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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:16:00 PM

Title: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:16:00 PM: I took some pics of my recent project..i havent started tillering it yet but it looks good so far. I had a dryad blank which broke...so i thought i would try to build a similar one.

This will be a bamboo backing, .125 fast flex bamboo core then a .280 lemonwood belly, with pupleheart and padauk overlays.

First the form, mild R/D
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/BBL/DSCN0087.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:19:00 PM: Then glued up and clamped...I used a scrap piece of bamboo on top as a pressure strip (as the round underside matched the crowned bamboo backing...and made it clamp easier...I used Urac 185

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/BBL/DSCN0088.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:22:00 PM: Now out of the oven and ready to shape..

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0092.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:23:00 PM: I glued in a 14 inch .160 wedge in the handle to stiffen it up.

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0093.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:25:00 PM: Handle overlays...5 strips alternating purpleheart/padauk

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0095.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:26:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0097.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:26:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0103.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:27:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0104.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:28:00 PM: Tip overlays

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/DSCN0106.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 22, 2009, 10:29:00 PM: and a rough sanded handle...

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/BBL/DSCN0107.jpg)

hopefully i will get to tiller this week..
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: Diamondback59 on February 22, 2009, 11:49:00 PM: looking good brad should be fast brock
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: Cody Roiter on February 27, 2009, 10:31:00 PM: Great looking bow my friend.. But can I ask where in the world did u by the lemonwood .. Cause I would like to get my hand on some......

Cody
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on February 28, 2009, 11:30:00 PM: Thanks Cody. Well I was sifting through the exotic bin at the local lumberyard and they had one lemonwood board there...I am sure it was there for a while...so i thought i would try it. It was expensive though...i think $21 a foot...I estimate the piece in this bow was about $15 or so...
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: sulphur on March 01, 2009, 09:17:00 PM: bjansen you always do the coolest projects. love those colors. can't wait to see more!
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: Dave Bowers on March 01, 2009, 09:41:00 PM: Can't wait to see how this one turns out :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 03:44:00 PM: Alright I have it all completed..

It turned out to be 67", about 45# at 28", a little too light.

Things I will do differently next time:

1. I used the bamboo backing, .125 fast flexs bamboo then lemonwood...the .125 fast flex was too thick as there is not much lemonwood left after tillering (next time I will try .060 to .090 fast flex)

2. Made the mistake of taking too much off right near the handle upon initial tillering...huge hinge...took a while to work out and that is the reason the weight is so low (im still an amatuer!)

3. I tried to dry the bow out in the heat box (around 100 degrees), and when i got it out 10 hours later...a split right down the middle of the bamboo parallel with the handle...dang it

here come some pics, sorry i dont have any full draw..i am home alone this week
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 03:56:00 PM: Also pictured is my first self bow, completed this morning. Thanks to Diamondback for the advice and the stave...I really like this bow, and i made it heavy 62# @ 28", 65.5" nock to nock.

I put rawhide on the back and cocobolo tips, 2 coats of TB with a brush and then 2 spray coats. Suede handle and floppy rest.

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0150.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 03:58:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0145-1.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 04:01:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0149.jpg)

The BBL's form need to be modified as it has too much deflex after being worked in. Here is a pic of these immediatly after destrung. The hickory actually kept about 1/2" of natural reflex.

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0153.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 04:22:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0129.jpg)

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0131.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: bjansen on March 08, 2009, 04:22:00 PM: (http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/selfbows/DSCN0133.jpg)
Title: Re: BBL build
Post by: Pat B on March 08, 2009, 05:49:00 PM: Very nicely made bows. The unbraced profile shows they are well tillered but not quite like a full draw pic.