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Topic Archives => Build Alongs => Topic started by: Chris R on February 22, 2004, 10:13:00 PM

Title: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 22, 2004, 10:13:00 PM
I worked a stave down today with some serious issues, don't know if it will make a bow or not, but it ought to be a fun ride.  It has some pretty thin grain, lots of humps and bumps, and a knot that runs through the upper limb.  Oh, to top it off, it has a crack that runs off the upper limb.  It's gonna get a sinew job but weather it'll make it remains to be seen.

Here's the profile, I wish this pictue was a little better, but it has propeller twist on both limbs that run the same way leaving the tips lining up perfectly and the handle at about a 45 to the tips
   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=348) .

Here's a front and back of the knot, it lays about 3-4 inches above the handle
   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=346)

   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=347)

and here's the crack.  It's between the handle and the knot.
   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=338) .

I'd probably be better off hitting myself in the head with a hammer, but I'm gonna give her a go.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: the Ferret on February 22, 2004, 10:38:00 PM
Man oh man oh man...better you than me   :knothead:  

Don't think the knot will be a proble,. dig out the punky stuff and it will probably make a nice charachter hole. Can't tell much about the crack. How close are you to limb dimension? (width and thickness?)

I'd probably use steam to get that thing aligned.

Good luck Chris and keep us informed.

Hey nothing ventured nothing gained and you may be handsomely rewarded. (then again you may be knocked unconcious) ha ha
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 22, 2004, 11:11:00 PM
I've got it taken to width, a fat 1 1/16", and just finished cutting my facuts for a radius belly.  I don't have anything bending yet.  Both limbs reflex from the handle and the go into a serious deflex at about midlimb.  Next step is to put some heat to that and get the limb tips pointing in the right direction.  I'll try to get some more pics posted as we go.

Haha, I've been knocked unconcious a few times and it hasn't affected me any.  Haha, I've been knocked......wait, didn't I just say that??   :knothead:  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: the Ferret on February 23, 2004, 07:34:00 AM
Does the crack go all the way through? It looks like it's on the belly side, maybe it'll disappear by the time you get down to limb thickness.
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 23, 2004, 08:29:00 AM
Actually, that's what I'm hoping for.  It finishes out along the edge about 1/4" from the back.  It does go at a pretty steep angle into the belly.  I'll probably get into a little bit of it though.  

I just put some heat to the lower limb and have it clamped up trying to get rid of some of the deflex.  Gonna go get some sleep (working midnights this week, uggggg) and see how it looks in a few hours.  I wanted to take a few pics but left the camera on and ran the batterys down    :knothead:  

Chris-nitey time for now-R
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Madpigslayer on February 23, 2004, 02:07:00 PM
good luck!
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: AZStickman on February 23, 2004, 02:53:00 PM
I usually try not to post right under the flying pig but......  :D  ..... Wishing ya luck too.... Terry
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 23, 2004, 03:02:00 PM
LOL, don't look up  "[laffsmyl]"  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 23, 2004, 03:08:00 PM
Here's showing the deflex in the lower limb before and after heating it.  I probably have to give her another go.  It did hold some of the movement, just taking a little at a time.

I've either got to get a better camera or a steadier hand  :knothead:  

  (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=350)

  (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=351)

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: the Ferret on February 23, 2004, 03:26:00 PM
How long does it take for the pic to load?
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 23, 2004, 06:33:00 PM
S-L-O-W    :knothead:  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Craig R. on February 24, 2004, 08:34:00 AM
If I knew you were shaving some staves, I'd a come over.  :bigsmyl:    Should have given me a call.  Now if you want some help, you'll have to wait until next weekend when I'm off.  "[dead]"  

Craig -- someone has to go to work these days -- R.

PS. Ya know whre to reach me.
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 24, 2004, 01:50:00 PM
LOL Craig.  I'm working some strange hours right now.  Midnights suck!  It does give me a chance to catch up on my paperwork though.  Go back to days next week.  I'm working on this bow in bits and peices as time allows.  I came home on my lunch last night and heated the other limb to kill some of that wicked deflex.  I'll sinew her next and try to get some pics up as I go.

I owe you a bow and was thinking maybe a BBO or BBH.  Got me to thinking (no comments   :bigsmyl:   ) maybe you've like to try your hand at it.  I've got a few pieces of bamboo, just have to get a slat of hickory or decrown one of my staves.  Hook-reel-reel-reel.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 24, 2004, 04:18:00 PM
DSL is great. So, Chris, keep us apprised. I'm working on a character osage now too. 2 cracks,  a big knot, several small ones, a dog leg and a twist. Right osage is for beginners. Yup. :)
Jawge
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 24, 2004, 04:20:00 PM
Humps, bumps and thin grained too. This bad bow has some character. It was given to my by a characgter-DCM.
jawge
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 24, 2004, 04:21:00 PM
Humps, bumps and thin grained too. This bad bow has some character. It was given to my by a characgter-DCM.
jawge
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 24, 2004, 11:48:00 PM
LOL Jawge.  There's a good reason they call em character bows and I don't thinks it has much to do with the wood  :smileystooges:  .  Put some pics up of yours, I'd love to see em.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 25, 2004, 12:06:00 AM
I've got one more spot that needs tweeked on the upper limb.  Next I'm gonna try to tackle the big twist in the middle.  I'll give her one shot and if it doesn't straighten out I'll leaver her as is.  Most of the twist is in the non-bending handle but it sure would make life easier if it were straighter.  I'll try to post some pics in the AM.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 25, 2004, 08:33:00 AM
Oh, the things she puts up with   :bigsmyl:  
  (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=369)

I got the deflex under control with dry heat.  The only problem is that in doing so, the tips moved off of the handle.  I'm steaming her and will clamp her up to try to get things lined up again.  I don't think I'm going to worry about the twist too much, most of it won't move anyhow.

More later.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 26, 2004, 08:37:00 AM
I won't be able to get back to her till Saturday, figure I'd induce a little mojo in her till then.  :bigsmyl:  

    (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=378)

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: the Ferret on February 26, 2004, 12:11:00 PM
Chris you got that bad boy looking good! Here's a tip. next time you steam in the kitchen,put down a piece of aluminum foil and some paper towels where it drips on the stove and counter ha ha

osage drippins will stain! (don't ask how I know these things)   :D
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Raven on February 26, 2004, 03:15:00 PM
Nice bow rack!  :D   Have to see if we can't find one of those down in S. Ohio this fall. Need to work on mine some more, have had it at work in a room to help dry it out some. It's looken good, no splits or anything  :D  
 How does osage tast?  :eek:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 26, 2004, 03:39:00 PM
Chris, I dunno about me sometimes. I reach for the ugly duckling stave. Sounds like we are 2 the same. Ferret, you too. You have changed tho bigtime.
Jawge
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 26, 2004, 03:42:00 PM
Ferret, LOL I shot that pic just as the steam started to roll.  Man I dropped the camera and scrambled for the paper towel rack.  I inherited that stock pot after the last one I steamed haha.


Raven, I can't wait until next fall, that is gonna be a blast  :bigsmyl:    Give me a shout when you're ready to come over  :thumbsup:  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 26, 2004, 03:44:00 PM
Jawge, LOL that's all I got is them ugly duckling staves   :smileystooges:     Sounds like I'm in good company though   :thumbsup:  

Raven, that deer was my first selfbow kill and my best ever, definatley some mojo in there  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Raven on February 26, 2004, 04:31:00 PM
Can I hang my bow on that rack to get some of that Mojo  :p   The way I have been shooting of late I need something  :scared:  ......Raven  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Timo on February 26, 2004, 08:04:00 PM
Haven't check this thread in a while, and must say,that stave is looking much better!!!

I think the "or knot" is out of the question now?  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 28, 2004, 08:43:00 PM
Well, I reduced her a little more, just have the limbs barely bending.  Conventional wisdom says get em to floor tiller then sinew them, but with about 4" of reflex already, I don't want the sinew to pull any more refelx.

Here's a couple profile pics:
   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=383&sid=3f93bb641f4f825639c907b972069146)

   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=384&sid=3f93bb641f4f825639c907b972069146)

I've still got a bad feeling about this crack.  I've shot her full of CA and after a spell in the hot box, if it opens up a little more, I'll hit her again.  Definately gonna get a wrap there though.

   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=382&sid=3f93bb641f4f825639c907b972069146)

Got the sinew job done.  I almost forgot how messy of a job that is    :knothead:  

   (http://www.ozbow.net/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=385&sid=3f93bb641f4f825639c907b972069146)

Got a little sliver bow taken down to just above to back and am getting ready to lay it out.  That ought to keep me occupied for a little while    :bigsmyl:  

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Timo on February 28, 2004, 11:10:00 PM
Watching sinew dry, is worse than paint!

Oh, it's gonna make a bow alright! sinew is magic!

Looking good Chris!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 29, 2004, 07:59:00 PM
Timo, thanks for the vote of confidence  :thumbsup:  .  
Well, its officially put to bed.  I've got a quite a few hours put into it already and I want to make sure she's good and ready to go before I work on her any more.  Like I already said, that crack really concerns me, but we'll just have to see how she turns out.

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: the Ferret on February 29, 2004, 08:12:00 PM
Chris don't know if it's too late but you can always rasp the handle in on an angle so that it lines up with the tips.
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: Chris R on February 29, 2004, 09:10:00 PM
Probably a little late for that, but I did shape the handle to where it sits very comfortable in the hand where the tips point straight.  I'm building this one for the challenge of it to see if I can take a piece of wood that probably shouldn't make a bow and see if I can get her to fling an arrow.  So far it's been a pretty fun ride and I've learned alot about what it takes to make some pretty serious corrections, so if it blows, it's still been worthwile.  If I can get a shooter out if it, then   :bigsmyl:  .

Chris
Title: Re: will it be a bow...or knot
Post by: gifford on February 29, 2004, 09:31:00 PM
Great thread and pictures, you're right on track imho; nice job. Agree, waiting for sinew to dry is exasperating, but time to start another bow. :-)