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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: gordonf on April 23, 2008, 11:29:00 AM
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This is my first attempt at a laminated R/D bow. The backing is bamboo, with a black walnut core and a yew belly. The yew was cut from a log that Joe Klink kindly gave to me (thank you Joe!). The bow is 64” ntn, 60# @ 27”, 1 ¼” wide to the mid-limbs tapering to ½” at the tips. Handle wrap is dyed elk with kangaroo lacing and the bow is finished with Tru-Oil. I’m not entirely satisfied with the result – I glued in too much deflex and I lost more reflex than I had hoped during tillering. So I ended up with some string follow. But I learned a great deal from this bow and I expect to do better on my next attempt. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_003.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_010.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_011.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_002.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_007.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_006.jpg)
(http://mysite.verizon.net/res0oeio/walnut_yew/BBWalnutYew_005.jpg)
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That looks really nice.
Great landscape you have going on there,too. :thumbsup:
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The walnut gives it character plus. Good job.
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For a 1st attempt, I think I'd give you an A+! ;) Well done! That's a very nice looking bow! :thumbsup:
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It´s a beauty!
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Outstanding effort and results! I am thinking of attempting my first...I'm am very impressed. It really has graceful lines. Looks like it fits you well!
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Gordon, this may be a stupid question...but I'll ask it anyway...did you use black walnut because it is so hard and would allow you to get the weight of the bow up to 60#? Seems like a lot of selfbows are in the 50# or less range.
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David,
Black walnut seemed like a good choice for the core wood because it has good elasticity and it is fairly light relative to other hardwoods like osage or various tropical hardwoods. But more importantly, I happen to have a bunch of it in my garage and I need to figure out how to use it. :D
You can definitely build selfbows in the 60-70# range and more - I've made several. This particular bow, however, is not a selfbow. I am fairly certain you do not need a core lamination to make a higher poundage laminated bow.
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Gordon,
I understand just what you are saying about the deflex overtaking the reflex but it is still a good looking bow. I just finished my first R/D bow, too, and had the same thing happen to me. It is a boo backed hickory/hickory for a friend and my goal was to keep a strong reflex to it. But after tillering it looks just like yours. My friend is still very happy with it, though, and it should serve him well. Next time I will not induce any deflex at glue up and allow the tillering process to create it, unless the core is osage or ipe.
I imagine after you shoot it in you won't be too disappointed with it. Thanks for sharing.
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Gordonf,
I like the looks of the bow. I found this past weekend a draw full of western ceder. I was thinking sinew back selfbow, and my first try at bamboo backed ceder. I hope my first attempt at a composite bow looks as good as yours.
Nice work
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Chris, I have shot the bow a fair amount since completing it and am actually quite happy with the way it shoots. I agree with you about not inducing deflex the next time.
Jack, backing Western Cedar with bamboo would certainly yield a bow that is light in the hand. I would be concerned about the durability of such a combination, however. Thank you for the compliment.
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Awesome bow Gordon! You sure are a stickler for the details and it shows in beautiful bows! Thanks for sharing! Matt
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Wow
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Wow that is certainly a beauty. I am a sucker for bows like that. Excellent job.
Jack
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Very nice looking bow,I like them to follow the string a little, it makes for a sweet shooting bow.
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I hope when I decide to make my first laminated wood bow it turns out that good.
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Looks good to me
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Beautiful as always Gordon!!
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Thank you all for all the nice compliments. It is such a pleasure to be amoung folks who appreciate this kind of work. You guys rock!
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Gordon, Another good looking bow.
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that is a very nice looking bow, great job!
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Beautiful work Gordan.
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Gordon, what a beautiful bow and just outstanding for your first one. How does it feel in the hand to shoot?
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Ray, I should clarify that this isn't really my first bow - I've actually built several. But it is my first attempt at a laminated reflex/deflex design.
The bow seems quite fast and is easy to handle. I think it could easily become a favorite - at least until I build my next one :D
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Sweet bow Gordon.
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Gordon after looking at the photos, it seems to Me that you might have too much twist in your Flemish string, looks to be a really tight spiral. This can cause erratic arrow flight,and string slaping your forearm, have you noticed any so far? Just curious cause I twisted one that was a little long for the Bow to tight and it took some time before I found out after calling Dean Torges why the Recurve wasn't shooting properly.
I now prefer a slow gradual spiral Twist in all My Bow strings....ONE SHOT... :) :) :D :D
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Yes, there is too much twist in the string. That is because I was using a tillering string for the pictures. I've since built a proper string for this bow.
You are very observant Gail!
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Awesome! I'd love to have a bow like that!
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If you enlarge the picture you can read the writing on the bow. It says, to my buddy Terry....Happy hunting!
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Great looking bow.
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I would think you already own enough of my crappy bows Terry :D
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You make beautiful bows Gord. I never get tired on mine.
Terry
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The color contrast is sure a eye catcher. No suprise its a beaut, every one you ever posted was a winner in my eyes.
Thanks for posting it, gives us a benchmark to strive for. RS
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You got one of Gordon's bows, Terry? Lucky dawg!
Stan
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Stan, I'm fortunate to have two :D