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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: wood carver 2 on January 31, 2016, 03:24:00 PM

Title: New bows
Post by: wood carver 2 on January 31, 2016, 03:24:00 PM
I finally finished a pair of longbows for my niece and nephew.
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0662_zpsgmtqadit.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0662_zpsgmtqadit.jpg.html)
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0663_zpsydzdj5en.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0663_zpsydzdj5en.jpg.html)
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0661_zps2w8nwl4e.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0661_zps2w8nwl4e.jpg.html)
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0659_zpslxld6dc7.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0659_zpslxld6dc7.jpg.html)
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0657_zpsdfv0joue.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0657_zpsdfv0joue.jpg.html)
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0656_zpsjfx4etdp.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0656_zpsjfx4etdp.jpg.html)
I used bamboo for the backs and bellies of both bows and the risers are made from pau ferro.
For my niece, I glued purpleheart into the riser and used it for the core lam as well. This bow is 68" ttt and draws 42# @ 28".
My nephew's bow has padauk in the riser and as the core. It's 66" ttt and draws 44# @28".
I finished both bows with many coats of tru oil for a nice hard gloss. I made the rests from a bit of seal skin I was given.
During the build, I also discovered that pau ferro makes my eyes itch and makes me sneeze. First time I reacted to any wood. I'll have to be careful from now on.
I also made arm guards and back quivers for them both and had a friend make up a dozen arrows for each.
  (http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x349/1wood1/IMG_0645_zpssaljn1df.jpg) (http://s1177.photobucket.com/user/1wood1/media/IMG_0645_zpssaljn1df.jpg.html)
I can't wait to take them over and get shooting with the kids.
Dave.
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Jomohr84 on January 31, 2016, 04:29:00 PM
Very nice! Some lucky niece and nephew!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Nezwin on January 31, 2016, 04:31:00 PM
Beautiful work! I wish I had an uncle as generous as you...

Any difficulty tillering with the bamboo bellies?
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 31, 2016, 04:34:00 PM
Very nice...
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: scottm on January 31, 2016, 04:54:00 PM
Wow!nice work!!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Pago on January 31, 2016, 04:54:00 PM
Beautiful work sir!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: takefive on January 31, 2016, 04:55:00 PM
That's some really nice work on everything.  I'm always amazed by the bamboo belly lams on your bows.
I'd like to try to make one someday, but I'd probably scrap out a lot of bows before I got the core thickness and taper right.
Beautiful bows!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: JKidd on January 31, 2016, 05:10:00 PM
Nicely done! Thats a pretty cool medallion. What is it?
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Buemaker on January 31, 2016, 05:18:00 PM
Fantastic   :)
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Wolftrail on January 31, 2016, 05:31:00 PM
Nice pair of Boo backed twins and great leather work.
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: canopyboy on January 31, 2016, 05:38:00 PM
Wow those are some nice bows and some lucky kids!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: wood carver 2 on January 31, 2016, 06:09:00 PM
Thank you all for the nice remarks. Those two are my only niece and nephew, so I spoil them a bit.
Nezwin, they can only be tillered from the edges so you have to be close to your target at glue up.
Takefive, I became fascinated with this style of bow after seeing one here on this forum, and I have thrown a bunch out that failed for one reason or another. A buddy of mine warmed his shop one winter with broken bows.    ;)  
They're not always easy to build. These two fought me all the way and they are not perfect, but they do shoot.
JKidd, my niece and I went to a local pewter shop she knows and she picked a tree of life medallion for her bow. The other medallion is a Celtic pattern.
Dave.
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: bigbob2 on January 31, 2016, 06:15:00 PM
they really are extremely well crafted bows, I love 'em both!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: cunruhshoot on February 01, 2016, 11:13:00 AM
Nicely done!
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Pheonixarcher on February 01, 2016, 02:17:00 PM
Those are NICE!  Good job.
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: Jan Westphal on February 01, 2016, 03:51:00 PM
Wish I had an uncle like that...

Beautiful bows and quivers. Is the belly boo toasted or stained?
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: wood carver 2 on February 01, 2016, 04:13:00 PM
The belly lams are toasted. I use a propane torch, but a butane torch is better. It has a cooler, less intense flame. It's too easy to burn the bamboo with propane.
Dave.
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: ty_in_ND on February 03, 2016, 04:52:00 PM
Very nice work!  

As for toasting the belly boo, did you torch them until they reached the color that they are now or did you stain them after toasting?
Title: Re: New bows
Post by: wood carver 2 on February 03, 2016, 06:32:00 PM
Burnt them black. Doesn't take long!    :bigsmyl:  
Dave.