Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: jsweka on December 19, 2010, 04:12:00 PM
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I told my wife the only thing I wanted for Christmas was laminations for a new longbow so back around Thanksgiving I sent Kenny an order. (Man, Kenny has some quick service and excellent quality!!!) This bow will be a straight limbed Hill style longbow. I've always admired the limited edition Sirocco on the Howard Hill website with the black glass on the back and clear glass on the belly over something light in color. So for this bow I went with black glass for the back and curly maple under clear glass on the belly.
The bow will be 68" and I'm shooting for around 55 - 60 lbs at 28". Based on previous builds my formula was as follows
0.050 black glass
0.070 actionboo
0.080 actionboo
0.080 actionboo
0.110 curly maple (0.002 taper)
0.050 clear glass
I also went with a cocobolo for the riser.
This past Friday, I headed over to my Dad's place to start building beacuase he has a much nicer workshop than I do and being an avid woodworker has just about any powertool you would ever need for bow building.
Here's a pic of everything laid out ready for glue up.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1727.jpg)
I use smooth-on and the airhose method for gluing up and here's a pic of my laminations in the form and the air hose inflated.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1729.jpg)
Here's a closeup of the riser area in the form. You can see I screw on a couple pieces of plywood around the fadeouts to keep everything from slipping once the air hose is inflated.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1730.jpg)
I threw it in the hotbox about 8:30 Friday night, set my alarm for 4:30 Saturday morning, woke up, turned off the heat and went back to bed for a couple hours while it cooled.
Here's a pic right off the form. Lots of glue boogers to clean up.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1731.jpg)
And here it is cleaned up. And a closer view of the riser - gotta love that cocobola
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1732.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1733.jpg)
I like to draw my centerline and profile of the bow on the masking tape over the back glass prior to glue-up. Everything stayed in place, so I was good to go. I have had bows in the past slip a little and in these cases, I redraw the centerline and profile.
It was then off to the ocsillating spindle sander to shape the limbs. I use a spindle sader hooked to a shop vac because it takes material off in a hurry, keeps nasty dust down, and I don't ruin one of my Dad's bandsaw blades. Once I get the profile close with the spindle sander, I use a belt sander to finish the profile. The spindle sander is great at getting to the profile quickly, but can leave the edge a little wavy, so the belt sander smoothes it up.
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I then glued on my material for the limb tips - black glass/curly maple/cocobolo. Since I don't like to mess with smooth-on twice, I used a superglue-like stuff called Kwik It (3 Rivers sells it). I've had good luck with it in previous bows.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1734.jpg)
Once the tip overlays were set, it was time to do the string grooves. A while back Marty or Kenny posted a pic of jig they made for indexing the string grooves and I made something similar. It worked great!!
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1737.jpg)
Here's the grooves cut in.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1738.jpg)
Put a string on it to figure out which would be the top and bottom limbs. One limb was 1/4" weaker than the other, so that one was designated "TOP".
Here's the strung profile at brace height.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1740.jpg)
So now the real fun started - working on the riser.
Here's my shelf cut in.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1752.jpg)
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And here's some rough shaping on the riser and grip area. It's going to have about a 1/8" dish to it.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1754.jpg)
So that was a pretty good amount of work on it for this weekend. My Steelers are on now, so I'll pick back up on this bow tomorrow night and post some more pics of my progress.
Hope you enjoy...
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That cocobola does look nice! Can't wait to see it with some finish-Good job.
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Oh ,thats a very nice piece of coco. Love these builds. Always something to learn. Thanks for takin us along. How did you cut you shelf John?
Ed :thumbsup:
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I'll be watching this one, thanks for sharing.
Jeff
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Gonna be a nice looking bow.
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Thanks Guys.
Ed - To cut my shelf, I mark a line across the side of the riser where it will be and then use a hacksaw to cut perpendicular to the riser on that line and stop at the depth I want (about 3/16" from center). Then I get out the elbow grease and rasp for the sight window. The cut with the hack say gives me a nice clean shelf that is tough to get just using a rasp alone.
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Looking great so far!
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I like that jig for string grooves! Why didnt I think of that?? Looks great!
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thats a nice simple looking build. i like when you glass guys make great bows look so easy.
-hov
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Did some more work on her tonight in my crappy basement/workshop (Dad's shop is so much nicer.) I shaped the limb tips and did some more shaping on the riser. I'm pretty much finished shaping things, so now comes the boring part - lots and lots of sanding. This is where I start to get impatient, but any rough areas or tool marks that don't get sanded out really show up once the finish is applied.
Here's one of the limb tips.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1757.jpg)
And here's a couple pics of the riser. I just had to take off the masking tape to see what was underneath.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1755.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1756.jpg)
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Looks real good. I like that maple under the clear glass. The clean simple lines of hill style bows are starting to intrigue me. Might have to look into getting my hands on one soon.
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That's dead sexy. Can't wait to see her finished. Totally agree on the tooling marks. Gotta eradicate all or it just says novice. Beautiful work.
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Lookin real sharp!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That nock jig thingy is all Marty!! :thumbsup:
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Great job! Love the nock jig... way better than what I came up with and I'm sure one will appear in my shop by the time I get to that point on the next bow. Congratulations.
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I don't have any new pics to post tonight. Just did a lot of sanding - 80, 150, 220, and 320 grit. Figured I set it down, give it a rest, and take a good look tomorrow night to find any blemishes that remain.
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:thumbsup:
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Got it all sanded and put on the first coat of finish tonight. I use Minwax wipe on poly and rub it down with steel wool between coats. I'll apply 6 - 7 coats.
Not the greatest pic, but here it is.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1760.jpg)
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Beautiful bow John. Man that riser really stands out with that black glass. Very nice work!!!
take care,
Ed :thumbsup: :clapper:
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jweska, about how much do you have invested in the laminations? and total cost of the bow
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DXH - I've got just shy of $180 in this bow. That includes the laminations, glass, riser block, smooth-on, and shipping from kennym. His prices are very reasonable, the quality is outstanding, and service is very quick. I checked the thicknesses of the lams when they got here and they were dead on perfect the entire length of each lam. I will be doing business with kennym in the future.
Now this cost doesn't include the materials for the hot box and form, or tools. With each bow you build the total cost goes down because you already have your hot box and form. And nobody can build just one - it's addicting. I've built a total of 6 longbows (a couple for friends) off this form so far, so I figure right now each bow has cost a total of roughly $210. The decreasing total cost of each bow I build is how I justify building another to my wife - I'm saving her money ;)
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that is a sweet looking bow. cant wait to see the final product and hear how she shoots. im still trying to talk my wife into letting me build one like it. i love the hill style bows.
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I've been out of town over the past week visiting family over the holidays and doing some hunting with my flintlock (Man, is a longbow so much nicer to carry in the woods!) I got back home this afternoon and the last coat of finish had a good long time to dry. I cut a piece of leather for the grip and got that on using contact cement and a "baseball" stitch. I got a little artistic with the ends of the stitching and added some wooden beads. I then added the shelft and side plate from the same piece of leather I got the grip out of. Added the string and beaver balls. I would have liked to have gotten some outside pics of the final product, but it was dark out by the time I got everything on it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for some shooting tomorrow.
So here's some finished pics. It ended up at 63# at 28".
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1808.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1809.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1813.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1819.jpg)
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just purty love it
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very nice bow and build . always wondered how you build a glass bow . not much on tillering though it must come out near tillered when you cut it out. love the Hill style
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SWEET!! Nice job bro!!
Do you find it hard to get the pic you want of a bow? I have a heck of a time showing the bow and getting any detail in the pic!
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That is a nice bow.
Enjoy!
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Wow, really beautiful bow. Good work, I love that cocobolo riser.
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SHARP!!!!! nice work
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Dang, that's an awesome looking bow. The riser is absolutely stunning. Nice work.
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Andy
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That's really nice John! I hope you bring it to Marsh hill this year if you come, I'd love to shoot it. Super job! Rob
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Thanks for all the compliments guys. I'm pleased with the way this one turned out.
Kenny - It is a real pain trying to get good pics of a bow. To get those four that I posted last night, I must have taken two dozen that didn't look good. Either too much glare, too dark, big shadows, etc.
It was a nice day here in central PA, so I took it out for it's first real work out and to get some pics in natural light. I have no idea how fast it shoots, and don't really care, but it it seems to spit a 650 gr. arrow with authority - at least faster than some of my other bows. I didn't notice any handshock, but then again I usually don't notice handshock like some guys do. I guess I'm just a little numb.
I really like the way this one shoots and it is now my new "go-to" bow. So Rob, yes I will have it at Marsh Hill and you are more than welcome to try it out.
Here's the pics and thanks for coming along on this build.
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1836.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1834.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/BowBuild/CAM_1833.jpg)
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John, that is definitely a beautiful bow! Haven't been a fan of black glass on the back of a bow, but you just converted me. I absolutely love the simple details of that bow. Man, I'm in awe of you guys that make building bows look so magical.
Stan
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Looks good shoots good who could ask for anything more.
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Looks great!
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So I hunted with this bow last year, but never got to draw on a deer with it.
Saturday evening a shot at this doe presented itself. I really concentrated on a tuft of hair as she was coming into range and when she was broadside at 15 yards I let one fly and actually hit where I intended. Good double lung hit and she made it about 75 yards. She piled up right on the gas line that led back to my truk which made for an easy drag.
It was nice to finally make some meat with this bow. Now if I can only connect on a buck....
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting_2012/SAM_0553.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting_2012/SAM_0554.jpg)
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Way to go John!! That's still a nice looking bow too.
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Great job John!! :bigsmyl:
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Nice work both Bow and Doe :)
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Congrats. Great when it all comes together.
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Congratulations on your doe! That bow is very classy looking by the way. I'm also hunting with a hill style bow that is due for some action soon.
-Jay
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Thanks guys.
I forgot to mention - the reason I look like a gun hunter in the pic is because the early muzzleloader season and the youth/old dude early season rifle hunt was in and us bowhunters are required to wear orange while we're moving around.
If I do kill a buck with that bow, I'll retire it since I've got an itch to make myself another bow, plus I have that dandy Trux built for me in the swap that I need to kill something with.
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Nice looking bow & congratulations on the deer.
Rob
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terrific all round. Great to see thats its not just a show pony!
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Very Cool........
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Wow John, its hard enough trying to find a deer in north central PA but to find one and take it with a bow that you made is quite an accomplishment. Congrats!! :thumbsup:
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that's great, great work!
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congrats well done.
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Nice job and good shootin'. It's gotta feel good.
-Jeremy :coffee:
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Congrats John.
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I did it! I finally killed a buck with a longbow I made and it's the biggest deer I've ever killed.
9 point, 19 3/4" outside spread.
He came walking into me this morning at a pretty good pace and when he got to about 12 yards he paused and gave me a shot. I rushed the shot however and it certainly wasn't where you want to hit them (just in front of the shoulder). I was worried I might not find him and it was a long track job (500 - 600 yards), but the blood kept pumping out of him and was fairly easy to follow. When I cleaned him out, I did cut the front part of one lung.
I doubt I'll ever kill another PA buck this size and I might just retire this bow now. (Or maybe it's the lucky bow and I should keep using it.)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting2013/1108130953.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting2013/1108130949a.jpg)
(http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/jsweka/Hunting2013/1108130950.jpg)
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Way to go buddy!! I'm sitting in a stand right now hopin things heat up soon!!
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John,
Nice job. I really liked this build along. It was one that really helped me when i was making my first bows.
Love the bow and nice buck!
Eric
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Good show!
That's something most people can not say, " I killed two deer with a bow I made."
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really nice John..that is a beautiful buck and with a bow you crafted with your own hands to boot!!!
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Thanks Guys. Kenny's lams in action again ;)
The cool thing about this was that I was hunting with my brother-in-law (an unconverted compound shooter) and we were hunting close enough together that we could see each other. We were in the same respective trees we were in last Saturday morning and I got to see him shoot a doe. This morning it was his turn to watch me.
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Do not retire that bow. Nice buck! Congrats.
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Congrats, John... Nice Buck..
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Sweet....!
><>>
Glenn
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That is so cool!!! Definitely don't retire the bow!
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Way to go John!! Very nice buck with a very nice bow.
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Nice buck, nice bow and great story!
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Great Jon John!!!!
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Nice job John
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Way to go John- you can't retire that bow!
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Thanks Guys!
OK, maybe I won't retire it. It does need a refinish job though. I was going to do that anyway with all the scratches and dings it's gotten over the past couple seasons and the additional ones I put on it when I wiped out in the clear cut while blood trailing my buck. He took me through some nasty stuff before giving it up.
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Congrats! I say retire it, build yourself a new one, then bring her out of retirement for a reunion tour! (That is, if you need an excuse to build a new one) :)
My rule is once I've got blood on it I can't use it again. It gives me an excuse to use with the wife ;) . I've only got 8 on the rack so far, but I think she's starting to catch on :p
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Congrats, great job on the bow and the deer. Building your own bow and then take it for a hunt. That's exactly the way it's supposed to be.
I would keep it, it got some good mojo working. And if next season it don't work I'd use Joe's excuse and build a new one... :bigsmyl:
__________
Andy
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Wow!! That has to be a awesome feeling!!
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Great job John!!!!!! What were the arrow specs? Love that bow too!
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Thanks again guys.
The arrows are douglas fir 50 - 55# spine tipped with a two blade 125 grain classic Magnus vented head. Total arrow weight is abou 540 grains.
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Awesome! On all accounts.
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Not bad for a fellow fishhead, I guess.
Sean
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Gratulerer. :) Bue--.
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Great looking deer and bow. congrats. Bows are made to be shot not retired. RC
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Excellent John !!!!!!!!
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Originally posted by bluegill:
Not bad for a fellow fishhead, I guess.
Sean
:laughing: :laughing:
Thanks Sean, and it was nice meeting you in Little Rock.
To let the rest of you guys in on Sean's comment...Sean and I are both fish biologists and this past September the big annual American Fisheries Society conference was in Little Rock. Lots of biologists there. Sean saw my name on the program which he recognized from Trad Gang and then saw some burly redneck looking guy with a 3 Rivers Archery baseball cap on hanging around drinking beer at one of the evening social events during the conference. So he came over an introduced himself and we had a good chat about bows and stuff. Always great to meet a fellow Trad Ganger in person.
Thanks everyone for all the congratulations on my buck. I have decided that I won't retire that bow and I hunted with it again this past weekend, but didn't get any shots to fill my doe tag. Our archery season ended yesterday, but comes back in after Christmas and coincides with our Flintlock season. I'm torn whether to take out the bow or smoke pole.