorry to have seen the picture of your chest.  Could have lived without that!    
I remember when Mickey originally posted this bow and wondered if he finished it and if it survived the artificial "snake".  You've answered both questions.  
Hope your heart and body heals up quickly over this.

[DVSHUNTER]

Bummer john. Sorry for your loss and pain. That would have been a cool.one.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I feel your brother, Hope you saved the good end for a splice job in the future.

[KellyG]

sorry brother

[rmorris]

John, I am so sorry that happened to you! I hope you get the chance at another snakey bow and because that was looking awesome.

[rmorris]

John, I am so sorry that happened to you! I hope you get the chance at another snakey bow and because that was looking awesome.

[Paul/KS]

Ouch, too bad John... Glad you didn't get hurt when it broke.

[ron w]

Ah nuts.......it was going so well! Glad you didn't get really hurt bad!

[JSMOFFITT03]

Darnit  it Mann!  That was looking good,  enjoyed it while it lasted.  

Looks painful,  hope to see you back in the saddle again soon!

[dmikeyj]

That's really too bad, it was looking like one of those lifetime creations.

[mwosborn]

Rats!!  It was looking good too!

[Osagetree]

[menatkin]

Ouch!

Sorry for the loss of the bow, but do please tend to that nasty bruise!