Couple longbows

[Dan Bonner]

In preperation for my upcoming St Judes build I decided to do a bowyer skills "warm up". I have been working on my 1 pc longbow design lately and i'm pretty happy with where it is right now. These are a quick easy build as the whole bow including tips and overlays is glued up in one shot and the belley side of the riser insert is a straight cut done on a tablesaw. I put the hose on the back and they glue up perfect. I lay a template on them, trace it and cut the bows out with a 6.5" thin kerf blade on my tablesaw. cuts like butte with no chatter. just use the beltsander to tiller. Its really quick. Maybe 6 hour / bow. Im gonna put beavertail handle wraps on these tomorrow.
The Actionwood bow is 52# @28" and 64" ntn. it has black glass and is kinda plain Jane. The other bow used up the last of a TX ebony log i've had for years. Thats why all the sapwood. Its got curly maple veneers and is 55#@28" and 62" ntn. Both have 6" tip wedges and 21" riser inserts. They seem pretty quick and are very quiet. I have migrated towards deeper stacks with narrower limbs and it really makes them quiet. Thanks for looking!

Bonner


 
 

[Trux Turning]

A pair of  beauties right there!

[Troy D. Breeding]

Very nice.

[Igor]

Excellent - really like the bow's profile...


thanks for sharing...


><>>
Glenn

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice.

[red hill]

Sweet bows, Dan. I really like the maple.

[cunruhshoot]

Awesome Dan - I would love to see a pic of your form to get a better visual of the hose on the back of the bow. I use the bingham form design for their 62" r/d hybrid. But I am wanting to experiement with some other ideas.

[chackworth3]

Those are some good lookin bow right there!

[k-hat]

Em R perty!

[Dan Bonner]

Thanks all. Cameron, I will post up some form pics tonight. The advantage of the hose on the back of the bow is that you can add all the tip and belly overlays at the initial glueup. It saves a lot of time.

Bonner

[Dan Bonner]

Thanks all. Cameron, I will post up some form pics tonight. The advantage of the hose on the back of the bow is that you can add all the tip and belly overlays at the initial glueup. It saves a lot of time.

Bonner

[Dan Bonner]

Cameron,
Here is how the hose on back build works for me.
I use a Rockler jig to cut the angles for the riser insert first.

same jig different angles cut out the belly section of the handle

handle and insert after cutting and a little grinding on te back of the insert only to perfect fades

Heres how they fit in the form. When I built the form I cut out a 24"x1.5" square on the belly of the handle. I made laminated oak blocks to fit against the handle on the same angle jig by matching the angles. this way I can change the riser insert anytime I want without building a new form.
 
Here is the form assembled.
 
notice the routered grooves with zip ties I use to hold the lams in place during glueup. The form is 2.24" wide and these are cut in to 1.5". the beauty of this form is there is no fitting the riser insert to the form and the overlays and tip overlays go on at the time of glueup. I get great glue lines every time too as there are no sweeping curves in the riser lams to worry about. It feels a like cheating as its so quick and easy.

Bonner

[MoeM]

Pretty cool! I love simple things with great effects- this handleinsert with straight bellyjoint is realy handy. Just as easy as a plam...
The ebony with sapwood looks fantastic!
Great bows for sure!

[Trapper Rob]

Sweet bows

[cunruhshoot]

Very Cool Dan! Thanks for taking the time to share. This gives me ideas of my own to try on my form to make it a little more adaptable to a variety of bow layups.

[Dan Bonner]

Thanks all. Over my handful of years building bows I have learned a lot about correcting mistakes and making stuff easier. Thats because I am careless and lazy.

Bonner

[Robertfishes]

thanks for sharing, what a time saver! "careless and lazy"??..I don't think so

[JJB]

Very nice set up and bows!
-Jay

[kennym]

Very cool Dan, I'm study'n here!!  :D

[MoeM]

Hey Dan,
maybe a little foolish question, but do you see any problems with a straight section in the form to suit the straight insert and puting on the outer riser in a second glueup?