Self-bow makeover

gordonf · January 13, 2007, 04:03:00 PM

This is a vine maple bow that I originally posted last November. After shooting it for a few weeks I noticed that a tiny splinter was forming on the back. At first I was heartbroken because I really enjoyed shooting this bow. Then I thought what the heck, I've been thinking about doing a complete makeover on a bow to see what it would be like – why not this one? So I took off the handle wrap, stripped the finish to wood, backed it with rawhide (to keep the splinter down), put on hardwood tips, covered the rawhide with snakeskin, put a new handle wrap on and refinished the bow. I put the bow through its paces on my tillering tree and I believe it will hold together fine now that it is backed. All in all I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Guru · January 13, 2007, 04:07:00 PM

Very Nice!

Huntrdfk · January 13, 2007, 04:08:00 PM

Looks awesome to me Gordon, and I Love the work on the tip overlays too. Nice work.

David

Dano · January 13, 2007, 04:22:00 PM

Nice job Gordon, beautiful finish.

4runr · January 13, 2007, 04:25:00 PM

Wow Gordon! Another work of art.

Jim now in Kentucky · January 13, 2007, 05:44:00 PM

Did a double take when I saw your arrow. That's very close to the crest I put on mine. Just a red band with black accents, turkey cock feather. My hens are blue though. And, I grew up in Oregon.

Is a beautiful bow. Wish I had been making bows when I lived out there!

Lost Arra · January 13, 2007, 08:03:00 PM

Wow! Very nice.

I'm with Dano.
What did you use for a finish over the snakeskin?
Stain on the belly?

gordonf · January 13, 2007, 08:10:00 PM

Bob, I used T-bird epoxy for the finish and brown leather dye as the stain.

Frenchymanny · January 13, 2007, 08:52:00 PM

Gordon, I always loved your maple vine!

gordonf · January 13, 2007, 09:03:00 PM

Hey Frenchy, I always enjoy your comments.

jdupre · January 13, 2007, 10:08:00 PM

A real beauty!

Jason Lester · January 13, 2007, 11:14:00 PM

very nice. Did you stain the wood that color.

Little Tree · January 14, 2007, 01:20:00 AM

That is just beautiful. I love the stain job, with the signing ink. Awesome.

Terry Riley · January 14, 2007, 01:43:00 AM

Another beautiful creation. The grip work really sets of the snake skin backing in the picture. What poundage did you get out of it? It looks like it might be just right for me...LOL.

Terry

PS Looking forward to next weekend.

gordonf · January 14, 2007, 01:57:00 AM

Jason, when they coined the word "whitewood" they must have been thinking of vine maple. It's as white as pearls and doesn't take a stain particularly well. To get it that color I had to use leather dye.

Terry it's 48# @ 27", probably a little light for you

Thank you all for the compliments.

Terry Riley · January 14, 2007, 02:54:00 AM

I could get a little farther out of shape...

huntinoly · January 15, 2007, 08:21:00 PM

Awesome bow Gordon, see ya this weekend. Greg

Ghost Dog · January 15, 2007, 10:14:00 PM

Very nice, Gordon. The tips are really great looking. The hat is growing on me.

BamBooBender · January 16, 2007, 12:37:00 AM

Wow! another beaut!

gordonf · January 16, 2007, 08:48:00 AM

Bob, that's funny. :D

I'm pleased to hear you're planning on joining us this weekend Greg!

Thank you for the compliment James.