Just wanted to tell you all about my day yesterday.
A while back, KennyM had a post about some bows he was building and somewhere in there he had a link to his website. I went and looked at his site and it spurred me to contact him. I asked him about a repair project I wanted to attempt on an old Herters target bow I had destroyed in the mail and also about maybe going to his place sometime to watch him glue up a bow sometime. Pms were exchanged, plans were made and yesterday was the day I drove out to his place. Bit of a drive at about 115 miles but it was worth it.
Kenny was in his shop when I arrived and had all his lams laid out on a nice clean work bench and after handshakes, a little chit chat and such, I got out my project to show him. We put our heads together and started going through his scrap bin for pieces that would do what I had in mind. We used his lam grinder to get them right to the proper specs and test fitted everything then we sat my stuff aside and went to work on the bow he was gluing up. It's gonna be a real looker!
The glue up was pretty fun but it looked like doing it by yourself could be a little frustrating for a beginner. Nothing difficult really but with smooth on epoxy on both sides of all the lams, the whole stack becomes a bit of a slippery mess. All went well and the form was clamped, the hose pressurized and into the hot box it all went.
Kenny let me shoot one of his bows that was I believe 49# @ 28". He wanted an opinion on how it felt to someone with a long draw and I pull about 32". It was real smooth and shot great. My first shot was fairly far shooting at a leaf in his yard with a judo and I missed just a tad high. Tried some even longer shots and some close ones. I don't do too well shooting with anyone looking but I could tell the bow was a nice shooter. His grip shape felt real nice in my hand.
We spent the better part of the whole afternoon dinking aroung with my stuff and the glue up then I talked his ear off in the driveway and it was time to head back to the house.
All in all a very enjoyable day for me.
p.s. Kenny, I put the Herters on top of a space heater with a couple towels over it for about 3 hours and then left it sit with the clamps still on the rest of the night. I think this repair is gonna work just fine. THANKS!
thats cool Dave.
Sounds like a good way to spend the day.
A very fun day for sure.
kenny is good TG people for sure.. :thumbsup:
Sounds like a afternoon well spent, and with good comapny to boot.
Hey Dave,
Can't wait to see the herters when you get it done!
Dave is a super guy,enjoyed the visit and the help on my project.
He also brought a tub of his homemade leather dressing,which I plan to try on my poor ol work boots soon!
:thumbsup:
I'd say you both got a blessing. I don't know Kenny yet but I bet the day is coming that we meet. Dave is someone I consider a friend. I truly admire Dave, he's one terrific dad and that fact is reflected in his children. His wife is far better than he deserves..lol
Sounds like two kindred spirits were in "Hawg Heaven" for a few hrs. I wish I could have been there, who knows what I could have learned.
God bless,Mudd
Thats great to hear, Nice people on here.