Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: takefive on January 01, 2015, 11:10:00 PM

Title: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 01, 2015, 11:10:00 PM

Most of my bows are from boards, but I picked up two nice hickory staves last summer.  This one was really straight except for a deflexed hump with a little twist to it about mid limb on the top.  I flipped the tips with steam, but wound up losing most of the reflex.  It's 66" long and about 42# and a very smooth shooter when I do my part.

 (http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/hickory5_zps95ab8fee.png)

 (http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/hickory3_zpsc960dea4.png)

 (http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/hickory2_zps53f0bf7d.png)

 (http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/hickory1_zps1424a8e4.png)

 (http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo207/okdoak/Wooden%20bows/hickory_zpsa96f6952.png)

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: rmorris on January 02, 2015, 12:27:00 AM

What a great looking bow!

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 02, 2015, 05:54:00 AM

Nice work. Nice look on the back too.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 02, 2015, 10:40:00 AM

Very nice Greg.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 02, 2015, 11:55:00 AM

That's a fine bow right there.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: LESKEN2011 on January 02, 2015, 01:39:00 PM

Nice bend on that one for sure. Good job!!

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 02, 2015, 02:10:00 PM

Thanks guys!   :)

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: lockmanslammin on January 02, 2015, 03:40:00 PM

It's a beauty, I hope mine bends that nice when I'm done.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 02, 2015, 06:48:00 PM

Thanks Chris; you're off to a good start with yours.  Just take it slow and try to keep that even bend on both limbs until you hit your draw weight and you'll be fine.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: KellyG on January 02, 2015, 11:50:00 PM

Cant go wrong with a simple hickory stick. Looks good.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 03, 2015, 03:28:00 PM

Thanks Kelly.  This is the first selfbow I've made from hickory and I like it.  It is some tough wood.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 03, 2015, 10:33:00 PM

Awesome! Great tiller! Jawge

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 04, 2015, 12:10:00 AM

Thanks Jawge!   :)

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: fujimo on January 04, 2015, 12:22:00 AM

i always love your bows Greg, and this one is no different   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: bigbob2 on January 04, 2015, 12:57:00 AM

nice bow with a great profile.   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: DVSHUNTER on January 04, 2015, 01:17:00 PM

That's a beautiful bow. I like the simple ones myself too.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 04, 2015, 02:59:00 PM

Much appreciated, guys.  Thanks again!

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Mad Max on January 07, 2015, 11:08:00 PM

Hickory, awesome
seal it good
seal it real good.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Buemaker on January 08, 2015, 05:36:00 AM

Goodlooking stick,oh yes. Bue-..

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 08, 2015, 01:29:00 PM

Thanks Bue!  I put 4 coats of poly from a rattle can on it Mark, and will get a coat of wax on it soon.  RH has been in the low 20's here lately so I'm not worried about it soaking up moisture any time soon.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Crittergetter on January 08, 2015, 01:54:00 PM

Wow, beautiful bow. My first bow was a hickory self bow a few years ago, back before I found this site. Mine only took about 3.5" of set. LoL.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 09, 2015, 12:45:00 PM

Thanks crittergetter!  This one has taken some set, too, about 1 1/2".  I don't mind, though.  It's a very smooth shooter.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: jarheadjoe on January 09, 2015, 02:06:00 PM

isanyone available to answer a few questions

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: UrsusNil on January 20, 2015, 09:00:00 PM

Beautiful! What kind of stain and finish did you use?

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 21, 2015, 01:37:00 AM

Thanks!  I stained it with aniline dye mixed in alcohol.  Wiped on the darker brown first and then went over it with a lighter golden brown.  I finished it with satin Minwax polyurethane from a rattle can.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 21, 2015, 11:23:00 AM

Alcohol soluble aniline dye is the best.... Who learnt ya that trick?  :)

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 21, 2015, 02:23:00 PM

Prob'ly some old fart.   :p      :D

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 21, 2015, 02:56:00 PM

LOL

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: twitchstick on January 24, 2015, 09:29:00 PM

Very. Ice

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: UrsusNil on January 29, 2015, 07:10:00 PM

Great color, what kind of stain did you use?

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 30, 2015, 03:29:00 AM

Thanks!  It's TransTint aniline dye disolved in denatured alcohol.  I do the dark brown (Golden Brown) first so it gets the grain nice and dark.  Then I go over it with the lighter shade (Honey Amber).  Wiping a few coats of  Honey Amber with a rag also pulls some of the darker brown off and gives it a golden sheen.  Kinda hard to explain; it took a few tries to see how it blends the colors.  There is probably a tutorial on the web somewhere.  I went the trial and error route as usual    :)

I stole the idea from Roy ^  I thought if he could figure it out, it can't be all that hard.    :D

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: canopyboy on January 30, 2015, 08:17:00 AM

Quote

Originally posted by takefive:
I stole the idea from Roy ^  I thought if he could figure it out, it can't be all that hard.     :D  

Seems like people are wising up!

Seriously, that's a nice looking bow and great tiller.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 30, 2015, 08:43:00 AM

All right you two.. LOL

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on January 30, 2015, 06:11:00 PM

Thanks canopyboy!

Luckily, Roy has a good sense of humor and I live outside his thumpin' range.    :wavey:

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: JJB on February 01, 2015, 05:54:00 PM

Heck of a nice looking bow!
-Jay

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on February 02, 2015, 09:34:00 PM

Thanks Jay!    :)

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: horsebackhunter on February 04, 2015, 09:04:00 PM

That's a fine bow, I'm working on my first hickory stave now, and you've inspired me to slow down and try not to make more kindling.

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: fujimo on February 04, 2015, 09:25:00 PM

i dunno- i really dont see anything special... looks like every other bow you make...
beautiful and just perfect-
the perfect balance between style and flair!   :thumbsup:    :clapper:

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: WESTBROOK on March 23, 2015, 09:03:00 PM

Beauty of a bow!

Nice trick with the little cant built in the handle    :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Hickory selfbow
Post by: takefive on March 24, 2015, 01:41:00 AM

Thanks Westbrook!  I took the idea for the handle from a book; The Art of Making Selfbows by Stim Wilcox.