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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: flntknp17 on October 11, 2020, 11:15:48 PM

Title: Some recent bows
Post by: flntknp17 on October 11, 2020, 11:15:48 PM
I don't think I have posted in here before, but I do enjoy seeing all the cool bows you guys make!  Mine aren't going to win any beauty contests, but they make me happy and they shoot fine so all is well.  I have been making all wood bows since about the early 90s, but really have concentrated on making bows from things I can buy at the local hardwood lumber store for the last 15-20 years.  I know "board bow" is a naughty word in some circles, but I like them and when paired with a bamboo or hickory backing, they make really excellent bows that are very durable.  I have had a bit more time than usual for working on bows in 2020 since we have been working from home rather than the office since March......that means two hours less of driving in my day and I've been spending some of the "extra" time in my shop.  These are all bamboo backed with either hard maple or hickory bellies.  Most of them have padauk handles though some have che chen.  They are all glued up with perry reflex using Titebond 2 or 3. 

Keep posting all the fun things you make.  I really enjoy seeing them.

Matt

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b36/flntknp17/IMG_9127.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b36/flntknp17/IMG_9123.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b36/flntknp17/IMG_8910.jpg)
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Shredd on October 11, 2020, 11:48:26 PM
Nice...  Thanks for sharing your work...
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Roy from Pa on October 12, 2020, 05:49:13 AM
Very nice..

Stop in here more often.

One suggestion I will make is it appears the edges of your limbs are square, they should be rounded over a little.
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: KenH on October 12, 2020, 08:00:35 AM
Good work -- don' be a stranger!
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: flntknp17 on October 12, 2020, 09:32:15 AM
Very nice..

Stop in here more often.

One suggestion I will make is it appears the edges of your limbs are square, they should be rounded over a little.

The edges of all the finished bows are fully rounded.  The one close up was a bow just after glue up that hadn't had any work done other than sanding the glue off.  I am pretty careful about putting a chamfer on all the corners of the bendy parts, it probably doesn't show up in the wider pictures because they're not zoomed in enough.  I could probably use some rounder bellies just to make them more aesthetic, but the flatter bellies probably reduce any chances of chrysals so I'm not sure how far to go.

Thanks!

Matt
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Roy from Pa on October 12, 2020, 09:55:08 AM
Ok great, was hard to see in the first picture.
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Flem on October 12, 2020, 12:44:36 PM
Thats a fine looking collection of Bows :thumbsup: Nothing wrong with lumber Bows, it's all wood no mater how you slice it. Looks like you have done well with the Perry reflex. I tried it on a couple of Bows, must have screwed it up because it did not make much difference for my efforts.
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: kennym on October 12, 2020, 08:07:51 PM
A tip of the hat to folks who back with boo!!  I haven't progressed(or regressed) that far yet.. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: flntknp17 on October 12, 2020, 08:27:59 PM
A tip of the hat to folks who back with boo!!  I haven't progressed(or regressed) that far yet.. :thumbsup:

I'd say "tip of the hat to those who back with glass" because I don't think I could figure out all that epoxy and hotbox and lamination thicknesses and grinding and such.....I keep thinking about trying it, but then I realize I just don't have the tools or knowhow for it so I keep using bamboo because its simple and effective  :archer:

Matt
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: ztontonz on October 13, 2020, 04:14:38 PM
Nice bow production production!
Are you able to find bamboo at your local lumber store as well?
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Mad Max on October 13, 2020, 04:17:45 PM
On those bamboo backed bows, what is on the belly?
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: flntknp17 on October 13, 2020, 10:20:57 PM
Nice bow production production!
Are you able to find bamboo at your local lumber store as well?

I am not able to.  I have been buying rough split bamboo pieces from various online sources.

Matt
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: flntknp17 on October 13, 2020, 10:22:13 PM
On those bamboo backed bows, what is on the belly?

They are all simple two-piece laminates.  The belly on some is hard maple and the belly on some is hickory.  Some made with 1/2", some with 3/4", and some with 5/4" boards.

Matt

Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Mad Max on October 13, 2020, 10:33:12 PM
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Buemaker on October 14, 2020, 10:36:29 AM
Magnificent 7. Looking good.
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: onetone on October 14, 2020, 11:58:29 PM
Nice collection of your own bows, all looking good! What is the spread of bow lengths in the pictured collection?
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Azwatasha on October 15, 2020, 06:20:52 PM
Very nice! I really like the stained Bamboo.
Title: Re: Some recent bows
Post by: Doug in MN on October 16, 2020, 08:21:34 AM
They Look great !!!
Lot of fun making bows, more fun shooting them.