I have talked quite a bit about my next bow, and finally have a window of time to start on her. This will be my hunting bow for the year. She will probably be 64" NTN, will have a straight profile and grip. This one will have a bubinga riser, eastern red cedar limbs, action boo core, and blood wood overlays. I laminated the riser with clear glass, and am hoping that after finishing some light will show through!
I polled all the folks on this great site about names for this bow. I appreciate all the responses! I have settled on "Bloody Marsh", since it has local historical significance, and I love hunting in the marsh.
This will not be a build-a-long, but I will share as much as I can find time for.
Here are my parts laid out. The cedar is beautiful! There has been chatter about it's durability in a glass lam bow. I built my first out of cedar, and it was far from perfect, with thick glue lines and other rookie mistakes. I have shot her thousands of times, and the limbs are holding up fine. I think in this straight profile, low stress design, the eastern red cedar is very suitable. As a precaution, I am sealing the worst of the knots with CA (super glue) before lay up. When good and dry, I will sand the CA smooth. It shouldn't be noticeable after lay-up. Wish me luck!
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-2.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-3.jpg)
Good Luck, although I doubt if you will need it!!
Great name for the bow.
BOB
Hurry up with it and start on mine.That cedar is mighty purty.RC
Your's is next buddy! I am gonna glue this one up tonight.
I want to see this one...I love cedar...I am sure it will be a work of art...BLM
Gonna look AWESOME Marty. Not as pretty as my Cedar though.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BowBlank-3.jpg)
I can't wait to see "Bloody March" off of the form. Something tells me I might have to have one. If so, you can always bump me in front of RC, he won't mind. LOL!!!
Yeah Brian, yours has more contrast, which is what you wanted. Mine has more red, which is the theme I was wanting. After mine I will be out of cedar, but know where to find more! I love the smell of it. I think I'm gonna put a piece under my pillow and see if the wife notices.
Marty, that riser isn't totally cut to shape is it? This is going to be glued up on your NEW D/R form is it not?
This one is going to be straight Brian. I need one to hunt with, and right now that means what I know and love, not an experimental prototype. The prototype is third in line right now, right behind RC's bow.
AH, the straight riser straight riser threw me for a loop. LOL!! Hurry up and get to gluing!!!
This morning I pulled her out of the oven! The cedar is really dark and gorgeous. Not a single air bubble. Glue lines look perfect. I cleaned her up, profiled the limbs, and cut string nocks. Smooth drawing, but light!!! I missed weight by 10 pounds! I have to remember that cedar makes them lighter in draw weight. I had to cut 1.5" off each limb tip to get her to make a 50@28 bow. Check out these photos! The bubinga will darken quite a bit after finishing.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-6.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-5.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-7.jpg)
Thats a purty bow.RC
When I got off work yesterday, I tried to find some pig hooves for overlays. No luck! I did find some cow bone, which was bleached and sterilized. I picked some up.
When I got home I started to work on the handle shaping/shelf cutting. I also cut out and shaped some bone overlays. Before I went to bed I laminated them on and adjusted my heat lamps for 130 degrees. I set the timer for 4 hours and went to bed.
This morning I shaped the tips, cut new string grooves, and sanded the riser and tips. Then I twisted up a black and red string and took her to the back yard. Wow! This thing is a sweet shooter!
Next step is to final sand through 220, and then I'll be ready to spray after my thinner comes in the mail. I have a pair of limbs to spray for a customer, and then I'll spray this one.
Next project is Robert Carter's pig slaying bow!
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-8.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-9.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-10.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Bow%20Building/BMbuild-11.jpg)
Very nice!!
Very nice & cool name to boot!
Very cool. I can't wait to see it finished.
Jack
Thats sweet Marty.RC
that is a beauty!
Looking Good Marty!!!!
Looking forward to the finished product!
No more photos for today. I did some finish sanding,and hope to spray a sealer coat tonight. Should be finished in a couple of days.
Thanks for all the support!
Looking great!!!
This is one sweet shooter! She turned out really awesome. Thanks for all the encouragement folks!
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-1.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-2.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-3.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-4.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-5.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-7.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Apex%20bows/BoodyMarsh-8.jpg)
Awesome!!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
Bill
Outstanding!
Great looking bow, Apex!!!
You Got Skills!!!
David
Man is that nice :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Man is that cedar awesome! I know what my next lams are going to be. Great work.
Mike
Wow that is beautiful. My wife has a red cedar bow and it is the best looking bow in our rack. Congradulations on the great job.
Jack
Nice job Marty! :thumbsup:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Sweeeeeet!
Wow turn out Great!
Great work!
Wow, nice work
Great work that is a beaut!
SWEET!! Shawn
She's a beauty!
Looks like one of your bow blanks is my future! Great job,love the bone tips, adds alot of class!
Marty,
Question about the cedar limbs. Did you stain the laminations to produce that dark color or does the fiberglass overlay influence the color?
Great looking bow!
Chris
They always darken a good bit after layup. I think the smooth-on does that. The reds in the cedar darken more that the lighter color.
I really appreciate all the kind words folks!
Very nice work Dude!
Nice work Marty. Great Job
I love the grain in that wood. Great work!
This bow is now for sale on the sponsors classifieds. She has been a great bow, but I am liking them longer these days. I appreciate all that have shared her journeys on these pages. I can't just let her stay on the rack! Someone needs to hunt this one.
Here are some of her journeys. Only a year old, but well blooded!
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=073153
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=073647
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=076258
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=078497
Very nice work!!! One good looking bow!!! :thumbsup:
Beautiful bow, brother!
Congratulations!
Very nice. You do good work.
NO WAY say it aint so!!!!
THAT RED CEDAR IS SOOOO SWEEEET!! MY NEXT LONGBOW IS GONNA BE WITH SOME KIND OF RED WOOD . I LOVE IT AWESOME WORK!!!
Awesome bow !!
That is SWEET!
:notworthy: