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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ny state land on March 31, 2012, 02:59:00 PM
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Ok after a few weekends of hard work my first ever bow build is done. Kenny supplied everything and even cut the riser block for me. What a great guy to deal with! First rate quality as well! Its Osage over two layer of Boo, one tapered maple, and brown glass on the belly. jsweka supplied the stack along with much information. jamesv, metsastaja and dick in Seattle all answered many questions as well. we shot for a 50-55# bow and it came in right around 54-55# @ 28" 68" . heres some pics
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/shep4.jpg)
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That was right after i roughed the limbs and put in the string cuts.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/shep6.jpg)
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/shepp1.jpg)
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/shep1.jpg)
I had run out of tip material and asked Kenny what he had to sell me , he sent out all i could ask for and wouldn't take anything for it. I'll get him back for it thought. The bow is a dream to shoot!
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/shep5.jpg)
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That's a beauty!! Great job with it.
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Awesome! That turned out great. Don't be surprised if I ask for some help when I try building a hill type bow, hopefully this year.
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Holy crap Stacy!!! I wish my first bow would have turned out half that nice. I should be asking you for advice.
Very well done!!!
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How did you build the form? Any pics of that? Nice bow!
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Great job on the bow, If it shoots as good as it looks you got a winner.
2X on Kenny M, great guy to work with.
James
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Real nice bow.I never made a laminated bow but it is on my list.Hope it turns out as sweet as yours.
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/form.jpg)
The form was just a 2x6 that i drilled every 3" and put a piece a broken cedar arrow through with some glue.
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cover the board with clear plastic wrap. Mix up 2 each type or 4 dixie cups full of the smooth on and apply with a very small foam roller. If anyone has any pics i am missing please add to the thread.
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/form12.jpg)
I then wiped every thing down with acetone and glue it up. I used fender washers with holes drilled in one end to keep the lambs in place wile i pulled the straps tight. The straps were pieces of an inner tube i got from a tire shop that was damaged.
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got my mother in law on that one!
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/hot1-1.jpg)
The hot box is just 1" foam board with framing nails pushed in the corners to hold it while i taped it up.
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those were 90 watt bulbs and i stuck a meat thermometer in the side. I was able to get it to 160 degrees. A problem with gluing it late was a had set my alarm fore 3am to turn it off.
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/hot.jpg)
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(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/handle.jpg)
i marked the center of the limbs after cuting them 1" past my desired length. So for this 68" bow it was 70" tip to tip. i went from the fades to 1/2" at the tips then drew a line and cut the tape away with a razor. I then used a sanding disc that you can buy for your table saw at sears to take the limbs down to the lines.
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those tip pieces i cut to length and width using a clamp on a board and a hack saw.
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/nystateland/tip.jpg)
I then sanded the angle on them after they cured and glued them to the tips heating the ends with a light. I used a file to take the edge off the limbs and a jig saw to cut the sight window. Lots of sanding and them finished it with true Oil i bought at Gander Mountain. Sanding with steel wool between coats. Then i sprayed it with satin polyurethane to take the shinny off. That's about it.
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I almost forgot. I drew lines on the riser with pencil then with my son holding the bow i carefully used a belt sander to get the riser to shape. Always having the belt pulling against the glass.
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That is a very nice bow. Great job! It should be sweet to shoot.
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Real nice job!!!!!
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Excellent job Stacy!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Nice looking bow!
-Jay
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Nicely done. Great looking Hill
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Thanks Brad, I forgot to include you in my thank yous for the information i got. Thanks for a all the nice comments from everyone.
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Wow! Thats a great looking bow. I'm ignoring the part about it being your first. Mostly because I would have to admit to myself how many it took one to get one that nice!