Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Sarah on August 14, 2008, 05:21:00 PM
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It's been a long time coming, and some of you knew about this, but I can't punish Dave (LMCHIEF@WORK) anymore by not posting about the Selfbow he showed me how to build.
I'll start at the beginning...
I came to Iowa for a summer job with the DNR. Upon moving in, I decided I wanted to learn archery (because the guys I live with bowhunt). I had a brief instructional session with a local compound dealer, but decided I wanted to shoot traditional instead. After a lot of help from the kind folks of Tradgang, I met Dave and his family (all trad-shooters living just a mile or two away from me).
They toted me along to a shoot in Lakeville, and on the way home the conversation turned to selfbows. Dave asked if I was interested in building one, and how could I not jump at the opportunity? Remember, at this point I'd only been shooting for about a month.
A couple of weeks pass (and I bugged him a bit about his offer) and finally I got my first session with the osage stave.
The rest is pretty much history. I scraped and rasped and sanded (like dave said "You take a piece of wood, and then you take away everything that doesn't look like a bow"). Put over 40 hours into the pretty thing. Didn't get a single splinter (though Dave did every time he touched the unfinished stave). Would you believe the thing didn't blow up? (however, it was pretty ornery about getting down to tiller and weight.
The finished bow is 40# at my draw length of 27"
We reflexed the limbs backwards over a call (8"). Immediately afterwards, this appeared to make the bow gain 10# or so, but after leaving it strung overnight is was basically back to finish weight.
I overlaid the limb tips with walnut, and Dave taught me how to make a bowstring, add the serving and nocking point, even how to fletch my own arrows!
Can't wait to try my hand at hunting with the beauty this fall (I've never hunted before - with anything - in my life).
I can't thank Dave and his family enough for putting up with me these last couple of weeks (Dave is helping me build a knife too!). The kindness they've shown to me (a complete stranger) has been mirrored by many others on this forum. You're all great people, and you make it easy for someone like me to love this sport. These skills and lessons are priceless...but you already knew that. A big thanks also to everyone who gave me advice or supplies, you people are great and I can't wait to pay it forward.
About the only problem we ran into was that I put the rest on the wrong side of the grip...good thing I shoot lefty! :D
So traddies, please give a warm welcome to Meadow Sweet! You can view the full photoset of my adventures in bowyering (with full commentary)here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paintpoppy/sets/72157606423073592/
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2763014565_477889a6d9_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2763015565_46df940b7b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2763859930_b493b9c391.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2726504395_7d69a5c5df.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2685742952_bb400dd3ef.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2685740044_918247446a.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
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nice self bow you got there!
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Wish I had that much talent :thumbsup:
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beautiful bow!
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Very nice! You are shooting with the right....er proper hand too! Good job! Mike
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Congradulations, what an acomplishment! I have had more than a dozen guys come over who wanted to make a selfbow, only two of this bunch actually completed a bow.
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That looks great. Good job Sarah. You've accomplished so much in so little time it's amazing. :clapper:
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Way to go, Sarah. You did a nice job on it. Fun, ain't it? Pat
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Sarah, Outstanding you have natural talent young lady!
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WOW ARE YOU SURE YOUR NOT AN INDIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VERY NICE INDEED
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That is an awesome bow. Congratulations! Jawge
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Wow! Nice work!!
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True grit. You go girl!
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Looks great!
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Nice job Sarah! I know another "Sarah" that makes and shoot bows.(my daughter) :bigsmyl: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to go!!
David
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:thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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:notworthy:
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Gotta love that osage!! Nice looking bow Sarah!!
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Nice job!! :jumper: now you got a sweet new bow!! :jumper:
Shawn...
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Way to go, Sarah!! Good Luck with it this fall!!
David
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Nice job Sarah, fine lookin bow.
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Well, Sarah,
You're one bow up on me!! Good Job!!!
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That is as nice a first bow I have seen anybody build! I would be ashamed to put my first up against it. Now when are you building the second.
Mike
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Nicely done Sarah! Good for Dave and Family!
When do you move back to PA,Sarah?
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outstanding well done!!! :clapper: :clapper: kudos dave and family
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thats a beauty sarah you should get a lot of fun out of that one.
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WOW!! Good job by all! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Sweeeeeet...bow there Sarah. Really nice job. Good luck with your journey.
bhfp
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Sarah,
That is one great selfbow! Not many can get such a nice bow on the first try, well at least I didn't.
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Lord, gal, if I had your drive and talent, I would be retired by now, living in Tahiti, eating mangos and painting Polynesian abstracts with my toes. You are flat-out amazing!
Dave has certainly led you down the right road. He is a gem, and has walked the walk that we talk about a lot here.
Beautiful bow, beautiful name for it as well. No Meadow Rue here! :D
Congratulations to all of you, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in your adventurous explorations.
Killdeer :wavey:
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GREAT JOB! I'm jealous :clapper: :clapper:
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I am amazed! That is a beautiful bow, and from someone just starting out? Great job Sarah! :notworthy: :notworthy:
Stand tall girl - you've got a right to be proud of that one!
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Wow.....you really jumped in with both feet in the fire. Great job!
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Outstanding Sarah! Squirrel season opens here in Indiana tomorrow. Wish you were nearby to hunt with me.
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You go girl. that is a nice job. Careful building these things can get addicting. You just keep building them until one comes out perfect. Good luck with the hunting.
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Thanks all for your comments. It's easy to do good work when you have a good teacher. :)
I forgot to mention a little detail in my first post...
Dave had warned me all along that if the bow blew up it would be crushing, "like losing a child," he said. What he didn't warn me about was the sheer joy I'd feel when it was done. After the grip was sewn and we strung it up finished for the first time, I tried not to show it, but I was choking up.
Bona: I'm actually going to be passing through Illinois on Sunday/Monday on my way home. I'm stopping in Joliet Sunday night.
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Outstanding job young lady. Enjoy the journey you have just started. :archer:
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i will hunt with ya Bona squirrel hunting is fun the only trouble is theys to quick. :biglaugh:
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Sarah, I...we think it's so cool that you've made your own bow. I saw your work the other day and finally was able to show my wife your finished pictures and progress photos. We both say congrats!!!
Shot straight!
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Great job on the bow! :clapper:
You should be aware though that there is NO cure for this addiction! :D
V-Archer
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Nice job Sarah. Bow looks great
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Sarah, Great job! I see by your pictures that you seem to have the entire homemade package. Very nice knife too :thumbsup: Doc
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Nice job Sarah. There is something special about shooting a bow you made yourself.
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Great job. Looks a lot better than my first.
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I cant wait to see the harvest pics. Outsanding all the way around.
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Sarah, seems to me you will have to pass not 3 miles from my house if you take I69. Your going to PA right?
Jeff, Amen to that!
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Yep, taking 80 all the way home.
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Beautiful bow.
Steve
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Nice job Sarah!
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Looks great !
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Bona: not having looked at the route I'm taking in detail (i tend not to plan road trips very well)...how close will 80 take me to your house?
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80 is a good bit north of me I believe.
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Great job on your bow Sarah, and welcome to BA (bowyers anonymous). There is no cure, but we enjoy supporting each other in our illness!
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Great job you have a talent, nice looking bow, I bet you will enjoy shooting it for a long while.
Jim
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Looks nice, good work.
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Thanks everyone! :)
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Really nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I want to build one now! :archer:
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To underscore Dave's generosity and awesomeness, here are some photos of the knife he helped me finish building today. :bigsmyl:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2768223537_af14133809.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2769069568_1973d10347.jpg)
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Again, nice work. :thumbsup:
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Great looking bow lots of luck hunting.
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Sarah you are quite a craftsm ah woman :)
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Wow you really got talent :notworthy: Nice work.
Steve
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Very nice job, it is good to see a young lady interested in making such fine tools.
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Sarah, I was whacked out! I69 runs N and S. I don't know what I was thinking! I would like to meet you but don't know how it would work out. What days will you be traveling?
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Ah, just read back a few and see you are going through IN probably Mon.
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Bona, I'll be stopping in Joliet Sunday night and making my way the rest of the way through IL on Monday. PM Sent.
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Awesome Sarah! Beautiful work on both the knife and the bow.
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Alright everyone, this gal's back home in central PA. Life's going to be a mess these next couple of days while I move in etc. so forgive me if I'm not around much. I'll likely be posting looking for a shooting buddy sometime soon though!