Stave makin :) and a bit of tillering.

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Demonwolf444

Tenderfoot
May 18, 2013
82
0
Ripon, North Yorkshire
Enjoying reading this thread.

Am going for a flat bow type thing... well it looks like a flatbow except the back of the bow is slightly curved with a flat belly and with with recurved tips at the moment. Looks very promising despite the fact that i made a huge cock up meaning its about a quarter of the draw weight it should be, shame because it is an absolutely flawless stave of American hard maple. Lack of draw weight at least means i can take the tips to very small dia. I don't take my bow making very seriously, its like a dark art to me and i will never understand it properly and i kind of like it that way. Still those who really do get it never cease to amaze me.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Enjoying reading this thread.

Am going for a flat bow type thing... well it looks like a flatbow except the back of the bow is slightly curved with a flat belly and with with recurved tips at the moment. Looks very promising despite the fact that i made a huge cock up meaning its about a quarter of the draw weight it should be, shame because it is an absolutely flawless stave of American hard maple. Lack of draw weight at least means i can take the tips to very small dia. I don't take my bow making very seriously, its like a dark art to me and i will never understand it properly and i kind of like it that way. Still those who really do get it never cease to amaze me.

Sounds like a nice bow :) Slightly rounded back is usually called a "crown"
Its very easy to make a small mistake in one part of the limb that then goes on to dictate the whole bow. Get some pictures up and we can all chip in if you need.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
This osage bow is nearly finished up. Its a lot less "traditional" looking but still all natural and all hand tools. Will post some proper pictures when the sun returns. If i still remember what it looks like.

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dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Quick update.

The bandsaw has been a massive help to my bow making. A bandsaw is not going to make a bow, but, it does make it a hell of a lot easier to make staves.
I have a few grades/stages that a piece of wood goes through before it has a chance of making it to a bow. Until you start cutting the wood down you have no idea what's inside. You can guess all you like but until you get a good look inside there is no telling what you will find.
This is either an hour with an axe or bill-hook or 5 minutes on a band saw. The idea is to makes "staves" staves are rarely even bow shaped pieces of wood but rather 2 inch wide for flat-bows or 1 and a bit for english long bows, length as long as you can.

Tonight a good friend came round for a spot of saw-dust making. Tomorrow will be a day of cleaning i think. The neighbours will be happy with several boxes of wood shavings each for their fires.

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More to come with a few re-curves on the go and a couple of English longbows.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Looks good.
I bet the bandsaw has really sped up the process

Its just taken a lot of the waste an laborious work out of it to be honest. Splitting wood only works well if you have equal mass either side of the split when splitting along any kind of real length, 5ft plus. A fro will help but will eventually run off, especially on smaller diameter stuff. There is very little waste with the bandsaw and it makes it so much easier to lop up the waste into fire wood and dish out to the neighbours.

Only downside so far is the saw-dust! Although my rescued dyson from the tip is doing well.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
I am a little short on the easier clean bow wood so its time to tackle the "character" stuff.
I have a few other bows on the go at the moment all with their own personality. For some reason photobucket is only showing one at the moment.
Lots of curves, hope it makes it but it is fighting all the way on many fronts.

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WoodsmanJim

Forager
Oct 27, 2013
205
7
Wirral
That looks fabulous, I hope it makes it! I look forward to seeing its progress.

Jim

P.s. I'd still love to visit sometime if that's still a possibility? Never did find out who Kal was/is though.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
That looks fabulous, I hope it makes it! I look forward to seeing its progress.

Jim

P.s. I'd still love to visit sometime if that's still a possibility? Never did find out who Kal was/is though.

Yes still possible, just need to let me know which times you are free. Its always a little hit and miss for me unfortunately as I am pretty much on call every weekday.
Also need to get some more timber in so keep your eyes pealed.
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Fitted some horn overlays tonight. Also reduced outer limbs some but its still fighting me all the way. These humps and bumps are going too look pretty if it makes it but they are a head scratcher all the way. So far the wood its self isn't complaining too much and collapsing on on its self (this is called set) but the timing is all over the place so it just doesn't shoot right yet.


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dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Few pictures of bow that's just waiting for some more tru-oil to be applied. Stupidly left the lid off it and it hardened in the bottle :( Trip to the gunsmiths tomorrow for more.


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More to come :)
 

WoodsmanJim

Forager
Oct 27, 2013
205
7
Wirral
That is really fantastic!
How're the timing issues coming on with it?

Thanks for being patient with regards a visit. I'm pretty busy for the next couple of weeks, so I'll let you know once things calm down a bit. I have found a good source of some lovely straight ash trees and also some hazel that's in dire need of coppicing. some of it's really thick so should make decent staves. Would you be interested in any?

Jim
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Pretty much all of my time bow making recently has been taken up with processing staves. I am desperately trying to get ahead of my self when it comes to seasoned staves, which is hard work especially with character wood. I need to get more roughed out and drying but this is the past few weeks work.

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dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Starting to make some headway now but lots more to do.

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This one is my favourite blank at the minute :)

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dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Been a while so a little update.
Mostly I have been working on processing timber for seasoning rather than actually making bows. Things are looking better no with about 15 staves of various woods and shapes already fast drying, still more to do but hopefully it will stop me hitting an not so dry point in the future. Its hard to dedicate a lot of time when other commitments take priority.

This is trying to align the string with the handle. Lots of heat and pressure. All sorts of contraptions come in here.

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Yew longbow in progress

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Another that is nearly finished. Made from elder with water buffalo horn nocks. This one is a light weight bow for me, few sneak pics.

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