"Bloody Marsh" is finished! Update 3-17

Apex Predator · March 11, 2009, 06:37:00 AM

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!

ArkyBob · March 11, 2009, 08:51:00 AM

Good Luck, although I doubt if you will need it!!
Great name for the bow.

BOB

RC · March 11, 2009, 10:29:00 AM

Hurry up with it and start on mine.That cedar is mighty purty.RC

Apex Predator · March 11, 2009, 10:31:00 AM

Your's is next buddy! I am gonna glue this one up tonight.

bow loving man · March 11, 2009, 10:33:00 AM

I want to see this one...I love cedar...I am sure it will be a work of art...BLM

Carbon Caster · March 11, 2009, 12:34:00 PM

Gonna look AWESOME Marty. Not as pretty as my Cedar though.

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!!!

Apex Predator · March 11, 2009, 12:45:00 PM

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.

Carbon Caster · March 11, 2009, 12:51:00 PM

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?

Apex Predator · March 11, 2009, 01:15:00 PM

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.

Carbon Caster · March 11, 2009, 01:34:00 PM

AH, the straight riser straight riser threw me for a loop. LOL!! Hurry up and get to gluing!!!

Apex Predator · March 12, 2009, 09:28:00 AM

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.

RC · March 12, 2009, 12:27:00 PM

Thats a purty bow.RC

Apex Predator · March 13, 2009, 09:14:00 AM

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!

Guru · March 13, 2009, 12:02:00 PM

Very nice!!

rastaman · March 13, 2009, 01:18:00 PM

Very nice & cool name to boot!

Jack Denbow · March 13, 2009, 01:51:00 PM

Very cool. I can't wait to see it finished.
Jack

RC · March 13, 2009, 08:20:00 PM

Thats sweet Marty.RC

tradtusker · March 14, 2009, 12:43:00 AM

that is a beauty!

Over&Under · March 14, 2009, 12:57:00 AM

Looking Good Marty!!!!

Looking forward to the finished product!

Apex Predator · March 14, 2009, 09:33:00 AM

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!