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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: J. Holden on August 19, 2013, 08:08:00 PM

Title: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: J. Holden on August 19, 2013, 08:08:00 PM
So, I thought I had a 68" osage longbow.  Came in a little under weight and wanted to increase that while thinning the tips as well.  After seeking some advice I went ahead and cut off the tips and tapered the limbs into some new tips.  Well, I thought I cut 3 inches off, my bow is now 63 inches tip to tip.  So, I really gained quit a bit of weight.  Measure twice and cut once my friends.  Please learn from me.   :knothead:  

- Jeremy   :coffee:
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: jsweka on August 19, 2013, 08:19:00 PM
In the words of Homer Simpson - DOH!

I once went to cut a piece of 72" fiberglass in half.  One half ended up 34" and the other was 38".  Fortunately, the short end was still just long enough for a limb and my form. It was to be a 68" long longbow and for some reason I divided the length of the bow in two rather than the length of the glass.
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: kennym on August 19, 2013, 08:43:00 PM
I was gonna cut some 60" recurve glass in half to ship... guess what I got a 36"(half of regular glass) and a 24"

You could clearly see the difference in the 2 ifn I'da just looked !!
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: J. Holden on August 19, 2013, 09:03:00 PM
Feels good to know I'm not alone in this!  Thanks for the honesty.  On the bright side I got all the weight I was looking for and then some!

-Jeremy   :coffee:
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: wood carver 2 on August 19, 2013, 10:29:00 PM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's done that.
   :knothead:    :)    
Dave.
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Roy from Pa on August 19, 2013, 11:34:00 PM
I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

Ok, maybe once.

Well maybe twice.

Ah crap, I forgot about the third time..

  :laughing:
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: cunruhshoot on August 20, 2013, 01:13:00 AM
I was going to keep this to myself but since everyone is being so open and honest...I actually glued up one of my tapers reverse on a bow that I was finally making for myself. I noticed it after I had shaped the limbs and cleaned it all up ready to glue up the nock overlays.

It now hangs over my work desk as a reminder to slow down and look at what I am doing.
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Roy from Pa on August 20, 2013, 05:42:00 AM
LOL, I've made myself a left handed bow, trouble is I'm right handed  :)
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Eric Krewson on August 20, 2013, 07:34:00 AM
Yep, I am a measure once and cut twice guy, many more times than I like to admit.
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Mike Most on August 20, 2013, 08:40:00 AM
Yeppers, can I join the club...
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: J. Holden on August 20, 2013, 08:40:00 AM
Well Roy, next time remember I'm a lefty!  And one more thing, when you screw up do you add yourself to your thumpin' list?

-Jeremy  :coffee:
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Ranger44 on August 20, 2013, 08:58:00 AM
Yep, I've done that a time or two.   :)   When it comes to working with wood it's almost impossible to never do this.

It reminds me of the saying one of my old high school teachers used in a different application.

"When surveyed, 90% of people have admitted doing this and 10% are liars."
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Paul/KS on August 20, 2013, 09:36:00 AM
I have been known to trim an arrow, or 2, a tad too short from time to time...  :eek:  
Helps to have a couple of short bows around to shoot them with then.  ;)
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: paoliguy on August 20, 2013, 12:14:00 PM
I'm with Mr. Roy, made my right handed son a left handed bow. Good thing a kid at church was a lefty. Made me feel a little better!
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Bowjunkie on August 20, 2013, 12:16:00 PM
I'm a measure twice, cut once, leave a witness kind of woodworker. I don't recall the last time I measured and cut something wrong(knock on wood). However, I make up for it with other types of 'oopses'... the last one resulted in dropping all lams and riser of a longbow, slathered up with glue, onto the floor and into a bunch of osage and yew shavings... like it was tarred and feathered... broke the fadeouts on both ends of the riser and had to make another one immediately... I had epoxy from my armpits to my knees because I tried, ungracefully and unsuccessfully, to catch everything  :(
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Roy from Pa on August 20, 2013, 01:14:00 PM
Wish I'd have been a little mouse and seen that Bowjunkie:) I'd of laughed my butt off:)

Anymore I measure, check, measure again, check. Think about it then cut..
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: monterey on August 20, 2013, 02:03:00 PM
i usually dont measure at all.  just swag it!  that way the cuts are always as expected
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: J. Holden on August 20, 2013, 02:57:00 PM
On the bright side I achieved the 60 lbs. I was after!  I'd like to say it was intended...

-Jeremy  :coffee:
Title: Re: Measure twice, cut once
Post by: Roy from Pa on August 20, 2013, 03:08:00 PM
Told ya so dude.