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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:31:00 PM

Title: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:31:00 PM

I just got this finished today.  I took a few pics along the way.  This was an experiment that actually worked.  I had a 1 inch piece of walnut and a 1.25 inch piece of hard maple left over that i was going to throw away and thought I might as well try to make a bow out of it.  I also had a piece of mesquite I bought for $3 which (i was going to try to use for a riser but thought it may look good on this bow to beef up the handle as it would have been so small without it).  

So the $3 mesquite, $3 worth of epoxy, $2 worth of finish and $2 in string material/arrow shelf... i ended up with a half decent bow..I never tried an ELB before so this was a good experiment.

First I glued those two scraps and tried to give is a bit of R/D..(it took quite a bit of set regardless but worth a try).

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/Bowerpics133.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:32:00 PM

Now unclamped you can see the ever so slight R/D...but like I said it didnt matter in the finished product

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/Bowerpics149.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:33:00 PM

I glued on that mesquite to beef up the handle a little

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/Bowerpics150.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:34:00 PM

After i sanded that smooth I also did this to the front and back as well

Here is a pic of it rough sanded

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/Bowerpics156.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:37:00 PM

Had the camera in the house...so we missed all the work but I also added mesq. tip overlays and tillered it down to a very skinny, almost entirely round bow.  This was the first time I used Thunderbird as well, so I sanded it to 220, applied 3 coats of TB with a brush (waiting 1- 2 days in between and sanding with 320 ist coat, then 400 second and 3rd.  Followed up with 0000 steel wool and 2 coats of paste wax...then buffed it out.  I am very happy with the ease of sandign on the TB..This is a decent finish even without getting out the spray equipment.  

 (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/DSCN0034.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:39:00 PM

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/DSCN0036.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:39:00 PM

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/DSCN0035.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 04:40:00 PM

Havent had it on the scale, but I am assuming 58# @28.  


  (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/elb%20pics/DSCN0039.jpg)

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: Rich Evans on January 11, 2009, 05:19:00 PM

nice bow, I like the contrasting woods.

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: Diamondback59 on January 11, 2009, 08:14:00 PM

turned out nice  brad !!!  brock

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: Lost Arra on January 11, 2009, 09:19:00 PM

How long is it?

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 10:33:00 PM

68" n to n

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: Chuck Hoopes on January 11, 2009, 10:45:00 PM

Nice job, Iam lik'n it. Whats it shoot like? Iam guessing slow, stable, and consistent.--just how I like em.

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: bjansen on January 11, 2009, 10:58:00 PM

Thank you...Its shoots pretty decent actually..but overall as you guessed...The draw weight is fairly heavy compared to my others...so the speed is not too bad (compared to what i am used to with the same arrows)...it is very lightweight and has very little handshock....but take the string off and it has considerable string follow..(beign so skinny with those woods).

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: soopernate on January 12, 2009, 09:42:00 AM

Tiller seems a little funny lookin to me...hmmmmgood job though

Title: Re: The $10 ELB board bow
Post by: SoNevada Archer on January 12, 2009, 02:22:00 PM

Looks great! Have fun with it!