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Just not long enough. That was amazing. I went up there with a roughed out piece to see if I could do anything with it. After a little scraping it was found the rings were way too thin and curved up and down. I bought a nice piece of Osage that had beautiful thick rings on it and started on it Friday morning.(These are ALOT of work!) I took two thick rings off to get down to that ring I wanted and roughed it out a little. It resembled a bow that night. Saturday I worked on it more and did the tillering, the real work. I actually got the tillering done that night. Sunday morning I went down and shaped the handle and got it to the point I could launch some arrows. ALMOST SHOT BETTER THAN MY RECURVE!! With a little tuning I think I can get it shooting really good. I got a little more work to do, some final shaping of the handle and finishing work, got to wrap the ends with sinew some little cracks on one tip. It had a narly cow horn twist on one end I straighened out a bit, but the bow shoots awsome. Oh ya, I am going to put some tips on it, but it looks like if I do the tip would be too big for the string loops. Do I just make it really thin on the tip pieces for the string to slide over them? I'll post some pics of this bow later.
-------------------- "Let yourself go with the arrow and the trip will never cease to amaze you." Me Posts: 258 | From: northern California | Registered: Dec 2006
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I just finished final sanding. Looks alot better now. I shaped the handle up too, and it fits PERFECT. I'll do pics. tomorrow. Still not all the way done yet though. I took the sanding to 320, think I should go to 400 or higher? Also, I was thinking of sealing with linseed, is this a good choice?
-------------------- "Let yourself go with the arrow and the trip will never cease to amaze you." Me Posts: 258 | From: northern California | Registered: Dec 2006
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Yep there were a lot of osage selfbows built this weekend. From my booth I got a birdseye view of the tiller trees and at times just couldn't stand it and waded in. LOL
Had a stave that I just couldn't keep my eyes off for a whole day. Finally someone bought it and I wondered off. A few hours later, a young fellow came up and asked if Jason and I could help lay out a bow with him. Yep in his hand was that stave. We spent the better part of Saturday and yesterday morning coaching him to get it almost there. His tiller is dead on but he's only at 22" on the weight, so he's got room to work now.
It was a fun weekend but dang I'm beat and now I've gotta go to work and build some bows.
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Another great one guys, the Rutter family is awesome to let this happen at there place. Number IV was the best in my eyes, couldn't get away from the bow bench:)
-------------------- Friends in Archery JD Jones Posts: 925 | From: Ada, OK | Registered: Mar 2003
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With the way the weather blew up last night (Sunday) it's probably better it didn't go any longer. Posts: 2710 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Jul 2004
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We drove like maniacs Friday night so we could spend all of Saturday at the event. My whole family had a great time. Kids spent the day running around and fishing with their new friends. We kept tabs on them by walkie-talkie. The girl caught a bass using a dandelion as bait, here I've been wasting good money on chartruesse Power jigs. Wife made some new acquaintances and enjoyed shooting the course and clout shoot.
I enjoyed seeing several OK boys I've met at MOJAM, the barbecue pork, and seeing the primitive firemaking demo. I couldn't stand seeing all the osage bows being built so I broke out a stave I'd brought, chased a ring and got a bow cut out. Its still green wood so I didn't go any further, it satisfied my urge to have yellow boogers though.
Saturday morning I took a fox pelt I'd tanned and made it into a Lakota-style quiver for the clout shoot. I tried to copy the style of a nice lady named Barb who made some fantastic quivers. May she rest in peace. It was the first pelt quiver I've made, I wasn't all that satisfied with my work but learned a lot. I was proud that the clout shoot winner chose it as his prize. Must have been some really good booty along with it. It was cool that he was shooting a selfbow. Apparently there's no big advantage to glass.
I managed to poke a couple of arrows in the clout shoot target. That was amazing. My prizes were embarrasingly numerous and excellent. My co-favorites were a Helle knife blade from Dryad, and a cool arm guard from Pine Hollow.
Thanks to everyone who put on the event, it looked like it took a whole lot of hard work to make that happen. And thanks to the Rutters for their hospitality.
-------------------- Lennie aka "Tom Thumbs" "It is better to give than receive- especially advice." Mark Twain Posts: 1954 | From: Hannibal, MO | Registered: Apr 2003
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It was my first time at OJAM and I have to say that I was really impressed and I wish I had been going all along! I'm really fortunate to live as close as I do.
My nephew came with me. I introduced him to traditional archery when he came to live with us last year. He had a blast. We sat and watch a beautiful arrow head emerge from a tomahawk sized stone. That was truly amazing. I never knew that there was so much to it! We shot til we were wore out on the fun course. We lost a few arrows and broke one cedar of his but it really helped him improve. I bought a Helle knife blank and the latest copy of TTBB from the great folks at Dryad. I asked lots of questions and realized I had even more once I saw thier beautiful biows up close.
Over all it was a great time! Hey Wingnut I sent you a PM full of questions for when you get caught up.
-------------------- Jim Richards Veteran
USMC 84-88 Oklahoma Army National Guard 88-89 USMCR 89-96 Desert Storm Oklahoma Air National Guard 2002- present. O.I.F. 2005 and 2007 Operation New Dawn 2011 Black Widow MAII 56 @ 28" Various other hand made bows. Posts: 3379 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Aug 2005
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What a great time though. I sure met a lot of new people there.....I promise I will remember your faces, though probably not your names.
We had an estimate of between 400 and 500 people on Saturday.
I can't start to thank everyone who helped with this event! For sure I want to thank the guys who spent countless hours helping people with their bows! Ralph Renfro, as always, spent almost every waking hour teaching. Tommy Leach, Mike Hames, JD Jones, Shane Cordell, and MANY others, donated their time and sweat to help beginners and experienced bowyers with their projects........THANKS GUYS!!!!
I also want to thank Casey Jones, David Bond and Casey's bro-in-law Jared, for all their help in getting the place ready for the event.
Sure enjoyed the music on Saturday night provided by Chad Shlagle (sp??) and Sandy Biles. We'll try and provide a little better concert location next year, so the die-hard bow builders can still work on the power tools if they want......you could see them patiently waiting by the band saws during the music, almost jumping out of their skin wanting to work on bows.
We will try and hold next years event over the last weekend of spring break, like usual, surely Easter won't be THAT early again for a while!
Just to clear up one issue concerning the location....Ojam WILL BE HELD AT THE SAME PLACE IN THE FUTURE! I had several people tell me that they heard it was going to be moved....it's not!
Hope you all had as much fun as I did!
Look forward to seeing everyone again at Mojam!!
Doug.
-------------------- "The crappy stuff makes you a better bowyer, but the good stuff makes better bows"....Ferret Posts: 1444 | From: Sapulpa, OK | Registered: Oct 2003
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Wow, what a great time. This was my first OJAM but defienetly won't be my last. I met a lot of great people. I want to thank Mike, Tommy and Shane for all the help finishing my bow. I will post pics tonight of it. JD, I will be trying your style of handle wrap and let you know how it turns out. (I'm sure it won't be as easy as you made it look.) Thanks to the Rutters and everyone else who made this such a great event. Can't wait till next year.
I had to leave Saturday night, who won the bow????
John
-------------------- Take a kid hunt'n. (If not who'll drag your deer out when you get old?!) Bear Creek Selfbows Posts: 251 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Mar 2007
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I would like to thank Deep Fork Archery Club for having their trad shoot at OJAM this year.
I'm definitely NOT a 3D shooter but I thought they set up two really nice courses to test those freshly made bright yellow bows. The fun course was well...... "fun" and the competitive shoot had a great variety of targets with reasonable shots and distances.
I also think the central Oklahoma trad guys should try to give Deep Fork some support in their monthly shoots so hopefully they will come back next year. Their course is south of the OJAM location (3 miles east of Tryon on 105).
I also want to know if Dano is going to be doing a Lollie Gagin dvd. His demos at OJAM were extremely helpful. Posts: 2710 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Jul 2004
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Doug--I heard that Easter will not be this early again until 2061. I think we can stay on spring break schedule! My family had a great time at OJAM. It is really great to get to spend with old friends and make new ones. Everyone take care. Shane "Coach"
Posts: 164 | From: Little River, KS | Registered: Nov 2003
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Should read "spend time" with old friends. Still a little tired! Coach
Posts: 164 | From: Little River, KS | Registered: Nov 2003
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Okay, here are some pics., still not all the way finished.
-------------------- "Let yourself go with the arrow and the trip will never cease to amaze you." Me Posts: 258 | From: northern California | Registered: Dec 2006
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This was also my first and had a great time. Even got the wife out to shoot some. We plan on going next year and bringing the camper (and dog!)and staying a few days. Also will bring the flyrods and spend some time on the pond.
Doug, you and your family did a great job hosting it.
-------------------- RBBHUNT "Those who will trade liberty for security, deserve niether" B. Franklin (a long time ago and still valid) Posts: 542 | From: Sapulpa, OK | Registered: Apr 2007
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