Any New Bows??

[ironfistcanada]

Is anybody building any bows this winter . Are there any classes going on anywhere?. It would be interesting to find out who is doing what. maybe share some ideas or designs on what we are building.?? I have just started a Hop Hornbeam Mik Maq Warbow for the TAANS draw. Its a nice piece of wood. I also have on the go, an all wood laminate bow that is maple backed with hickory and another warbow almost finished . Lets hear of your projects people, I think it would be an interesting thread. John

[POINTY STICKS]

I had started a new hornbeam bow over christmas,but for some reason the thing just spilt in two then I was flor tillering it. that is almost enough to make a fellow stick with laminated bows

[biggame]

I contacted Rod in New Annan. He said he hopes to put on the bow building clinic this year again if they can get the wood.
I am supposed to go up to Stick's place to finish my bow this winter, just in time for the New Annan primitive shoot I hope. I have started to tiller it but then got stuck as I don't have the tools or bench to finish it.

[alpo]

I have 3 ash staves on the go right now, and a rack of staves in waiting of ash ,hornbeam, as well as maple & 2 of yellow birch.
I had also attended a couple of the classes at the Glooscap Clubhouse before Christmas, but have not made it back since.
Greg can be contacted if anyone wanted to get in on that.
Have you guy's noticed the "challenge" bow contest on TradGang.com ?
They are making , or attempting to make a easy to use, 58" NTN, 60# @ 28" bow.....
semi inspired by that ,,,i am going to try a couple of shorter yet heavy ones also.
the fire should be easy to keep going with my current success rates...

[ironfistcanada]

Keep going Pointy,Tillering is the part I dislike about bow building but of course its absolutely neccessary. Big Game it can be frustrating when you do not have the resources at hand. Alpo remember the longer the bow the longer the life. LOL.

[alpo]

i think someone may have mentioned that advice to me Ironfist, and after a coulpe of failure,,, er should i say, practice staves,,, I laid one out a bit over sized.. 74"NTN, 40# @ 28... yeah , it's a little sluggish & has a little handshock, but it WILL last. the very real problem I have with it now is i cannot shoot it in my basement, sitting or standing, because of the very real limits its sizes presents. I think this will also be a problem afield, and it's part of the reasoning to attempt a much more usable size. maybe I should go down in more reasonable increments, but as Quig always says " don't let fear & commen sence stop ya!"

[POINTY STICKS]

Keep going Ironfist says ;D I do keep going but this is all i ever seem to get out of bow making

[ironfistcanada]

Awesome work Sheldon they are getting better all the time.

[ironfistcanada]

Alpo cut that 74 inch sucker down to 70 inches check the tiller make sure its okay and you will have a heavier bow that you can shoot in your basement. Maybe 20# heavier. But definitely re tiller.

[POINTY STICKS]

If those are the shafts I'm doing for the Trad Gang 06 Arrow trade. Go figure make 18 pretty sticks and give em away. Here is a link to my pro board site if you guys want to see what I doing with these.


pointysticks.proboards27.com/index.cgi?board=pics&action=display&thread=1134413326&page=1

[ironfistcanada]

Great work man. You are up there with the best.

[stickz]

Yeah, ole pointy took off like a scalded cat when we turned him on to making arrows....now he makes the prettiest ones I've ever seen.
Going out to the barn this afternoon to go through the stave rack. After ten years of collecting, some have gotten too dry from being in a heated building and are suspect...that why pointy had a nice looking piece of hornbeam go BOOM on him when he was floor tillering it. I don't mind stuff blwoing up in my face, but it's depressing when a beginner to the art gets thwarted by crappy wood.
Gotta find pointy a nice one, and I think i'll get one going myself. You're right abut long bows IF, but I'm going hunting in alders next week...think i'll make a little rocket.
cheers, happy whittlin

[ironfistcanada]

Pointy...........what kind of paints do you use and do you use dip tubes gasket laquer or Bohning products. I might start making some of those beauties . There are some good arrow smiths in Nova Scotia. Stickz thats what Moisture meters are for hahahah. I know John Mac Has built HHB bows at 6% moisture content. Scary huh? Keep the posts coming guys this is a good thread.

[POINTY STICKS]

IF I tend to use only toll paints as they are odorless and clean up easily. Any stains I use at this time are varathan brand water base for the same reason, and the finish coats are either semi gloss or gloss water base poly.

I know that with the toll paints it's a little more work to get the even coverage sometimes, but I have lost of time. I am only now experimenting with a dip tube (home made) and think it will be mostly for stains. I usually just use sponge brushes to apply thin coats of poly which are dry to the touch in about 5-10 minutes.

[POINTY STICKS]

I must be getting sick, here is what I'm putting all this work into just to trade away. But heck if you find something you like, might just as well have some fun with it. ;D