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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Rich Evans on February 18, 2010, 10:38:00 PM

Title: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Rich Evans on February 18, 2010, 10:38:00 PM
Here is my yew flatbow I have been working on literally for years.  I got this piece from Mark Smeltzer (spelling?) several years ago. I was really scared of this yew. I guess I treated it like it was something very special.  It is 66" NTN, 54 @ 28".  Need to do some final sanding and put a finish coat on it. Don't have a full draw pic as of yet. I will post more pics when I get the finish and leather wrap on it.

  (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2252.jpg)

  (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/100_2251.jpg)
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Silent Bear on February 18, 2010, 11:19:00 PM
good job, cant wait for the full draw pic
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Pat B on February 18, 2010, 11:48:00 PM
Looks good. Also looking forward to full draw.
  Isn't yew a nice wood to work with...and it makes a very nice selfbow!  d;^)
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: carver on February 19, 2010, 03:46:00 AM
nice one, Rich.  I've made a fair few bows of pacific yew, but i have yet to put a rawhide backing on any of them.  (check out my thread from yesterday, english yew wonky bow).  

Do you by any chance have pics of the process of applying the rawhide?  I'd love to see those?  Or simply pictures of the back with the rawhide on it?  Front shot?

So far i find yew flatbows take more set than yew bows with a d-shaped cross-section, rounded belly, "narrow and deep of core" rather than wide and thin.  Any thoughts on this?

Again, nice one.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Roy Steele on February 19, 2010, 11:14:00 PM
Caever I've made a couple yew bows[3].Set comes from moisture,excess stress on your limbs.I built like my white wood bows.Keep them 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 wide mine were 2 64" and a 66" I put them I a hot box as I built them.Low heat and cracked the lid.Stay a few poinds under your target weight untill the last couple inchs.Untill you hit your target weight.Made them for other people all 3 of mine were shooters when they left.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: carver on February 19, 2010, 11:31:00 PM
thanks Roy.  i have a yew longbow 1" wide at the grip, 72" long, took almost no set, pulls about 80# @ 29".  Never even occured to me to make the flatbows as wide as 1 3/4".  Have to try that in the future.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on February 21, 2010, 10:53:00 AM
Rich,
Good to hear from you here. You're doing a great job.
I have only had the time to lurk a littler here and there. I moved to N. Utah and am just now getting settled in enough to start building again.
Keep in touch. I'm anxious to see it complete.
Take care,

Mark
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 21, 2010, 06:42:00 PM
Looks great! Jawge
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: bigcountry on February 21, 2010, 08:25:00 PM
Fine piece of yew you got.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Rich Evans on February 21, 2010, 11:23:00 PM
This was a tough bow to tiller. I think the upper limb is a bit stiffer than the lower one. The upper has a bit of a whoopti do in it and made the tillerin a bit tough.  Perhaps it just looks stiff to me. I am gonna leave it that way and hope for the best. This wood is a pleasure to work with. I probably will do another out of yew in the future. I like how it shoots, its very smooth to draw and absolutely no hand shock. Hits where I look.

Mark, I sent you a PM.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on February 22, 2010, 08:08:00 PM
Hey Rich, no PM yet.

Mark
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: shamus on February 23, 2010, 06:54:00 AM
looking good.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: SoNevada Archer on February 23, 2010, 06:58:00 AM
Looking good! Can't wait to see you shoot it...
Bring it over!
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Rich Evans on March 15, 2010, 10:52:00 PM
Finished the bow. came in just over 50@28". prairie rattlers installed over rawhide backing. i think 5 coats of wipe on poly. leather grip wrap from a coach purse i found for $3.00.  Lots of good leather in those things.  Hope you guys like it. Thanks again Mark.  

 (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/YEW%20selfbow/100_2264.jpg)

 (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/YEW%20selfbow/100_2262.jpg)


 (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/YEW%20selfbow/100_2261.jpg)

 (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/YEW%20selfbow/100_2260.jpg)


 (http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad190/primitiveguy73/YEW%20selfbow/100_2263.jpg)
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Osagetree on March 16, 2010, 05:00:00 AM
:archer:    :clapper:    :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: frank bullitt on March 16, 2010, 07:34:00 AM
Rich, nice job! Wally Miles would be proud of you!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: ishi1archer on March 16, 2010, 01:13:00 PM
Nice looking bow, like the skins!!
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: bigcountry on March 16, 2010, 01:43:00 PM
Man, I hope to try another yew bow.  Broke my first one.  Tried to make a 1" wide round belly bow.

Could you throw out your width and handle length.

Does it shoot well?  I think next time I will try to make more of a flat bow like you made.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Rich Evans on March 17, 2010, 12:02:00 AM
It is about 1.5" wide. The handle is 5" with fades about 2" long.  I could have made the handle a bit shorter, but I have big hands and the 5" handle is just more comfortable to me.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: carver on March 19, 2010, 12:59:00 AM
i like it.  could've used a little more love outside the fades, but i can see you stayed away from that knot.  Is that pacific yew?
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Igor on March 20, 2010, 07:21:00 AM
very nice

Thanks for sharing!


><>

Glenn
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Adam Keiper on March 20, 2010, 08:46:00 AM
Looks great!  Nice work.    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: glenbo on March 25, 2010, 05:37:00 AM
Looks great! I never layed my hands on a piece of Yew but now Im itchen
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: SoNevada Archer on March 25, 2010, 07:23:00 PM
Looks really good Rich!
Can't wait to see how it shoots!   :clapper:
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: walkabout on March 25, 2010, 09:13:00 PM
great work, love the color of yew.
Title: Re: Yew selfbow with rawhide backing...DONE
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on March 26, 2010, 10:52:00 PM
Hey Rich,
Very nice, I love it. I'm working on a sinew backed Yew right now.  But it's really slow with so much work and all. I think I'll be looking for Copperheads for mine.
Great job!
We should get together sometime.
BTW, I still have that Blue glass point you made me, it's under glass in my collection though.
Take care,
Mark