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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:08:00 PM

Title: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:08:00 PM

Hello everyone,

This week I built a new longbow and took a bunch of pics along the way...so here come another build along for those who want to see it.  

First the specs, I am using a mild R/D form.  The handle is teardropped, made of bubinga and cocobolo...and centered horizontally in the form.  

The laminations consist of:

.040 white glass
.110 - 0.020 hard maple superaction
.110 - 0.020 hard maple superaction
.110 - 0.020 hard maple superaction
.060 Padauk
.040 clear glass

  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics189.jpg)

  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics192.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:10:00 PM

Dry fit a few times to get the riser to fit

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics190.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:11:00 PM

Then apply smooth on to each lam and begin the glue up.  I put a 1/8 strip of rubber between the form and bottom laminations then used clamps and rubber bands along the form.  I protect the top laminations with a piece of scrap MDF and use a couple piece of thin spring steel on the riser/fade outs

  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics191.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:14:00 PM

Here it is all clamped up and then into the hot box it goes.

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics193.jpg)

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics194.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:15:00 PM

Here it is out of the oven

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics196.jpg)


and after glue cleanup on the sander

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics197.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:17:00 PM

I then put a new piece of tape on and layout the limbs, cut them on the bandsaw and add tip overlays.  The overlays conists of .030 maple S/A, Padauk, .040 white glass

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics202.jpg)

Then sanded

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics203.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:18:00 PM

Tips were about 5/8 in this pic...i brought them down just a tad after some more sanding

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics211.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:20:00 PM

Cut the shelf, 1 inch above center

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics204.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: mwmwmb on January 04, 2009, 02:21:00 PM

looking good. i hope to try this sometime.

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:22:00 PM

Added overlays on the side for a thumb rest...laminations again were maple, Padauk and white glass...firs time I tried this....

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics205.jpg)

And then sanded

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics206.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:23:00 PM

Then overlays on the back

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics207.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:23:00 PM

And a little finger tracing

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics208.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:25:00 PM

Checking for tiller...Thanks for the advice Diamondback

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics209.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:33:00 PM

The bottom limb was too strong and I was getting handshock...so after fixing that I finish sanded the bow down to 320 and put on a coat of Thunderbird epoxy to seal the pores.  Here is a pic of the bow after the first brush coat

  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics227.jpg)

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics232.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:39:00 PM

This morning a sanded down the first coat and I will likely put another sealer coat on and then spray two coats of TB finish...I have 3 bows ready now for final finish...so i can kock them all out at once.

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics235.jpg)

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics237.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:41:00 PM

It turned out pretty decent...possibly a little ugly in the handle...but it is defitely different than all my others.  It is 54# @ 28"

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/Bowerpics238.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 02:46:00 PM

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: Aeronut on January 04, 2009, 03:41:00 PM

Looks good Brad.   :thumbsup:

Dennis

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: Ian johnson on January 04, 2009, 03:45:00 PM

looks great I like the thumbrest on the side

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: sulphur on January 04, 2009, 03:52:00 PM

looks pretty good to me!  how a pic at full draw?

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: Diamondback59 on January 04, 2009, 05:09:00 PM

brad  glad to help ya on the tiller hope it shoots good  ur turning out some real nice one s  brock

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: Greg Szalewski on January 04, 2009, 05:38:00 PM

Very nice bow Brad. I especially like the tips. Please tell me about the Thunderbird epoxy. Why did you use that, is it easy to apply, where do you get it?
GS

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 04, 2009, 06:03:00 PM

well i used TB epoxy because it is supposed to be the most durable finish out there...i used many others before it and they did not hold up...once i spent all week applying tru oil then smoothing it with steel wool, then applying, etc...only to hit the door onthe way out of the shop and scuff a tip..

I just started using this finish so I havent been able to give it a full durability test but...it does go on farily easy and sands nicely before it it fully cured.  

I will apply it by mixing a batch and applying a sealer coat, then sand, then another, sand...now the pores should be fully sealed...write on the specs (i.e. 54@ 28)  then spray on 2-3 thin coats.  

You get it from tbirdarchery.com

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: Apex Predator on January 04, 2009, 07:22:00 PM

Looking good man!

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: mmgrode on January 04, 2009, 08:22:00 PM

Great job, Brad!  Thanks for sharing that with us!

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: SoNevada Archer on January 07, 2009, 12:47:00 AM

Very cool!
Now lets see it shooting an arrow!!!

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 07, 2009, 07:53:00 AM

Will do.  I will get full draw pics and a short video of how it shoots up this weekend.

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: razorback on January 07, 2009, 02:11:00 PM

If the handle is too ugly for you, I have real bad eyes and it wouldn't bother me at all.
  :smileystooges:    :bigsmyl:

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: SteveD on January 08, 2009, 05:12:00 AM

Beautiful Job. Looks great

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 05:13:00 PM

Pics at full draw and shooting an arrow....

what do you guys see? anything... constructive critisism is greatly appreciated.  When I first had this built it had quite a bit of handshock as the bottom limb was too heavy..that handshock is now deminished...but i am wondering if i need to take just a bit more off that bottom limb.

  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Paduak%20Longbow/DSCN0043.jpg)

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 05:14:00 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgpoj-DP3w

Title: Re: Padauk Longbow build along
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 05:15:00 PM

Might have to click on "watch is high quality" in the bottom right hand of the video...