Off season

[bowmaker48]

My off season project. Working on building a hickory long bow. I will add more pics as progress dictates. I plan on using it to harvest a deer next season.

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[Tennessee Lead]

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Looking forward to this thread!


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[tree_ghost]

Oh wow! I can't wait to see this thread unfold! This is a dream of mine...build my own bow, string, arrow, fletching, and broadhead then harvest a deer with it.

Thanks for allowing us to tag along!



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[user 972]

OH, YEAH!!!!!! :tu: keep the pics coming.

 

[tree_ghost]

Question....what do you look for (or don't look for) when selecting the piece of wood from the tree?


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[bowmaker48]

Question....what do you look for (or don't look for) when selecting the piece of wood from the tree?


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I look for a straight tree with about 18 feet free of branches. The tree can't be too small because I don't want the back of the bow to have too much of an arc. I try to get two 6-7 foot long sections from the tree and each piece should give me 4-5 rough pieces to make the staves. I look for and guess that the tree has a straight grain. If the grain twists, I can't use the stave. Makes good fire wood though. After taking the bark off, you have to seal the ends with varnish so the wood dries evenly and does not crack. Hopefully it doesn't twist when drying.


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[bowmaker48]

Oh wow! I can't wait to see this thread unfold! This is a dream of mine...build my own bow, string, arrow, fletching, and broadhead then harvest a deer with it.

Thanks for allowing us to tag along!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quotes To be honest, I make the bow and string. I do not have the talent or knowledge yet to do arrows. I will use cedar arrows from cabelas and zwiki broadheads.


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[TnTurk]

Very cool. I will definitely be watching to see how this turns out. Best of luck.

 

[Shag]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I tried one hickory stave and put hours into it with the draw knife. Then I got impatient and took the belt sander to it. Hours of work ruined in a matter if minutes lol. Lesson learned. My next bow building attempt will be a hickory backed Osage board bow. Have all the components just haven't had the time.

Keep us posted. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[bowmaker48]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I tried one hickory stave and put hours into it with the draw knife. Then I got impatient and took the belt sander to it. Hours of work ruined in a matter if minutes lol. Lesson learned. My next bow building attempt will be a hickory backed Osage board bow. Have all the components just haven't had the time.

Keep us posted. Looking forward to the pics.

Yep, I have lost a few bows near the end of the project. I was tillering, and then snap. All that work gone in an instant. The hardest part is being patient.


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[user 972]

The hardest part is being patient.

and that is why I haven't already tried to make my own. I have a tendency to start off slow then I start rushing.

 

[bowmaker48]

As I make my bows, I try to think of a name for them.
One bow I made for a dear friend who got me into bow hunting 30 years ago, I named Slayer. Deer and elk virtually jump onto his arrows. His freezer is never empty.
One bow I made for my oldest daughter is named Mocking Jay. Yes, she loved the books.
One bow I made for my youngest daughter is named Bowie. Only because she likes to name things by their name and add ie to the end of the name.

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[FOX FIRE]

Sounds like a fun something to learn, have had thoughts about a board bow for a while, figured if I screwed it up at least I could make a trip to the big blue god of building supplies and pick another board for a restart, as opposed to the time involved of felling a tree, splitting out staves, then drying them for months.

cool thread,keep us posted.

 

[bowmaker48]

Slow and steady.




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[Stykbow]

I'm tuned in. Really want to see the finished product.


Jack of all trades, but master of none!

 

[bowmaker48]

And now, a grip.



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[Shag]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Looking good sofar!

I had to cut a nice, slick little hickory at work last week. Way too good to leave laying to rot. Sealed the ends up the day I cut it. Finally got around to splitting it today. Made 4 nice looking staves...2 of completely knot free, the other 2 have a couple tiny pin knots. 77" long, plenty of extra incase it checks on the ends...widest is 5", narrowest is 3.5"

I need to try my hand at that Osage board bow while these staves are drying. Just haven't had time.

Looking forward to more pictures!

 

[bowmaker48]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Looking good sofar!

I had to cut a nice, slick little hickory at work last week. Way too good to leave laying to rot. Sealed the ends up the day I cut it. Finally got around to splitting it today. Made 4 nice looking staves...2 of completely knot free, the other 2 have a couple tiny pin knots. 77" long, plenty of extra incase it checks on the ends...widest is 5", narrowest is 3.5"

I need to try my hand at that Osage board bow while these staves are drying. Just haven't had time.

Looking forward to more pictures!

I have not been brave enough to try Osage.

I would say over 50% of my wood was used in the fire pit or smoker.


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[bowmaker48]

Boys, I know it does not look like much but this is after a few hours of filing. My triceps are getting toned.
I don't have a bench that I can use a draw knife on.


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[hillbillyfab]

I bet they are. Looks good and thanks for sharing. :tu:

 

[Shag]

Looking good! I'd have whiskey in that glass if I did that much filing!

The last stave I worked on, I used a ratchet strap to strap it down to the tailgate of my old work truck so I could take the drawknife to it. I plan on building some sort of shaving horse before my next bow attempt.

 

[tree_ghost]

Please forgive my ignorance...but are you filing down the stave to achieve the desired thickness of the bow?


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[bowmaker48]

Please forgive my ignorance...but are you filing down the stave to achieve the desired thickness of the bow?


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Yes.


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[bowmaker48]

Please forgive my ignorance...but are you filing down the stave to achieve the desired thickness of the bow?


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Yes.


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It has been awhile. Taken time to get to this point. Now the real work begins.


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[user 972]

i'm no expert. looks like the right limb needs some more shaved off. is that your top limb or bottom limb?

 

[bowmaker48]

i'm no expert. looks like the right limb needs some more shaved off. is that your top limb or bottom limb?

I am at 50 lbs right now. First look at tillering. Still have a long way to go. One limb had a natural deflex to the tip.
Thinking about making it my bottom limb.


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[user 972]

is 50# your target weight?

correct me if i'm wrong. my understanding is with self bows, one can not expect the upper and lower limbs to come out perfectly matched. what matters is 'how's she shoot?'

 

[bowmaker48]

is 50# your target weight?

correct me if i'm wrong. my understanding is with self bows, one can not expect the upper and lower limbs to come out perfectly matched. what matters is 'how's she shoot?'

Yes 50# is my target draw weight. The idea is to get close but as you say, if it shoots straight I'm good. I have made some where the tillering strung is bad but beautiful at full draw.


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[bowmaker48]

The tillering is coming along well. Trying to fix the heavy spots on each limb to eliminate uneven limb bend. You can see the right limb is a little heavy. 50# draw here. I am going to shorten the string soon. Then we will really see how she draws.


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[bowmaker48]

I have shortened the string. I have a tough knot and some uneven thick sections to work with.



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