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Post by huxbux on Feb 24, 2010 14:46:00 GMT -5
Very interesting to say the least.
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Post by scrub-buster on Feb 24, 2010 18:57:55 GMT -5
WOW!This is a LOT of work, but I can see wher it will be very satisfying. Thanks for posting this. [glow=red,2,300]Hope you kill a big one with it[/glow]. I would be happy just to kill a little tender one with it.
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Post by scrub-buster on Feb 27, 2010 20:42:48 GMT -5
I did a little more tillering over the last couple of days. I have it to a brace height of about 5". Here it is drawn to about 25". It looks a little lopsided because the lower limb is 1 1/2" shorter than the top limb. I also tried to make a bow string for the first time. It took a while, but it turned out OK. I made the endless loop string. First, I put two screws 58" apart on a 2x4. I put a third screw off to the side towards one end. I wrapped 8 loops of B-50 string around the screws and tied the ends together making a big loop. Next, I served over the knot and about an extra 4". Then I rotated the string around so the served part was around the screw at the end. I marked the opposite end with a marker and served 4" around it also. Then I served the two bundles together making a loop at each end. I put it on the bow and it looked good. Now I just need to serve the center. I served the middle and now it looks like a bow string. The only problem is that the string is a little long. The brace height is only at 4 1/2". I kind of guessed at the length of 58". Time to make a new string. I made a minor adjustment to the screws in the 2x4 and started again. About halfway through the new string and I realized I had moved the screw the wrong direction. The new string was going to be even longer. I guess I was a little distracted. I was watching the movie, We Were Soldiers while I was working. Oh well, I will save these strings for future bows. I readjusted the length between the screws again, but ran out of time and had to leave for work. Tomorrow, I plan on making a 57 1/2" string, and finishing the movie!
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Post by Decatur on Feb 27, 2010 21:11:05 GMT -5
;d
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Post by scrub-buster on Feb 28, 2010 23:38:46 GMT -5
Today I made a 3rd attempt on the string. This time it was the correct length. The brace height is now 5 1/4". I still have a little more tillering to do. I might need an even shorter string. I didn't have time to serve the center. It will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who is following along. This build-a-long is really motivating me to work on the bow every chance that I get. My work schedule is getting flipped around, so I might not be able to post any updates for several days.
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Post by grey squirrel on Mar 2, 2010 21:02:47 GMT -5
Patiently awaiting an update........ Didn't get your PM till after that friday, we will have to get out and go soon before the squirrels and field mice eat them up.
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 9, 2010 7:01:51 GMT -5
I did some more tillering and it is really close. It is now 60# @ 26". I tend to draw a little shorter with a selfbow, so I will leave it at that. After sanding and shooting it in, it will probably loose a few pounds anyway. Now, I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to fire an arrow out of this thing. The handle is still rough, there is no arrow rest or nock point, but I hit the target the first shot. The bow was pretty fast, and the carbon arrow penetrated 5" into a new block target. Since I was wearing a heavy sweatshirt, I didn't bother to put an armguard on. It only took one shot to change my mind. Next, I started shaping the handle. I used a combination of belt sander and files. I tried to thin the handle area and bring in the upper fade so the bow would be more center shot. Here is where I stopped. I like this style of handle. It fits my hand nice. The entire bow needs a lot of sanding. It is still pretty rough. While looking the bow over, I noticed a small area where the sinew pulled loose from the wood along the edge of the back. It is about 4" long. I don't know if you can see it in this picture. I put some super glue in the crack and clamped it shut over night. I think I will wrap some sinew around the limb in that area to keep it from pulling loose.
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Post by Decatur on Mar 9, 2010 8:00:03 GMT -5
That's got to be a great feeling to shoot a bow you made!
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 10, 2010 8:32:59 GMT -5
The first arrow out of my first bow was amazing. It was very cool.
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 14, 2010 12:30:19 GMT -5
I spent a lot of time sanding on the bow during the past few days. I start out with 100 grit and go over the entire bow removing any tool marks. Then I use 220 grit and get the bow nice and smooth. I still need to finish up the tips, they are a little rough. After looking the bow over, I found a few small areas where the sinew backing has started to pull loose on the edges. It is in the areas that I put the oil on when heat bending it. I must have not degreased it enough. This is my first time using sinew, so I figured I would mess something up. I could either soak the bow in water and remove the sinew and start over, or try to save it by wrapping it. I decided to try and save it since I have so much time invested in it and I want to start hitting the 3-D shoots. I used back sinew to wrap the limbs in the areas where it is loose. The back sinew is much easier to break down to threads than the legs. Here is the worst area. I also wrapped both limb tips to prevent it from coming loose there also. I am going to let the wraps dry for a few days and then shoot the bow some to see if it will hold. I have a big black snake skin to back the bow with once it is done. I am not putting it on until I know that the sinew is holding. During the next week, I plan on finishing the tips, making the arrow rest, and maybe putting on a leather handle. Thursday I had concrete poured in the pole barn/garage. I am building a bow shop in the back of it. It will be 8'x24'. Once it is done, I should get a lot more bow building done. Hey Gray Squirrel, next winter we should build you one!
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 15, 2010 20:01:47 GMT -5
I had a few minutes this afternoon to start on the arrow shelf. I cut out 3 small pieces of thick leather, each one a little smaller than the next. I rounded off the tops a little so the arrow will only contact a small area. I put some super glue in between each layer and then clamped them down. I will let it sit over night and put it on the bow tomorrow. I checked to see how dry the sinew was on the bow. The sinew shrinks as it dries, so it tightened down on the bow. I hope this works.
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Post by Decatur on Mar 15, 2010 20:10:34 GMT -5
I never thought of making a shelf out of leather.
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 15, 2010 20:30:42 GMT -5
I made the first one out of antler. It was loud. Leather is a lot quieter, and easier to shape.
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Post by trapperdave on Mar 16, 2010 10:12:00 GMT -5
Its coming along nicely!
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 18, 2010 20:27:19 GMT -5
The sinew wraps are still drying. I found a few minutes to work on it in between all of the yard work the wife has me doing. I glued the leather rest onto the bow. I let it sit overnight again to dry. Then I trimmed the leather with a utility knife. These pictures didn't turn out very good. I will try to get some better ones. I also worked on the tips a little more. I smoothed them out on the back and the belly. This weekend I will try shooting it again and see if the backing will hold up.
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 23, 2010 19:21:54 GMT -5
Bad news/ good news: The bad news is that the sinew backing isn't staying on. I was getting ready to shoot it and noticed some new areas were it was pulling loose. There is no saving it now. Here is what I found. Now for the good news: The sinew came off a lot easier than I was expecting. I thought I would have to soak it in water and then let it dry for a few weeks. Instead, it peeled right off. I started by cutting and removing the wraps that I just put on. Next, I split the backing at the handle. Then I just carefully peeled it off of both limbs. This is what I ended up with. Here is the back of the bow without the sinew. I have posted these pictures on a bow building site and hopefully someone will be able to tell me what I did wrong. I have started to sand it down and I should be able to try it again Thursday or Saturday this week.
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Post by Decatur on Mar 23, 2010 22:13:19 GMT -5
Good luck finding a solution!
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 23, 2010 22:18:13 GMT -5
The word back from the experts is to degrease better, rough up the back more, and use 4 or 5 coats of glue to size the back before putting on the sinew.
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Post by hountzmj on Mar 24, 2010 17:47:35 GMT -5
This a cool thread.
You have done some really nice work it looks like.
How much time do you have into this? I'd love to do some thing similar. But I'm not sure I have the time to do it justice.
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 24, 2010 21:58:03 GMT -5
I haven't kept track of the time I have in it. It is taking a lot longer to finish than it should. I try to fit bow making time in whenever I can. If I had to guess, I would say I'll have 40-50 hours in it easy. If I wasn't using sinew, it would be done by now. The sinew adds a lot of time.
Making bows is well worth the time. It is very rewarding, and addicting. I don't go anywhere without a bow building book or magazine to read.
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