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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bvas on June 12, 2016, 10:59:00 PM

Title: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 12, 2016, 10:59:00 PM
I purchased this early 70s bow off the big auction site. I knew that site holes had been drilled in the riser, and was ok with that........ until the bow arrived. Then I decided to put my skills to the test and try to hide the holes. From there it turned into a full blown customization. I haven't got pics of all the phases, but here are before and afters of the inlay to get ya started    ;)    
  (http://i.imgur.com/5LidADf.jpg)
  (http://i.imgur.com/9IjTRdw.jpg)
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: fujimo on June 13, 2016, 12:08:00 AM
what wood di you use for the inlay- very nicely done
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: alaninoz on June 13, 2016, 05:45:00 AM
I like the grain matching of the inlay.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: BenBow on June 13, 2016, 08:08:00 AM
Nice!
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: typical2 on June 13, 2016, 08:11:00 AM
Very nice.  I would love to see a build along with a project like this.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 13, 2016, 08:37:00 AM
Thanks guys.
The wood is actually apple from a log that I had saved for use in a smoker.  The inlay is outlined in wood putty that I dyed black. My wood carving skills weren't as good as I hoped   :rolleyes:  I had tried using sandings from the bow and super glue to fill voids, but just didn't like the final look.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: wood carver 2 on June 13, 2016, 04:30:00 PM
That turned out nice. It's a lot harder to do than it might seem at the beginning.    :)  
Dave.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 13, 2016, 07:42:00 PM
Alrighty got some more pics taken and loaded up.
The bow came with a plastic stick on rest. Even though they can be accurate, I much prefer to shoot off the shelf. So the second step was to crown the arrow shelf.
 (http://i.imgur.com/doy2TKP.jpg)
 (http://i.imgur.com/XbPmgJT.jpg)
It's hard to see in the pics, but at the same time the handle also got narrowed with the cut in of a light thumb rest.
 (http://i.imgur.com/QBzhu9I.jpg)
 (http://i.imgur.com/ZXp57eE.jpg)
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 13, 2016, 10:09:00 PM
I had thought about trying my hand at checkering or stippling the grip, but I wasn't sure I'd like the extra texture. I wanted something with a little texture, but not a whole bunch.  So this is what I came up.
 (http://i.imgur.com/ajrrfas.jpg)
 (http://i.imgur.com/EJEZEyt.jpg)
 (http://i.imgur.com/19AXfo7.jpg)
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 13, 2016, 10:22:00 PM
The final step was to dress up the tips. So I fired up the belt sander and a chainsaw file and went to town. Again I got into the stash of apple wood. All three lams are from the same cut of wood. However, the middle lam I soaked in black ink for a couple of days. It didn't soak up as much color as I hoped(that apple is pretty hard stuff), but still gave a good contrast.
Before
 (http://i.imgur.com/TcKAMqI.jpg)
After
 (http://i.imgur.com/OZ55xKn.jpg)
 (http://i.imgur.com/54J87iO.jpg)
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: jhk1 on June 16, 2016, 12:19:00 PM
Nice work!
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Wolftrail on June 17, 2016, 11:33:00 PM
Nice details, to call it your own.      :cool:
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on June 18, 2016, 09:28:00 AM
Thanks guys.
I think it turned out pretty good for a "practice" project. This was the first time I did an inlay, crowned and shaped a riser, and my first set of tips. I have refinished a couple bows before. And I've done some simple wood burning, but never on a contoured surface. That added a degree of difficulty I didn't expect.
The old Black Hawk Avenger has been renamed the Black Hawk Re-venger, as it has been re-built and re-finished.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Msturm on June 23, 2016, 04:36:00 AM
Great stuff
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: stujay on January 08, 2017, 06:59:00 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 08, 2017, 08:41:00 PM
That is very nicely done..
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: LittleBen on January 08, 2017, 09:53:00 PM
Nice. What is the riser wood, oak? And walnut? Pretty unusual to see oak in a riser but actually I like it a lot.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: kenneth butler on January 08, 2017, 09:58:00 PM
How did you protect the sight window when you rasped the shelf? Did you just burn the eagle or cut then burn? I really like it. Thanks    Ken
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on January 09, 2017, 08:49:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by LittleBen:
Nice. What is the riser wood, oak? And walnut? Pretty unusual to see oak in a riser but actually I like it a lot.
I'm not a wood expert, so can't say for sure.  
My guess would be oak or zebra for the one half.
I don't believe the other half is walnut, I would say it is some kind of exotic.
Maybe someone with more knowledge than me can chime in with a guess.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: Bvas on January 09, 2017, 08:55:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by kenneth butler:
How did you protect the sight window when you rasped the shelf? Did you just burn the eagle or cut then burn? I really like it. Thanks    Ken
I didn't worry about protecting the sight window too much, as I also put about a 1/6" contour in the window at the same time.
The hawk was only burned.  But I went over it about 3 times to get progressively darker and deeper.  I wanted to create light grooves to give sweat/moisture someplace to go.
Title: Re: Hiding sight holes=full customization (pics added)
Post by: kenneth butler on January 09, 2017, 11:07:00 PM
Thanks Bvas. Great idea and I love it. I don't know if I have the nerve to tackle it.   Ken