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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Mad Max on January 14, 2024, 04:53:37 PM

Title: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 14, 2024, 04:53:37 PM
Roy
Not what,      but WHEN????????????? :knothead:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 14, 2024, 05:20:23 PM
Today I did nothing.  :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 14, 2024, 05:34:23 PM
I shivered , high was -5 but at least wind was only 12 mph instead of 20-25
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: derekdiruz on January 14, 2024, 06:06:24 PM
Glued up 4 limbs, and 2 risers that I cut yesterday... Planned on hunting but dang was it cold. Why not get a jump on the week then?!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 14, 2024, 06:11:58 PM
I wanted to get a couple more hunts in but forecast of -15 for morning and high of 2 don't thrill me much. :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 14, 2024, 07:07:13 PM
Yeah is going to be plenty cold for us too
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 15, 2024, 01:58:28 PM
Good job Markie....

I bought deer corn today:)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on January 15, 2024, 02:59:46 PM
I was going to hunt today but -4f and snow.  I don't mind the cold so much but there's too many idjits on the road.  Not really doing anything.... so far. 😀
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: mmattockx on January 15, 2024, 04:41:38 PM
Yeah is going to be plenty cold for us too

It seems like a big chunk of North America is in the deep freeze or getting big storms at the moment, from Texas all the way to the arctic. Been brutally cold here for the last week, too. Had overnight lows of -38C a couple days.  :scared:


Mark
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 15, 2024, 05:52:57 PM
Yeah we had about 3" of sleet today, temp. is in the teens also and cold for a few days.
low 12         high 20
       6                 22
       5                 35
warm up a day and back cold again
No snow plows trucks, so we will see what happens
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 15, 2024, 06:12:33 PM
We made it to + .3 degrees today, but will break the freezing mark a week from tomorrow ... I hope, already tired of winter... :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on January 15, 2024, 10:37:32 PM
Dropping fast as the sky clears.  Should be warming in the next few days.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 16, 2024, 07:30:50 AM
Making wood arrows.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 16, 2024, 10:14:34 AM
Nice sticks there Bue..
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: mmattockx on January 16, 2024, 11:13:39 AM
No snow plows trucks, so we will see what happens

That's the big problem for you guys that normally don't see this stuff, there is no equipment and people aren't set up very well to deal with it. At least up here we know it's coming every year and everyone is equipped to deal with it. Hang in there.


Making wood arrows.

Now that's a productive use of winter time.


Mark
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 16, 2024, 11:41:42 AM
Yep Mark I have food and the internet  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 16, 2024, 11:42:31 AM
Making wood arrows.


What kind of wood Bue??
Nice :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 16, 2024, 03:04:38 PM
Norwegian Pine.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 16, 2024, 06:31:43 PM
Norwegian Pine.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 17, 2024, 11:38:57 AM
Well here in the Willamette valley around the Portland / Salem area they are definitely not prepared for this cold stuff. We’ve been jumping from +16 - +28 for the last 4 days and a lot of high winds. but it’s turned into an ice storm the last day or so making going anywhere or doing anything impossible, or just down right stupid to try driving in. Hell…. It’s so slick outside I’m having a tough time getting wood in the house to keep th3 wood stove going.

But….. we are up to 32 this morning and it’s starting to drip out there. We even have a promise of rain coming to wash out all the ice. I can live with that. There are thousands of people here without power because of downed trees, and trying to stay warm….. I’m hoping it’s done for awhile.    Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: KenH on January 17, 2024, 01:24:08 PM
I lived in Salem and worked in Portland for a few years back in the 90s.  In 6 or 7 years we go 4.5" of snow; and 4" of that was one storm.  One year there was a 100 year flood on the Columbia and Willamette rivers too.
 
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 17, 2024, 03:33:39 PM
Well here in the Willamette valley around the Portland / Salem area they are definitely not prepared for this cold stuff. We’ve been jumping from +16 - +28 for the last 4 days and a lot of high winds. but it’s turned into an ice storm the last day or so making going anywhere or doing anything impossible, or just down right stupid to try driving in. Hell…. It’s so slick outside I’m having a tough time getting wood in the house to keep th3 wood stove going.

But….. we are up to 32 this morning and it’s starting to drip out there. We even have a promise of rain coming to wash out all the ice. I can live with that. There are thousands of people here without power becaus
e of downed trees, and trying to stay warm….. I’m hoping it’s done for awhile.    Kirk


4 degrees this morning but 30 or so for today, tomorrow will get to 36 around lunch.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on January 17, 2024, 07:00:12 PM
Making wood arrows.

Bue,  do you make the shafts?  They look great 👍

Got up to 44f today.  That's more like normal these days.  Colorado: the new Arizona.   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 18, 2024, 05:02:16 AM
I can not recall having so much snow in such a short time. Combined with strong north east wind the load on the roofs get very uneven, so I had to get up there. Here you can see the result. Luckily it is not that bad all around.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 18, 2024, 05:07:18 AM
Longcruise, I do not make the shafts.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 18, 2024, 07:44:42 AM
Dang Bue, you could use some global warming about now!! :)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 18, 2024, 08:10:37 AM
Hm, global warming has not reached my place for sure. Strange weather though, unusual cold January so far and next week will be warm. Will be a mess when all the snow starts melting. I am considering applying for a Tahitian citizenship, I heard they get free bananas and coconuts.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I live on the third floor. ;)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 18, 2024, 08:21:57 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I live on the third floor. ;)

 :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on January 18, 2024, 10:38:12 AM
Started the day as I often do.... reading the funnies.  Every now and then something of archery relevance.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on January 18, 2024, 11:35:15 AM
LOL  :laughing:  Non Sequitur is one of the best!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 18, 2024, 11:54:35 AM
  Well what i did this morning was finally make it back out to the shop without busting my arse on the ice. It's been above 40 and raining for about 18 hours and there are still sheets of ice an inch thick on my sidewalk going to the shop. i had to walk in the grass to get out here 30 yards.  I was going stir crazy in the house, but the shop doesn't heat well after it drops into the mid 20's being a non insulated pole barn. once it gets above freezing i can keep it 50-60 degrees in here easily without running the ball bearings off my heater. Trying to heat it in extreme cold weather is too expensive.

I've got all this bamboo to mill, and the table saw area isn't heated. it's on the other side of my arctic curtain. i think i can handle 40 degrees for an hour or so, so i'm going for it.     

Man that is a lot of snow Bue. :o :o :o    I wish we would have had snow instead of all this ice.

Kirk


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on January 19, 2024, 09:15:36 PM
I shaped up some patriotic tips on my latest project.  Something different - I think I actually like it.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 21, 2024, 08:50:31 AM
Used the table this time instead of free handing the 3 1/4 hp router worked great for the short forms, and a new form for back overlays on a new riser…. Dry run looked good . [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 21, 2024, 11:22:54 AM
Used the table this time instead of free handing the 3 1/4 hp router worked great for the short forms, and a new form for back overlays on a new riser…. Dry run looked good .

Yep, I always get a low spot somewhere on the form using a hand held router, just a little one irks me. I fill it with some Smooth-on and sand it with some kind of lam as a backer. :banghead:
I don't really have room for a router table for now but would like one.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 21, 2024, 01:01:49 PM
I got a router table set up years ago just for forms.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 21, 2024, 02:03:05 PM
Used the table this time instead of free handing the 3 1/4 hp router worked great for the short forms, and a new form for back overlays on a new riser…. Dry run looked good .

Yep, I always get a low spot somewhere on the form using a hand held router, just a little one irks me. I fill it with some Smooth-on and sand it with some kind of lam as a backer. :banghead:
I don't really have room for a router table for now but would like one.
Yes, this one’s pretty simple built-in to the side of my table Saw it’s a Lee valley Insert works good for a big router and well supported And then I built a clamp on fence, vacuum attachment when needed. I’ve had it for years , it’s an inexpensive router table.  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 21, 2024, 02:39:35 PM
I set one up years ago myself with a big router and big cutters with 1/2” shank bits.
I played with shaping riser blocks with it prior so setting up a pattern sander, and I wouldn’t recommend it.  Too much grain tear out in spots, and climb cutting by hand with an open cutter like that is not a good option. It’s seriously dangerous.

They work great for a lot of applications though, and are perfect for forms. Just be careful with that thing… it’s a man eater.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 21, 2024, 02:44:16 PM
I set one up years ago myself with a big router and big cutters with 1/2” shank bits.
I played with shaping riser blocks with it prior so setting up a pattern sander, and I wouldn’t recommend it.  Too much grain tear out in spots, and climb cutting by hand with an open cutter like that is not a good option. It’s seriously dangerous.

They work great for a lot of applications though, and are perfect for forms. Just be careful with that thing… it’s a man eater.
Oh yes shes 1/2” x 2” with some serious rpm s.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 21, 2024, 09:23:59 PM
Years back I thought I was gonna cut a big hog by using the router table for profiling. Was doing an Osage piece and got to a point and the router grabbed the Osage ripped it apart threw it against the wall with authority. I had sore fingers for awhile. Considered myself lucky and setup the 6x80 for profiling.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 22, 2024, 05:39:05 PM
I set one up years ago myself with a big router and big cutters with 1/2” shank bits.
I played with shaping riser blocks with it prior so setting up a pattern sander, and I wouldn’t recommend it.  Too much grain tear out in spots, and climb cutting by hand with an open cutter like that is not a good option. It’s seriously dangerous.

They work great for a lot of applications though, and are perfect for forms. Just be careful with that thing… it’s a man eater.
Oh yes shes 1/2” x 2” with some serious rpm s.

I have several spiral cutters , wing cutters, and some big 1.25” straight cutters too.
The best one I found was the larger diameter bit with the larger flush bearing. They don’t heat up like the small diameter bits do, and the bearings last longer. 
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 26, 2024, 10:36:39 AM
Glued up a new project Tuesday night and was able to knock the boogers off and get her tapered up.  Kennys modified r/d and I'm making it super long at 68" ntn just to play around, have a longer comfortable shooter for when friends come over who don't shoot often.   Usually there's a .003 taper but in this glue up I used and extra taper to get some thickness I needed rather than a parallel so I'm running a .004 taper rate on these lams interested to see the results.

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 26, 2024, 10:57:59 AM
Usually there's a .003 taper but in this glue up I used and extra taper to get some thickness I needed rather than a parallel so I'm running a .004 taper rate on these lams interested to see the results.”

I’ll be curious to see what your experience is with that… unless you ran that last taper in reverse bringing it down to .002 forward taper, it’s going to reduce your limb thickness farther out on the limb rather than increase it.

Between the extra limb length, and a faster taper rate, I’m afraid you may experIence some vertical stability issues with that particular limb design. Especially in lower draw weights… I could be wrong though…. 

Btw….. playing with reverse tapers is an interesting rabbit hole. I’ve played with this on light weight target limbs and eliminated tip wedges normally used on a static tip RC with good results… it adds needed thickness for stability at the base of the curl.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 26, 2024, 11:08:41 AM
Yes I'm curious as well.   Will be cautious that it doesn't end up whip ended, but as for stability I can see the possibility of the wonkiness when tugging the string up and down  I gained some confidence in elongation by reading a neat experimental thread by ForwardHandle.  He was messing with tip wedges and power lams on the kennym designs.   

I made the decision on the fly, that extra taper with extra epoxy made the raw blank stiffer than expected, so now here we are in the name of SCIENCE! I guess I should be getting better notes.   Someone should write a how to on how to keep a good bowyers notebook.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 26, 2024, 12:06:12 PM
Modified R/D is that something new or maybe I missed it.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 26, 2024, 12:22:16 PM
At least a few years old, it's on kennys website under his build along.  He threw an extra inch of reflex in at the tip of his regular r/d form.  A bit more aggressive, but keeps a really nice tight string angle at brace.   Almost a 'recurve' just by definition of the string touching the limbs. By you can slide a note card in there.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 26, 2024, 12:22:51 PM
I use the butcher paper method myself. Every bow I get ready to lay up, I write the design, limb length, bow length, draw weight target @ 28”, and stack height calculation.

Then I mill the lams, tip wedges, and wedge noting material type. I always use 30” long  stock except on one piece bows where 36” are needed.

So by the time I get ready to mix my glue I have something like this on the top of my clean butcher paper.

  John Doe, Sas Hybrid, 60” Med limbs, R17- 50@28 target.  .290 , 40/40 BG, maple .0015, Aboo .0015, SC,  walnut W,  8” walnut TW. ( for clear glass with veneers I use 40/40 CG and veneer type) this will be my log entry after adding the actual draw weight.

After my lay up I take another fresh piece of butcher paper with wax on one side and put it over the one I just slopped epoxy all over and go again. This wax covered paper doesn’t stick to the epoxy well, and can be separated later. 

After I’ve got my limbs mounted and profiled using a limb template, and temp string notches, I put it on the scale and measure my rough draw weight, and write it on the butcher paper with “std profile” noted.   If I’m heavy I may narrow up the profile a bit and weight it again noting “narrow profile” .


This system works good because if you get busy, or side tracked, everything is still written down, and can be transferred to your bowyers log later.

Warning!  Once you have an inch of butcher paper built up, it’s time to peeel em off and log your entries…. :biglaugh:   

I built a spread sheet on excel for my log, and color code carbon applications or different limb designs. My logs go back to 2007 or 2008 now.  Of course I do not log all of my bows. Many of them are repeated draw weights and lengths. But it’s important to log the odd balls that you miss weight on, or make notes of “heavy” or “light” so you can adjust you stack a bit next time.  Noting different materials used is important too.      There’s about 5 cents worth….  Kirk

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Robyn Hode on January 27, 2024, 11:02:14 PM
I’m tillering my next bow. A few years ago I printed off a red oak build along of 4est Trekker. I’m trying to build that bow but mine is 58 inches ntn. It’s 1 1/2 inches wide out to 6 inches then angled to the tips. Right now the tips are 1/2 inch wide. I’m shooting for 50 pounds, 45 pounds after it is shot in. I’m also making arrows for it. I buy Douglas Fir floor boards and cut the to 3/8 inch square dowels then plan them round.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Robyn Hode on January 27, 2024, 11:03:26 PM
Here’s the arrows. I’m still working on both.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 28, 2024, 07:53:10 AM
Nice method for the arrows there.  You may have inspired me to do the same.

Last night I got to work on tips and grip. The limited height of my spindle sander has me wanting to get one of those drill attachments with a handle on one end for making the transitions between the forefinger and the web of the thumb all the way around to the thumb rest a lottle smoother and less cumbersome without the table in the way.   Anyone use these contraptions?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: derekdiruz on January 28, 2024, 09:11:30 AM
Went to Kzoo yesterday… spoke with as many as I could. Saw Rosewood with a booth, and spoke with them a while. Picked the brain of bowyers like widow and stalker about their Cnc set ups for limbs and such… and now it has my wheels turning for jigs down the line.  :bigsmyl:  Also saw one of kirks bows at the swap area… first time seeing one in person, and your craftsman ship is fantastic!

It was a fun expo- just doubt I return. Too long of a drive for me to just walk around vendors. Lol
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 28, 2024, 02:51:03 PM
Nice method for the arrows there.  You may have inspired me to do the same.

Last night I got to work on tips and grip. The limited height of my spindle sander has me wanting to get one of those drill attachments with a handle on one end for making the transitions between the forefinger and the web of the thumb all the way around to the thumb rest a lottle smoother and less cumbersome without the table in the way.   Anyone use these contraptions?

Ive contemplated taking the pivot table completely off my spindle sander for shaping riser grips, but never have....   The one i want to seriously try doing is mounting a spindle i can run 1.5" sleeves on in the top portion of my 80" edge sander drum.... I believe Big Jim has one set up like that that i saw photos of years ago....I'd like to know how he mounted it so it doesn't wobble. i rig like that on the edge sander would be excellent.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 28, 2024, 03:07:57 PM
I think Great Plains has a belt sander that has a smaller roller on one end. I have seen it in his videos o U tube. And has a FB page. He may just give you some ideas. It looks homemade or by a machinist.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 28, 2024, 03:31:17 PM
I was thinking more of having a block of 1/2" thick aluminum machined to slide into the top of the drum on the motor end of my edge sander, and fixed with set screws tapped into the drum. and bore a hole dead center to mount the spindle shaft.... Of course you would have to mount the shaft before inserting it into the drum.

Possibly use a 3/8" steel spindle like this one.

https://www.amazon.com/scottchen-PRO-Spindle-Adaptor-Sandpaper/dp/B098WP4DDM/ref=asc_df_B098WP4DDM&mcid=2d182f10b3e83b8796e7d2d9dd8c810c?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80127041604596&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726559102759&psc=1

But..... Everything would have to be done very precise or that thing would wobble BIG time.

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 28, 2024, 05:32:30 PM
A good machinist could do it prolly have to remove your drum to get it done.
I go thru at least 1 sleeve on each riser. Thinking a belt would outlast the sleeves.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: OldRawhide42 on January 28, 2024, 05:58:49 PM
Kirk I have that spindle . I use it on my drill press.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 28, 2024, 07:10:08 PM
A good machinist could do it prolly have to remove your drum to get it done.
I go thru at least 1 sleeve on each riser. Thinking a belt would outlast the sleeves.

Another idea would be laminating a couple pieces of 3/8” G-10 together, bore a center hole &  rough out the circle shape on the band saw with a pivot jig. then take the same jig to the edge sander to sand it to size to fit the drum. Using G-10 would be stronger than aluminum and I could mill it myself. This would save pulling the drum and going to the machinists shop…. 

I bought a case of 1.5” 36 grit sleeves from Super Grit, and use those to rough shape the throat and thumb ledge.  That heavy grit lasts longer and cuts the dense hardwood and g-10 easier.  Then I use a 50 grit sleeve to remove the 36 grit sanding marks. I had to buy a full case of those 36 grit sleeves to get them made for me.

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 28, 2024, 10:36:04 PM
I have the supergrit 36 grit zirconium on the spindle and it is wild how much it cuts and how sharp it is in general.  Pair it with an abrasive cleaning stick and it will get a lot done for ya.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 28, 2024, 10:46:11 PM
Also amazing , the amount of hide 36 grit will take off in a single pass  :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 29, 2024, 12:40:12 AM
Also amazing , the amount of hide 36 grit will take off in a single pass  :laughing:

Amen brutha…. Amen… I got a few divots out of my knuckles to prove it too.

  I used 36 grit on my drum sander for years, then this last big roll I bought I went to 40 grit for milling lams…. Lots of tooth on those lams. The stuff cleans up well with big eraser too, and rarely burns the wood.   But…. There are those oily woods that clog up the best paper to the point you can’t even clean it with a wire brush.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 29, 2024, 03:02:34 PM
You all better watch out no [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] w. I learned how to post pics off my phone. You prolly know this guy.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on January 29, 2024, 03:13:28 PM
He looks big!!  :)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 29, 2024, 03:22:37 PM
That's a bow Gary Daviss made and travels with Ace Archery to shoots. That was early Tradfest years.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 29, 2024, 03:59:18 PM
An arrow that looks big on big jim has got to be a small sapling!  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on January 29, 2024, 04:16:01 PM
Finished carving grip and sanding today.  Sealer is really making this walnut and bocote pop.   There's some mystery curly maple under the frog tape interested to see how much chatoyance the glass picks up
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on January 29, 2024, 04:20:46 PM
Nice dbeaver
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on February 01, 2024, 06:16:44 PM
Wanting to try a new limb profile, so I started building the form last night.
I have a bunch of 3/4 plywood scraps from a trim carpenter friend of mine so I ripped them all down to 2” x13” strips and glued it up. I’ll be flattening and cleaning up, and getting it ready to press a limb. If it works good, I’ll seal it up good on all sides.
My thoughts are that it should be pretty stable. Could be a low cost solution for those that have scrap left over from other projects.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on February 01, 2024, 07:24:29 PM
Pretty interesting Jon! I just built a 1.5" one for a fellow from 1/4" plywood . We will see if it stays straight. 74" long...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on February 01, 2024, 07:49:47 PM
Well, got my answer pretty quick tonight. The glue joints are fine The plywood, bites ______(enter you word of choice)

I, scrape one together tonight with the plywood running lengthwise as this small area subject to any shear pressure delaminates to easily. I’ll be able to use screws as well with a different orientation.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 01, 2024, 08:10:43 PM
You might have a lot better luck with that approach if you edge band that plywood and tie it together. Besides strength you are going to need something to hold it straight too.
 
Even laminating hardwood like that wouldn't hold with that end grain not capped. :nono: :nono:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on February 01, 2024, 08:47:32 PM
Im done with that approach. Just glued and screwed one up with (2)3/4 sandwiched between (2) 1/4. It’s still not as good as the Baltic birch ones I have made. They are straight as an arrow and have remained that way in the garage for 18mo.

I pay almost $145/sheet for that 3/4 Baltic Birch now.

If I like this limb profile, I’ll remake it with an LVL
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 03, 2024, 12:32:49 AM
I think ya need some more screws in that form… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on February 03, 2024, 03:03:24 AM
I think ya need some more screws in that form… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Hahaha. Yep.
The amount of screws is a direct correlation to how much confidence I had in that crappy plywood that so miserably failed on the previous form. I may or may not have been mumbling under my breath what I thought of said plywood, which may have also contributed to the sheer volume of reinforcement
 :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 03, 2024, 10:10:20 AM
It’s really a crying shame the quality of plywood has gotten so poor, but it’s the quality of peeler logs they are using that has made a big difference. With the price of cabinet grade plywood these days, the LVL material isn’t too bad now, and makes a better form too.

I remember getting  beautiful birch solid core 3/4” for $12.00 per sheet.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 04, 2024, 12:22:37 AM
Well today I finally came out of my rut, and hit my poundage perfectly on two different sets of limbs….. I was on a bad roll for a bit after going back to building some aftermarket TD Bear limbs using my last shipment of bamboo.  Got things back on track now, and tomorrow I start a 70# carbon backed set. I think I’ve got that dialed in too…..
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on February 06, 2024, 09:59:58 AM
I've had a difficult couple of days. This past weekend I was cutting next years firewood when the 18" white oak crashed down on my chain saw driving the handle into the ground and bending the bar and chain is a 90 deg angle right at the saw. Yesterday morning when I went to get the saw out of the basement to take to the Stihl dealer for repairs there was water all over the basement floor. I shut off the water and it wasn't until afternoon that I got a crimp tool and plug to at least temporarily repair the leak. Fortunately the leak was on a line to the outside hose bib so after the repair I could turn the water back on. I just hope today is better.  :dunno: :knothead:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on February 06, 2024, 10:09:07 AM
I've had a difficult couple of days. This past weekend I was cutting next years firewood when the 18" white oak crashed down on my chain saw driving the handle into the ground and bending the bar and chain is a 90 deg angle right at the saw. Yesterday morning when I went to get the saw out of the basement to take to the Stihl dealer for repairs there was water all over the basement floor. I shut off the water and it wasn't until afternoon that I got a crimp tool and plug to at least temporarily repair the leak. Fortunately the leak was on a line to the outside hose bib so after the repair I could turn the water back on. I just hope today is better.  :dunno: :knothead:

I've had days like that and go back in the house and watch TV, maybe the TV wont break. :dunno:
1st time with the covid, last Thursday and I'm working threw it, sucks

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 06, 2024, 12:34:54 PM
I've had a difficult couple of days. This past weekend I was cutting next years firewood when the 18" white oak crashed down on my chain saw driving the handle into the ground and bending the bar and chain is a 90 deg angle right at the saw. Yesterday morning when I went to get the saw out of the basement to take to the Stihl dealer for repairs there was water all over the basement floor. I shut off the water and it wasn't until afternoon that I got a crimp tool and plug to at least temporarily repair the leak. Fortunately the leak was on a line to the outside hose bib so after the repair I could turn the water back on. I just hope today is better.  :dunno: :knothead:
I hear ya…. I hate those days when everything ya touch turns to chit…. 

I had my small stihl 021 crap out on me while pruning about a week ago… it was still running, but no power to it, and couldn’t hit high enough rpms to make it work. Last time I took my saw to the shop it cost me $200 and they put a new carb on it…..So I decided to try that myself and save some money…. Completed tune up kit for that 021 was only $22.00 on Amazon.   The R&R on the carb wasn’t bad. Took about 40 minutes tops….. Today I’m going  to see if that fixed the problem…. Lol… I haven’t tried to start it again yet…. I’m hoping these things come pre set on the adjustment screws like the auto carbs are…. If not I’ll be you-tubing carb adjustments.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 06, 2024, 04:18:50 PM
You are way better off to run the highest octane in those small engines. 87 is just not that clean anymore.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on February 06, 2024, 04:56:22 PM
All of my small 2 cycle engines get 91 octane with no alcohol. I ruined a Stihl 290 a few years ago with low octane gas.
The saw in the repair shop is a Stihl 028 I bought back in the mid 1980's and have cut a few hundred cords of fire with it since them. I sure hope they can fix it and for not too much. Hopefully it's only a clutch replacement. The motor runs fine and I got all the throttle trigger mechs working.
 A new saw is $500 or more.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on February 06, 2024, 07:47:21 PM
All of my small 2 cycle engines get 91 octane with no alcohol. I ruined a Stihl 290 a few years ago with low octane gas.
The saw in the repair shop is a Stihl 028 I bought back in the mid 1980's and have cut a few hundred cords of fire with it since them. I sure hope they can fix it and for not too much. Hopefully it's only a clutch replacement. The motor runs fine and I got all the throttle trigger mechs working.
 A new saw is $500 or more.

Yup.... running clear gas,  or zero ethanol gas is the secret to success for small engines, chainsaws, and boat motors too.... the saw shop tells me that 90 % of the work they were doing was gas related and carb problems.  After i started running clear gas 10 years ago i have had zero issues until now on this saw.

I wish you luck on the repair bill.    Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on February 07, 2024, 08:29:07 AM
I have too many projects going around the house and an upcoming bowswap to build.   

So I did the obvious and started a black locust selfbow

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on February 15, 2024, 06:48:27 PM
Brought home some more yellow wood! I hope to get it split out and the ends painted this weekend.
I left two more pretty nice straight logs out in the woods, they were quite large and way too heavy to bring out whole.
I'll have to split them out, on site, and make multiple trips.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on February 15, 2024, 10:30:10 PM
Those look nice. The middle one looks like it may be a bit snaky. Can we see a cut end and the rings?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on February 15, 2024, 10:39:36 PM
Those look nice. The middle one looks like it may be a bit snaky. Can we see a cut end and the rings?
Yeah - the middle one is the most suspect of the three - we'll see?
If I work on them this weekend I'll snap some pics of the ends/rings.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on February 16, 2024, 09:54:06 AM
I'd say, get them split in half at least and be sure to seal the ends. After a month or so split them into staves. You should also remove the bark and sapwood and seal the backs or treat them with a pesticide to kill the grub that will emerge in the spring and eat your staves.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: wood carver 2 on February 16, 2024, 06:17:50 PM
Pat, what is it about the middle log that appears snakey? I’m not a self bow builder and I can’t really see much difference between the three.
Dave.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on February 16, 2024, 07:47:45 PM
The top 16 to18" bends a bit to the left, and you can see where the bark in that area starts to take a bit of a twist rather being straight up & down/vertical.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on February 16, 2024, 10:42:41 PM
Just looking at the bark I think I can see some snaky lines in the bark.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 26, 2024, 09:59:09 PM
I finished a 56 in. longbow today.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on February 26, 2024, 10:15:36 PM
That's a sweet looking bow there stic
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 26, 2024, 10:17:23 PM
Thanks it came in at 40@28
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on February 27, 2024, 07:20:34 AM
Looking good. 56 inches, would be interesting to see it at full draw. Is the riser some of your stabilized wood?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 27, 2024, 02:15:08 PM
Here you go Bue 28 and 26 in
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Noah70 on February 28, 2024, 03:46:56 PM
Yesterday I was cleaning the last of Octobers leaves off the lower end, as well as some accumulated goose crap from this mild winter. This morning I woke up to this, about 8” down and another 24 hrs predicted.  So I know what I’ll be doing today, and tomorrow, etc.  March - in like a lion and out like a lamb?  At least thats what the old timers say…..oh wait - thats us !?
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 28, 2024, 04:03:49 PM
Okay so I got some this off hebay. I think more user friendly than serving material. .020 and burns nice giving you time to smash the ends down.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on February 28, 2024, 04:32:04 PM
Okay so I got some this off hebay. I think more user friendly than serving material. .020 and burns nice giving you time to smash the ends down.


Yep, I use that too.  I leave the tag ends long til I get her tuned and then grab with pliers and tighten em down before burning...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 28, 2024, 06:10:54 PM
I use the several overhand knots method and go ahead and burn them. And if you do it right they are turntable. Then once tuned you can put a drop of glue on them.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: twobows on February 28, 2024, 08:21:59 PM
Hi Mike,
  I use a Constrictor knot. Look it up easy to tie and don’t move.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on February 28, 2024, 09:33:50 PM
Yeah I used clove hitch for awhile. Sometimes it would turn sometimes not. I like mine to be moveable.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 01, 2024, 02:49:13 PM
I use the several overhand knots method and go ahead and burn them. And if you do it right they are turntable. Then once tuned you can put a drop of glue on them.

I use the same system with braided .025

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 01, 2024, 03:06:05 PM
I used the serving material for a long time and like the nock thread much better.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 01, 2024, 03:08:42 PM
I like the thread way better.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 01, 2024, 03:18:23 PM
Today i had a first in the shop.... I finally built a set of recurve limbs that exceeded my scales 100# weight capacity. :o :o :o    I've got a set that is supposed to come in at 105-110 @ 30" and needed to order another scale this morning....

I've got the light weight set i'm balancing out now at about 80@28". I'm going to have to beef up my tiller tree rigging a bit and wait on the new scale before i get the heavy set at full draw.

You want to talk about a bow that is a bit tough to string?  I can't even imagine doing this with a regular bow stringer.... The system i use  easily strings 60-70# bows with one hand on the limb. These heavy limbs require two hands to get them bent enough to get the string on them.

This one has a 21" riser length with a 3/8" thick I beam and has a ChromaPly body.   Zero riser deflection at 100#.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 01, 2024, 03:50:23 PM
 :o
2 rollers and a winch with cable, pull the riser down. James Parker has one for testing new squirrelly glass horn bows.

                 o                     o
             
                             
                             *----|

Send me the light weight 1 :laughing:

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 01, 2024, 05:21:03 PM
That is some serious stuff. Do you have to use thicker bolts than the usual 5/16 for such heavy stuff?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 01, 2024, 06:34:07 PM
I’ve actually got a compound riser press with two rollers, boat winch, and cable. I used it a lot in the mid 90’s tweaking speed bows with different cams and limbs.

 But…those bow presses are designed for compound bows that are around 36” axel to axel and still somewhat look like a bow.

You would think it would work on traditional bows, but it doesn’t. It puts too much pressure mid limb and they blow up…. Of course I learned that the hard way when I first started building bows.

This thing wouldn’t work on the  newer compound bows either with short parallel limbs. It’s pretty much obsolete now and collects dust.


Bue Maker,   I use the same 5/16-18 threaded inserts and bolts, but they are tapped into the G-10 I beam. So no worries there. But the thing I did learn about these 100# plus limbs is that besides using .050 glass, they need a thin layer of G-10 on the bottom of the limb where it bolts to the riser. These extend past the riser a wee bit to protect the glass at that hinge point…..

 I had one set actually fracture the glass at the end of the riser and break a solid rock hard maple wedge at the end of the riser. :o :o :o I had the end of the riser rounded over nicely too, but it was too much pin point pressure for the glass.

The limbs I’m building now I’m using the HD Chromaply for wedges in vertical grain profile. These wedges should be stronger than maple by far. I honestly thought about using G-10 for wedge material and even ground a couple to test out. But… the stuff is way too stiff to use for a wedge at 1/4” to nothing in 12” . Maybe you could use a power lam system with one G-10 power lam along side a hardwood PW.  I haven’t tried that yet.      Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on March 02, 2024, 10:56:11 AM
Kirk thats cool! Im just starting an 85# hill build- I use to be able to string a bow that heavy but i doubt i can now- i remember a couple dowels you used on the side of the workbench. can you share pics and what the spacing was? much appreciated.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 02, 2024, 11:27:52 AM
Kirk thats cool! Im just starting an 85# hill build- I use to be able to string a bow that heavy but i doubt i can now- i remember a couple dowels you used on the side of the workbench. can you share pics and what the spacing was? much appreciated.

I know I did a short video on this stringer set up of mine, but I can’t find the damn thing. I can do another one for you easy enough. This thing takes all the fight out of tillering by easily stringing and unstringing these heavier draw weight bows.   

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on March 02, 2024, 02:31:03 PM
If it’s not too much trouble kirk- it’s know it takes time to do
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 02, 2024, 02:53:44 PM
Get yourself  some 1 in. Wood Dowell. Use a paddle bit and drill holes in the end of your work bench in such a way the bottom limb goes under one Dowell and the throat of the grip over the other Dowell. If your talking real heavy bows you may want the top limb where you can use body weight to push down the top limb. Got no pics of mine tho.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 02, 2024, 07:28:09 PM
If it’s not too much trouble kirk- it’s know it takes time to do

No big deal I’ll do a clip a little later today…. I’ve got a clogged up sink in the house that needs my undivided attention right now and snake to get it flowing again. Liquid plumber failed miserably….. :banghead: :banghead:     Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 02, 2024, 09:39:59 PM
Well i failed miserably at the drain clog trials and need to go give it another go.... but i was able to get a quick video of my bow stringing system.

Here ya go....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7dBw2ehLASdwcsC27
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on March 02, 2024, 10:58:16 PM
Cool bracing set up, Kirk.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 02, 2024, 11:08:49 PM
A couple off-set dowels drilled into the side of my work bench. It really helps when continually taking the string on and off while tillering.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 03, 2024, 12:24:57 AM
Well what I gotta do tomorrow is really ugly….my snake was only 16’ long and didn’t get the clog out of the kitchen drain…. Tomorrow I do a commando crawl under the house and hope I put another clean out access in that ABS line when I plumbed it in back in 2001. If not I’ll be cutting pipes and installing one…. Man I hate plumbing adventures…. :banghead: :banghead: :knothead:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on March 03, 2024, 02:03:56 PM
Today, Marcia and I celebrated 46 years of marriage. Hard to believe it's been that long.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 03, 2024, 02:32:01 PM
Congrats!!!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 04, 2024, 10:11:35 AM
Wow!   46 years is outstanding!….

 My wife and I have 42 years together coming up this year. But that included two years of time trials living together.  Our actual 40 th wedding anniversary is in August…..  where did all that time go?    Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on March 04, 2024, 11:38:30 AM
Thanks to Kirk,burnsie and Stic for the dowel stringer! :shaka:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 04, 2024, 02:58:03 PM
Thanks to Kirk,burnsie and Stic for the dowel stringer! :shaka:

Just be sure and use good hardwood dowel stock and no cheap broom handles.... I use oak dowels myself.   
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on March 04, 2024, 03:42:37 PM
When the bow riser is crowned up from the belly with no throat, using a fixed peg against the riser can be dicey as the crown wants to slip off without warning. A shaped yoke that pivots on the upper peg works well, with the plus that it is less apt to mar the surface of a finished bow. Because the bows braced on this setup are really reflexed and want to twist sideways when being braced, I  put keeper disks on the ends of the dowels so nothing goes renegade. Two bottom pegs, so the fixture can used with short and “shorter” bows.

Like Kirk said, use 1” hardwood dowels.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 04, 2024, 04:28:54 PM
When the bow riser is crowned up from the belly with no throat, using a fixed peg against the riser can be dicey as the crown wants to slip off without warning. A shaped yoke that pivots on the upper peg works well, with the plus that it is less apt to mar the surface of a finished bow. Because the bows braced on this setup are really reflexed and want to twist sideways when being braced, I  put keeper disks on the ends of the dowels so nothing goes renegade. Two bottom pegs, so the fixture can used with short and “shorter” bows.

Like Kirk said, use 1” hardwood dowels.
Joel,
After I posted the picture above showing my bracing pegs, I thought - "man the guys must think I am bracing some crazy heavy bow, (or I'm really weak) with my foot up on the bottom peg and leaning back"  Actually no - I do that because I've had the bottom limb slip off the peg like you mentioned.  I got to thinking, I should just cut some round disks and screw them to the end of the pegs - and viola' you post your pic with the same idea. A small project to knock out tonight.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 04, 2024, 07:55:54 PM
 I don't know whether anyone noticed or not, and i failed to mention it in my short video.

But my 3/4" dowels are wrapped with a variety cushion material  and tape. i used pipe insulation on the top one and wrapped that with duct tape because using it on a freshly finished bow can definitely mar the finish using harder material. i wrapped one of the lower ones using rubber inner tube material which is hands down the best stuff for not slipping.  i used electrical tape over some thin foam on another one, and that works well too.

That is a pretty slick set up there onetone. :clapper:   

I had a portable one i built for going to 3D shoots years ago when i was stringing up 20 bows for a display each day that i used a foam covered  rocker block like yours, but mine was smaller and fit the throat of a grip. i don't build any bows with a  bulbous grip and no throat like that one you pictured. I would imagine you have different shaped pivot blocks?????    er no?   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 04, 2024, 08:24:46 PM
Ain't real sure about usps of ups what takes so long.i just got an ILF bow from China Fex ex ordered last Thrus. was here today. 4 days from China
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on March 04, 2024, 09:55:41 PM
Kirk - I do have a rig that fits in the hitch tube on the truck which the bracer attaches to for mobile use. The yoke pictured works for most of the bows of that design, but I do have a couple of others when needed.

BTW you were the original source of the idea of bench bracing for me. I have one like yours for my standard sized recurves. Makes life easier, and in the case of the horse bows, safer too!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 04, 2024, 10:13:49 PM
Well here is one that took two hands and a bead of sweat to brace today....  :o :o

Check out the draw weight on my new mini crane scale.... I was afraid to leave it at full draw to take the photo and risk it tearing my tiller block off the wall....LOL   btw.... The draw weight is perfect too... :o :o

Needless to say this old bowyer wont be getting this one to full draw....

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 04, 2024, 10:17:05 PM
I guess that weight is hard to see.... try this

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 05, 2024, 08:34:23 AM
Those are some wicked limbs, Kirk I’m guessing you have a beefed up G10 beam to keep it together ? not easy to find someone to test shoot that set of limbs. Well done.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 05, 2024, 08:55:36 AM
I’ve been busy playing with some ideas testing a couple different matte clears and limb designs. I gave it a rest yesterday, chopped up some bamboo, and I found this neat little piece of bubinga Should make some cool veneers.  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 05, 2024, 10:13:25 AM
That Bubinga should make some nice veneers, and your work is looking clean and crisp….. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 05, 2024, 12:01:52 PM
Thanks Kirk,  I appreciate yours  and everyone else’s help  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 05, 2024, 01:42:42 PM
Those are some wicked limbs, Kirk I’m guessing you have a beefed up G10 beam to keep it together ? not easy to find someone to test shoot that set of limbs. Well done.

Oh ya.... 3/8" thick G-10 I beam. with the HD Chromaply body.... Zero deflection.... Here is another one i built
for Martin last year about this time that has held up well.  This one also has a 21" riser and is cut 3/16" past center.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Jjts4crze3FWJcZi7
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 05, 2024, 03:26:36 PM
Great work Bryan.  :clapper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 07, 2024, 11:35:30 AM
Well I got the heavy limbs balanced out on this bow and hit my 105 @ 30” perfectly.
She’s in the spray booth right now…. The light weight limbs came out 76 @ 28” and about 83@30”….

Here are a few pictures….

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QpFXCsL9qoqwoudw7

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 07, 2024, 01:06:39 PM
Well done!
That sounds like it draws pretty smooth not gaining 3.5# per inch from 28-30 considering the draw weight.

I was always wondering who orders these heavy bows from Kirk. So I did a little digging around and found one of them.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 07, 2024, 02:51:51 PM
I used to shoot heavy bows like this one years ago myself. I swung a 2 pound hammer for about 15 years 10 hours a day, and packed tons of lumber each day wood framing. Its amazing how much you can build your upper body strength. I shot 84 pounds until i was 55 years old and and had to tone it down a bit since then... I like my bows under 60# now at age 68 and still hunt 57@30. The guy i'm sending it to is only 180 pounds , but still in his 30's and in his prime.

I had fun when the boys started sniffing around wanting to date my daughter.... I told them if you want to date my daughter you need to be able to draw my bow.... The look on those boys face after trying it, and me taking the bow and telling them, "No... you are doing it wrong.... just draw it real slow like this.... "  and then id draw it slow and easy and watch their eyes....LOL   good sport! After the word got around the school i had a bunch of Audra's friends come around just to see if they could do it. Out of all those guys only one even got close....and that bow was only 84#. I had a 100# bow too, and gave that to my little brother. Isay that tongue in cheek too. My little brother is 6'4"  and 260# and can pick up a 327# wood stove like its a folding chair... :o :o :o    I was the runt of the litter. My other brother is 6'2 and 210-220# . I've never been over 180# even in my prime when i was ripped, and only 5' 11".

This bow hits the 60# mark at about 19-20" of draw and i do not have any 1000 grain arrows stiff enough to test shoot it at full draw on the shooting machine. But.... i doubt there is going to be any kinetic energy issues with this baby... :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 07, 2024, 03:34:06 PM
I guess it's OK

 :jumper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 07, 2024, 09:26:07 PM
Here she is after the riser is shaped with the heavy limbs at 28" draw.


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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 08, 2024, 08:13:42 AM
That looks pretty darn good. What is your pad angle ?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 08, 2024, 11:49:36 AM
Limb pad angle is 16 degrees on the SS riser. This photo is braced a bit low at about 6.25” . It should be 6 3/4” to 7” and those limbs showing a wee bit more bend at brace. I’m using 14 strand Rhino string on this one, and it’s proven to be very stable string. But with these heavy draw weights, it sure tightens up the Flemish weave and settles in longer than a lighter limb does. I’ve seriously considered building some endless loop strings for this one, but haven’t done so…..   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 08, 2024, 12:20:27 PM
Some serious stuff. Looking great.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 08, 2024, 01:16:59 PM
But with these heavy draw weights, it sure tightens up the Flemish weave and settles in longer than a lighter limb does. I’ve seriously considered building some endless loop strings for this one, but haven’t done so…..   Kirk

Have you put an inline scale on those heavy bows to measure string tension? It's got to be tremendous!

I'm sure you have an endless loop jig, but I will throw this out there for those that don't. I found this 'El-Cheapo String Jig' instructions on Archery Talk last year. It's a super popular jig that I guy put together to really make professional quality strings.
I built this for less than $100 and have built several endless loop strings, but mainly use it to pre-stretch my flemish strings. I leave them on there overnight at around 300# and never have to worry about ANY string stretch moving forward.

Here is a link to the instructions that include the parts list.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1emLiwuZYNEVW81LP60wQclHOhRhXRHit/view?usp=drive_link
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 08, 2024, 03:16:03 PM
Jon
That looks like a string stretcher.
You said a endless loop Jig. :dunno: I'm thinking a jig to make endless loop strings.
This is the kind of jig I have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=t1JS_kXXeVQ
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 08, 2024, 04:22:58 PM
Yep, I know what you mean Max.
I would rather build strings with a 4 post design jig, but I couldn’t justify the price for as few strings as I plan on building. Those are nice since you can use a serving tool. Can you also stretch strings on your jig to a specified poundage? Or do you need a separate stretcher?

The way mine is set up you have to serve the ends by hand. What I like about it is you can build the string under high tension. It uses a specified valve spring that is rated at 300# at 1/8” compression.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 08, 2024, 04:44:27 PM
Haa I got a redneck string stretcher. Two 3/8s bolts mounted in a hole on my work bench with a 7/16 s turn buckle.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 08, 2024, 05:09:32 PM
I made my endless jig.
Are you going to wrap that loop towards the center a few inches.
That blue spring is a Die spring, I have used many blue, red, some white with green strip.
Many colors for different #
I don't worry about FF type strings and do like Stic said for B50 type.

This is a nice DVD for building strings
https://www.3riversarchery.com/how-to-build-a-great-bowstring-dvd.html
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 08, 2024, 05:18:55 PM
I built a nice 4 post endless loop string jig years ago from oak and 3/8" stainless steel rod for the goal posts. I used to take it to 3D shoots and build strings for folks while i was manning my display booth..... But... i found that I really hate building strings for some reason. But i keep a spool of string on hand, and serving materials just in case i need to build an odd ball, or run out of a certain length.

 I prefer the flemish twist style, and have a string builder put together all my strings typically.

I would bet this 96 @ 28"  set of limbs  have close to 180 pounds on the string at brace. This thing isn't easy to get a string on it, even with my bench bracing system.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 08, 2024, 11:13:11 PM
Max,
Correct the base of the end loops get served like normal
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 09, 2024, 07:29:08 AM
Yes Jon the endless loop jigs are way to high and a pain in the back side to make. :banghead:
I have made maybe 10, One bow I made years ago needed a 3 to 4" loop so I made a jig.
I do not have any pictures of my jig.
(https://i.imgur.com/N0ImLVH.jpg?1)

Normal size for a recurve
(https://i.imgur.com/2xDMuTs.jpg)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on March 09, 2024, 11:00:11 AM
Nice work on those rigid limb ends Mark.

Here’s an endless loop jig I made years ago. Six feet long with cross arms out of flat strap
1 1/2” x 1/4” x 10 3/4”. Would have preferred channel but there wasn’t any in the boneyard. Drilled and tapped for the threaded 1/2” posts. Used all-thread as I recall and turned the ends down and smooth. Posts are 9 3/4” apart center to center. It works fine, didn’t cost much and I have made many strings on it. Took some time to make though.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 09, 2024, 01:34:37 PM
Mine is Uni-strut also, but my cross bars are too. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 09, 2024, 04:09:51 PM
Shaping the next riser today and watched Kirk’s video on how he does his risers. I picked up a couple of things I can do to save some time, but I still feel like I have much more control with my rasps and files. Besides, this is the part where I get to have some fun watching these babies come to life!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 09, 2024, 05:41:12 PM
Looking good Jon, is that Bloodwood in the wedges?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 09, 2024, 06:06:52 PM
I like Finish shaping by hand too.
This is a Binghams Recurve, I made the riser a good bit smaller than original. ;)
Cocobolo and Canarywood
(https://i.imgur.com/96rF2Q4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8hUzpQE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BWorUCh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IVRGD2d.jpg)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on March 09, 2024, 07:13:12 PM
Nice risers guys! Fine work.  :shaka:  Gotta say I favor the handwork in shaping risers too.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 09, 2024, 07:16:10 PM
Good eye Bue.
I have taken to using Bloodwood for all my butt wedges. I like the consistency of it and it has become a 'signature' of my limbs.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 09, 2024, 08:15:52 PM
Hey Jon,  Nothing wrong with using rasps and hand tools at all, just more elbow grease needed. I spent my first few years in woodworking doing everything by hand, and still have many of the planes, chisels, and even rasps I used 50 years ago. The old rasps have lost their edge and just don’t cut like a crisp new farriers rasp, but I can’t get myself to part with them.

With that being said…. Shaping a piece of Ebony by hand vs using sanders would be  brutal and slow going, and I’d rather sand 36 grit sanding marks out, than those deep gouges of the rasp.

But using power tools to save time takes practice and getting your moves down Pat. You can screw things up much quicker too.  You learn pretty quickly when it’s time to use your sanding blocks and leave the damn palm sander alone….    You do nice work…. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 10, 2024, 10:59:03 AM
Agreed.
Thanks brother.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 10, 2024, 10:07:58 PM
Well i finally ran out of full EA 40 tubes, so it's time to lock and load, an get more tubes filled. I just got a couple more gallons in Mid week, but wanted to keep it in the house where it's warm for a few days to make this process easier. 4 days at 65 degrees did the trick nicely.

Besides just making the whole mixing process easier, these caulking tubes eliminate all exposure to air and dust particles. I think this system would increase longevity for guys that do not use a lot of it too.  For me... I just like how handy it is mixing glue with no mess. two squirts of A and one squirt of B  and you get a real nice mix that is pretty consistent..

Here are a couple short film clips showing the process.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ag2u4Zas8Ui9zaW99

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UdRMWKQSz59u6fqH8
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 11, 2024, 08:26:44 AM
Looks like a sticky situation  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 11, 2024, 09:03:12 PM
My down and dirty string stretcher:
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 11, 2024, 09:12:14 PM
A beautiful day to haul some yellow wood out of the woods.  Six more like this to go, 2 at a time.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 11, 2024, 09:28:47 PM
Nice Burnsie!

You guys got me thinking I really needed to hang my tillering scale on the wall so I ended up moving some bikes and mounted it on the outside of the shop partition wall since there is literally no room in the shop.
Sometimes you just need a little nudge.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 12, 2024, 12:49:27 AM
Perfect Jon …. Nice shop ! Great use of space !
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 12, 2024, 11:50:08 AM
I envy you guys with small shops that keep everything neat and clean sometimes. I couldn’t even fit all my wood in a 12x24’ area packed in tight.

 I’ve got a 36x36 pole barn with a wood floor that has a 24x36’ loft area, and I’m still constantly pig piled, and have sawdust on the floors…organized chaos is what I’d describe my shop. I do a good spring clean up every year when I can open up the doors and blow all the dust out and burn my scraps. The saw dust from my table saw alone could fill two 55 gallon drums in one winter. I shovel it into big garbage bags from time to time when it starts getting too deep around the saw and set it outside. I should be embarrassed by my messy shop, but I’m not… when I start tripping over stuff, I roll up my sleeves and swamp it out…. lol
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 12, 2024, 11:58:43 AM
That yellow wood looks nice and good idea Jon.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 12, 2024, 12:08:36 PM
Kirk.
I’m sure if I had a separate building like yours, I wouldn’t be as neat as I tend to get working and tools, sandpaper, scraps, and parts are everywhere. With a bigger space It would just be a bigger mess to clean up.
I new from the start though, having the shop attached to the house, that dust collection was going to be paramount. Even then it’s tough. When I mill anything out of aluminum, we inevitably end up with shavings all over the floors in the house.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 12, 2024, 12:26:49 PM
I remember the day I finished building my shop and only had one work bench along the south wall and all that open space… We had a New Year’s Eve party with about 20-30 people out there and broke in the shop floor with spilled beer and dancing…

I had a lot of my buddies give me a hard time about not pouring a concrete slab for the floor. They said “You’ll never be able to get a truck in here to work on it.”  I told them , “ Yup…. And I won’t have your truck in here either, along with all the greasy tools.”  This was designed as a wood shop, and has been used for one since I built it in 96’.   I did work on a couple boats in there before I got into bow building. I thought about staying with boat works for awhile too, but really didn’t have it set up for that with only one 12’ door. That… and I wasn’t fond of fiberglass work anyway.

I built a few cabinets and some furniture here and there, and filled part of the loft with hay each year for many years. We raised our own beef and put up about 4 -5 tons to feed through the winter months. I finally gave up on the cows in 2020 and bought a bigger boat… lol. Boats don’t eat hay and get out of the fence by themselves. I’m done with those type ranch chores all the time. It was never ending work tending fences and chasing cows. We just buy a 1/2 beef each year now from a neighbor. Lot less hassle, same home grown beef.     Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 12, 2024, 03:14:38 PM
This morning i got my latest bow set up.  64" Sasquatch SS, 21" riser medium limbs. She's braced a 6 3/4" in this photo and should probably go up to 7" for best performance. These are the 76 @ 28" limbs. The second set weigh 97 @ 28"  and the archer draws to 30". It weighs  105 @ 30".

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Here are a few more photos if you are interested.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MbpkpzAXqq6y3VB28
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 12, 2024, 04:31:26 PM
65 more than I need.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: mmattockx on March 13, 2024, 10:44:34 AM
65 more than I need.

+1. 105# is a foot bow for me.


Mark
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 13, 2024, 09:28:53 PM
Okay so I decided using an already good limb design and tweaking a bit. The shorter riser and shorter wedge helps keep the working limb length just an inch shorter than a 61 in. Bow. This one being 56 in.shooting for 40@28 and got 43@28. Considered myself lucky to get that close. Anyhow I got it going today. Seems pretty good out to 29,
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: BO-R on March 14, 2024, 09:41:33 AM
Well i just retired from my job after 46 years...
HEEEHawww!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 14, 2024, 09:51:59 AM
Well i just retired from my job after 46 years...
HEEEHawww!
Only 46 years - slacker.  :biglaugh:
Seriously - congratulations! If things go as planned I'll be out in 4-5 years at 66 years old.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on March 14, 2024, 10:26:20 AM
Congrats guys. Quite a milestone.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 14, 2024, 04:06:51 PM
46 years WOW
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on March 14, 2024, 04:46:47 PM
I got married 46 years ago but don't see a retirement in my future.  :dunno:   :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: wood carver 2 on March 14, 2024, 04:54:13 PM
Congratulations!
Four years left for me , unless I get really lucky… :pray: 🙂
Dave.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 16, 2024, 05:12:15 PM
Took a crack at my first "primitive" arrow.
The shaft is a Red Osier shoot.  A gentleman sent me a small bundle of them many years ago. I've had them tightly zip tied togehter in  my storage room until now. Hope to run it through a deer this Fall. I'm going to make a couple more, hopefully each one will be an improvement - this first one was a bit of a challenge and is a little rough.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 18, 2024, 04:44:28 PM
I got my sander finished on the weekend.

Found a cool figured piece of tigerwood had to buy  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 18, 2024, 09:51:13 PM
What is that beautiful straight vertical grain material you got there?  I’ve got some lace maple that looks just like that tiger striped piece ya got there. Is that actually maple?

Btw…. Nice job on the sander. You are going to love that with a 36 grit belt.  You would be wise to polish that piece of steel with 3M pads and seal it with a clear coat.
I used. 1/2”  aluminum on my table and it was damn expensive ….. I put a couple legs under the outside corners of mine to help carry the weight.    :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 18, 2024, 10:45:11 PM
Nice setup :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 18, 2024, 10:50:53 PM
Hey Kirk, the lighter figured piece is Tigerwood? My wood guy brought a bunch in to mill flooring. I just happened to see this piece and he sold it to me the other wood is zebra and Wenge.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 18, 2024, 11:53:06 PM
I got the sinew wraps on front and back of the fletching of this latest dozen arrows. Spun up a string for another bow and put on a serving. Then I upgraded my tillering tree that hangs on the privacy fence so that I can add a scale between the pull rope and the bow string. Couple more coats of shellac on an osage recurve. Played with the dogs. (Got a six month old half yeller lab half golden retriever pup in the house. While I was eating a pork roast sammich for lunch she was occupied snapping at dust motes that were shimmering in a beam of light coming through the window.) Packed up a couple items for trades and got them sent off through the post office. Was cutting nocks in the cowhorn tip overlays of a hickory bow I am working on and busted the tile cutting saw blade in my coping saw. Dang saw blade cost me about five bucks twenty years ago and all I got out of it was a couple hundred string nocks and about a thousand arrow nocks before it gave up the ghost. That did it for me, I quit for today. Fed the dogs dinner and settled in to watch some tv this evening while looking at the insides of my eyelids. Was a good day off work.

Tomorrow I have physical therapy early in the morning, then plan on taking the dogs to the woods for a ramble in the brambles.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 19, 2024, 04:18:17 AM
JW, sounds to me you need to find a hobby, something to pass the time. :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on March 19, 2024, 12:48:20 PM
Hey Bryan I have been using tigerwood AKA Goncalo alves for years- That pice looks nothing like tigerwood
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 20, 2024, 01:52:50 AM
Hey Bryan I have been using tigerwood AKA Goncalo alves for years- That pice looks nothing like tigerwood
no must be the light lol definetly the species !
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 20, 2024, 10:10:59 AM
Hey Bryan I have been using tigerwood AKA Goncalo alves for years- That pice looks nothing like tigerwood
no must be the light lol definetly the species !
 
A wood of many faces, its the beauty of Tigerwood . :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 20, 2024, 12:52:25 PM
Hey Kirk, the lighter figured piece is Tigerwood? My wood guy brought a bunch in to mill flooring. I just happened to see this piece and he sold it to me the other wood is zebra and Wenge.

That beautiful straight grained Zebra wood will make very high performance limb cores. I used to use it together with Wenge or Paduke for hot rod  speed bows. Very hard to beat in that regard.    Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 20, 2024, 12:54:33 PM
Hey Bryan I have been using tigerwood AKA Goncalo alves for years- That pice looks nothing like tigerwood

I agree…. Doesn’t look like any tiger wood I’ve seen either.

This is tigerwood….

https://www.phillipsforestproducts.com/Species/tiger-wood
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 20, 2024, 01:17:39 PM
Honestly guys, this makes this piece that much more valuable  :biglaugh: i’ll put this to rest now. I’ve worked with a lot of Tigerwood also installing hardwood floors that looks exactly like what you guys have seen but never underestimate the power of mother nature and sometimes looking outside the box. I will say this piece is unique because I’ve never seen a piece of Tigerwood with the figure that this piece has. Here’s a couple more pictures from two different suppliers that look very similar.]
[ Invalid Attachment ]  
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 20, 2024, 01:22:25 PM
Wow! Never seen the light colored tigerwood before…. Excuse me :notworthy: :notworthy:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 28, 2024, 09:02:44 AM
Made up a few spliced veneers with Lace maple and nicely colored walnut here.

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And here is the riser wood I’m using….

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 28, 2024, 09:05:33 AM
Looking sweet Kirk. Walnut and maple are my current favorite color combo and that maple is fantastic!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 28, 2024, 09:06:03 AM
Look at this Lace maple with a little lacquer on it… this stuff is going to look good under glass me thinks…

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on March 28, 2024, 09:07:38 AM
💯!!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on March 28, 2024, 09:20:28 AM
Very nice Kirk ,
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 28, 2024, 09:44:34 AM
Them veneers look great.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on March 28, 2024, 10:16:22 AM
Stunning figure in that maple!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 28, 2024, 11:29:42 AM
I've had some cool looking lace maple in the past, but never had a piece quite like this one. it was mixed in with a bunch of lumber i bought last summer, but there was only one piece... So i had to do something special with it.

Time  to put this bow together today....   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: BO-R on March 28, 2024, 02:10:34 PM
that will be one sharp looking bow!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 28, 2024, 04:03:40 PM
Never heard of lace maple. Has it another name?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 28, 2024, 05:36:35 PM
that will be one sharp looking bow!

x2

Waiting   :jumper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on March 28, 2024, 05:44:19 PM
Google brings up Lace leaf Japanese Maple?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Noah70 on March 28, 2024, 06:15:55 PM
Never heard of lace maple. Has it another name?

I believe the “lace” refers to the style of grain configuration, also referred to as “Veil Maple”. It’s one of many grain anomalies found in maples, ie. birdseye, lace, veil, quilted, Burl, etc. It can be enhanced by the way the log is cut, 1/4 sawn, etc.  its also common in yellow birch, although not as pronounced.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 28, 2024, 10:40:10 PM
Never heard of lace maple. Has it another name?

The term "Laced" is used for other hardwoods like leopard wood. That has a Laced grain to it. Its also sometimes called "quilted" maple, but it's referring to the grain pattern. I'm not really sure what type of maple tree this came from. It's got the same white color as Rock hard eastern maple, but it's not half as dense... it's more like western maple in density and mass weight. I wouldn't use it for riser wood without serious reinforcement.

ooops .... didn't see that last post.... You got it.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 29, 2024, 12:49:41 PM
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Glue heater.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 29, 2024, 12:50:22 PM
That went sideways  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 29, 2024, 02:02:14 PM
That went sideways  :biglaugh:

So what exactly are we looking at Mike?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on March 29, 2024, 03:40:10 PM
It is a brooder light with the guards on it that let you slide your bowl of glue in there to warm it up on a cold day. Don't know how the pic got sideways.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 29, 2024, 09:23:53 PM
I thought that's what it looked like, but the bowl threw me.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


I had a half dozen of those at one time, but they were much bigger. The ones i had were 36" across. Used them for baby Pheasants and quail mostly, but used them on fryer chicks too. I gave up the chicken ranching and exotic birds back in 1990. Sure miss that home grown chicken though... 

I use a microwave.... 10- 15 seconds depending on weather.  But... this is a designated shop microwave.... and after 14 years of bow building its butt ugly. :biglaugh:

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Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2024, 01:35:27 PM
Doing overlays on my current long bow, and hit it with a bit of lacquer .... check out these veneers under glass...

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on March 31, 2024, 02:33:19 PM
Those are sweet !!

Farm work today for me and possibly crappie fishin later :pray:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on March 31, 2024, 02:54:51 PM
Sweet lookin bow there Kirk.

  I'd like to steam bend some tips today for the first time, let's see if I can get it done.  Any tips for 2 year dried hard maple it's got a full width 2 inch profile and I began to taper the profile about 8 inches from the tips. Left them at a 5/8"ish at the nocks for any corrections after bending.


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2024, 03:27:01 PM
Those are sweet !!

Farm work today for me and possibly crappie fishin later :pray:

I just got the new tags for my boat, and am getting ready to start fishing for Spring Chinook salmon. The weather changed for the good, and i gotta get some time on the river logged. They are just now starting to pick up fish in the big river now. The Columbia closes on Friday . Just about the time the fish get here in good numbers. Then everyone fishes the Willamette until late June. Typically i'm done fishing springers by the end of May, but the last couple years they have caught them clear into July....

here is our fishing machine....


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2024, 03:31:32 PM
Sweet lookin bow there Kirk.

  I'd like to steam bend some tips today for the first time, let's see if I can get it done.  Any tips for 2 year dried hard maple it's got a full width 2 inch profile and I began to taper the profile about 8 inches from the tips. Left them at a 5/8"ish at the nocks for any corrections after bending.

Most of my steam bending done was doing furniture, and tight radius laminations for canes and such... But i have dealt with Maple before..... my suggestion for bending dried hard maple would be to soak the wood over night before steaming. it makes the stuff easier to bend without any damage getting some moisture into the pores.     Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on March 31, 2024, 06:07:43 PM
That will be a good looking one. Nice fishing rig.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2024, 06:17:30 PM
riser shaped....

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on March 31, 2024, 06:36:14 PM
Cool looking bow :o
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: wood carver 2 on March 31, 2024, 08:14:41 PM
That’s some seriously beautiful wood Kirk. You sure build a nice bow.
Dave.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: JW_Halverson on March 31, 2024, 09:21:43 PM
Hey, Kirkll, I was at a buddy's place showing him that sick maple you are playing with. All the blood left his head for other regions and he fell to the floor like a sack of last year's rutabagas. He's recovered slightly with the aid of some 18 yr old single malt and asked me to send you a private message with a question or two.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on March 31, 2024, 11:45:23 PM
Hey, Kirkll, I was at a buddy's place showing him that sick maple you are playing with. All the blood left his head for other regions and he fell to the floor like a sack of last year's rutabagas. He's recovered slightly with the aid of some 18 yr old single malt and asked me to send you a private message with a question or two.

I about spit my drink all over the screen… :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

“Hit the floor like a sack of last year’s rutabagas”…. Jesus!  That was too funny….

I still have a large quantity of that curly maple. I harvested a bunch of it myself years ago and cut it up in slabs with a chain saw when it was green, then hauled it to a mill and had them resaw them and run through a planer. Then I air dried the stuff keeping a fan on it with stickers… I was amazed how much of it came out good with no checks or serious cracks….this stuff is about 12 years old and has some wild grain…. I’ve even got some with bullets in it. One of those trees had a target on it and they shot a lot of pistol rounds into it.  It kind of ticked off the guy at the mill cutting lead with his band saw….  :biglaugh:

I retuned your pm…. I have plenty more wild stuff in my pile, and just scored a huge batch of black walnut too.      Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on April 01, 2024, 10:48:32 AM
Showy wood for sure! It looks like it actually has terrain! Nice bow too.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 02, 2024, 11:02:40 AM
So I got to bending the maple stave tips and I found out some things.   This stave was down around 10-11% moisture and at first I steamed one side and I was being too cautious about over doing it bent it 10 minutes ahead of time and lifted a growth layer across the belly. That's now getting a belly overlay because I'm gonna finish this bow.  I boiled the otherside and went way smoother.
Tire tube clamp with 2 layers of maple laminations to get back to original thickness

The boiled tip bent way better and only lifted a small splinter
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 02, 2024, 08:56:25 PM
All the steam bending I’ve done I soaked the wood overnight before putting it in a steamer. I’m not surprised it went better. How long did you soak it? 

I have a set up I built that uses 7”  thin wall metal heat duct pipe in 5’ lengths. The longest stuff I steamed was iron wood rails for a drift boat that were 16’ in length, but I did it one end at a time.  I Boiled water in a 3 pound coffee can on a camp stove. The 7” 90 degree elbow or Tee fits that coffee cap perfectly.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 02, 2024, 09:08:46 PM
oddly enough everything was dry to start and the boiled tip just ended up better, i bet i didnt let the heat penetrate enough of the other limb, or there was something waiting to happen with grain prientation, either way i have that overlays curing and ill clean it up and bring it back to uniform thickness before i get to tillering.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on April 03, 2024, 05:44:54 PM
Waiting for glue to cure so I spun out some poplar shafts.  34" long in the round part.  I call these squirrel arrows cause if they are shot at a squirrel never to be seen again it's no big deal.  Five minutes max then on to the next squirrel.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 03, 2024, 07:46:44 PM
Many years ago I got into building woodies and I bought a 1000 3/8” cedar shafts that they use for planting trees and staking them. Being already somewhat round , they were easier to run through my arrow milling hardware. I think I still got 700 of them left.
I ended up just using them for my wife’s flower garden stakes and in the vegetable garden and gave up on building woodies completely. Never was happy with the consistency of woodies….  But it was entertaining building them….  Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on April 04, 2024, 01:07:39 PM
These are not particularly well matched in weight or spine but any set from the same board are usually close enough and I  can usually get them to fly ok from at least one of the bows on hand.  About five years ago I did a set of six with poplar that happened to be very well matched but that's the exception.   For my hunters I've been using Wapiti premiums exclusively.   They usually match up better than advertised.

Some of the "squirrel arrows" end up like this.  Occasionally I launch one across a valley or canyon just to watch it fly.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 04, 2024, 08:39:07 PM
I had an old cantankerous neighbor that came over to our house right after we moved in and told me that i needed to keep my dog on a chain or penned up ... and That if it came over onto his property he'd shoot it.... Hell of a welcome to the neighborhood eh? Well i told him to get his skinny arse off my property or id be tempted to fill his arse with buck shot.... Never did get along with that guy.

Every now and then right before he started baling his hay, i'd get rid of all my bent aluminums shafts shooting them over into his 26 acre hay field....It was great sport listening to his mower hit those arrows and listen to him swearing... :biglaugh: :biglaugh:   it really made noise if they made it into the bailing machine....   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 04, 2024, 10:22:55 PM
 :nono:

 :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 05, 2024, 09:44:04 AM
Used steam to get a better tip alignment and cleaned the bark and cambium up on the back.    Really chewing on whether or not to fire harden.  I'd love to give this maple a little extra compression resistance and use the hardening with patient tillering to limit set.  But I've also overcooked a few bows that simply had reflex and boy did they explode on the tiller tree. So I'm concerned with overdoing it on a recurve profile. 
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on April 05, 2024, 12:58:33 PM
You have to let most woods rehydrate for a while before straining them after tempering. If you live in a humid area a week should be enough but if your R/H is low, like where I live, this time of year probably 2 weeks would be better. Tempering is a good idea for most whitewoods because it does add to the compression strength. You can also add reflex at the time you temper it.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 05, 2024, 01:02:44 PM
I thought about adding some reflex maybe just an inch or two but I've already curved the tips and I wonder if the tillering will be a little wonky for me to see what I need to in bend shape.  Either way I think the tempering is in order and I may start after work
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on April 05, 2024, 04:43:42 PM
Be sure to clamp the stave to something rigid while you temper it and letting it cool and rehydrate or it may warp or twist. When tempering I like to start by clamping at the handle and work out each limb separately, clamping as I heat out to the end of the limb then go to the other limb.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 05, 2024, 06:03:27 PM
I have never done the FIRE harden method and I don't think it is a good way because it's hard to see what's going on.
Clay Hays has some awesome Videos out there.  :thumbsup:
The best way is to use a heat gun like pat said.
When you use a chop saw and you have that tri-pod stand with a roller on top to hold the other end of a board up.
Clamp or tape your heat gun to that over the belly of the stave and work your way down.
I would say 4 to 6" above the stave.

This is Ash I did years ago.
The few light colored areas is where I scraped it some with the finish tiller.
(https://i.imgur.com/dw2Vo4U.jpg)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 05, 2024, 06:53:34 PM
How much tillering did you do before heating the limbs. This is bending relatively stout in the floor tiller and I'd prefer it come in a heavy bow and like I said want limited set so I'm trying to get a deep heat treat before the majority of finer tillering
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on April 05, 2024, 07:13:47 PM
I’m generally get to a solid brace then heat treat. Long string to about 18-20” which is generally good enough to brace. I’ll even out the brace then heat treat. Generally it’s thin enough to heat well through but still soon enough to not damage the wood before heat treating.

Kyle
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 05, 2024, 09:14:53 PM
How much tillering did you do before heating the limbs. This is bending relatively stout in the floor tiller and I'd prefer it come in a heavy bow and like I said want limited set so I'm trying to get a deep heat treat before the majority of finer tillering

I had it bending good then heat treat. That bow is 2-1/2" wide at the fades and 68" NTN.
I like to follow the grain on the back so a little snaky, It's a modified pyramid.

(https://i.imgur.com/M0vSsoZ.jpg?1)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 06, 2024, 10:04:55 AM
I appreciate all the advice guys and I am keeping all that in mind and also taking my own route.  I gave the bow a gentle roast over coals last night for about 3 hours, I was very diligent on checking the limb temp with an infrared thermometer, and was using past experience on discoloration to determine what temp I liked seeing.   I had the bow generally 12-15 inches above the coals and I found that I was keeping the surface temp of the limb around 300°.  After all said and done the reflex held up and I got a nice tan coloring.

I haven't got the bow more than floor tillered, like I said I want to keep the bow stout as possible through the steps.   After waiting a bit to work the tiller I'm going to run it over the coals again and this time I am going to look for 350° on the limbs because I think the color could be a deeper caramel without blackening. 
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on April 06, 2024, 10:44:50 AM
On the belly, blackening is not a problem. I usually roast them to a nice chocolate brown color. I use a heat gun for this and other heat corrections.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 08, 2024, 09:38:19 PM
Total eclipse here today for almost 4 mins. Temp dropped several degrees.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 09, 2024, 03:30:21 PM
What do you think? 56 in. @28
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 09, 2024, 09:57:32 PM
Limbs look like they are bending well, but i'm not fond of the patina colored riser.... You definitely have some wild color combos going Mike.   It's hard to beat that limb design. looks familiar. :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on April 10, 2024, 07:37:03 AM
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on April 11, 2024, 09:13:14 AM
Bow looks fine, but you need to change that drum and have some flowers on the wall :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on April 17, 2024, 01:54:10 PM
Future Bows??
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 17, 2024, 02:27:00 PM
Keep the rain off it :thumbsup:

Is that Osage? :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on April 17, 2024, 03:01:41 PM
Keep the rain off it :thumbsup:

Is that Osage? :bigsmyl:

Yes all Osage - some better than others.  I was hoping, keeping them under the eave would suffice, but I may need to look at another option. I just really don't have space inside for it.  Maybe my brother-in-law will let me store it in his big farm machine shed? Not very convenient, but its not like I'll be utilizing it daily??
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on April 17, 2024, 05:29:51 PM
Nice, I am a bit envious. :)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 17, 2024, 08:16:56 PM
Keep the rain off it :thumbsup:

Is that Osage? :bigsmyl:

Yes all Osage - some better than others.  I was hoping, keeping them under the eave would suffice, but I may need to look at another option. I just really don't have space inside for it.  Maybe my brother-in-law will let me store it in his big farm machine shed? Not very convenient, but its not like I'll be utilizing it daily??

Good idea     :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 19, 2024, 03:03:38 PM
Keep the rain off it :thumbsup:

Is that Osage? :bigsmyl:

And... Direct sunlight should be avoided. i'd throw a tarp over it and some rocks on top, and keep it open on the ends.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 19, 2024, 03:07:13 PM
I got out of the shop a couple days myself.... Spring Chinook are running...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmLbkvx7XPxQrL1k6
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on April 19, 2024, 03:13:59 PM
I got out of the shop a couple days myself.... Spring Chinook are running...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmLbkvx7XPxQrL1k6

Very nice Kirk getting out to enjoy some spring fishing. We had a couple days of spring here now had major snowstorm right back to winter.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on April 19, 2024, 03:58:56 PM
I got out of the shop a couple days myself.... Spring Chinook are running...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmLbkvx7XPxQrL1k6

Very nice Kirk getting out to enjoy some spring fishing. We had a couple days of spring here now had major snowstorm right back to winter.

Yesterday morning there was a serious frost on the coast, but today it’s 72 degrees and sunny…. Last year we had 3” snow on April 23rd.  :o :o   Ya just never know.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Appalachian Hillbilly on April 19, 2024, 04:41:43 PM
Not a bow...but for a bow...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on April 23, 2024, 07:29:54 PM
Jatoba / Wenge almost ready to spray…. ive never had this happen but when i braced these limbs and drew them a couple times i noticed before ….. shoving the sliver into my hand that a piece of glass about 3/4” long x just a needle lifted on an edge , ive always sanded those edges well before drawing  :dunno: anyways  ca. it down and sanded hope it stays, that Jatoba is hard stuff!   [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  



Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on April 23, 2024, 11:07:47 PM
I hit this riser with ferris nitrate and blushed it.  Wet it out to see how it's going to look.  Not sure I like it but going to stay with it.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on April 25, 2024, 04:06:21 PM
Cleaning up Elm staves. This Elm have a strange surface.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on April 25, 2024, 04:08:00 PM
Looks awesome!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on April 25, 2024, 05:24:52 PM
Hey you guy's Bue has a mess on the floor, It's always clean.    :biglaugh:

Yes it has waves.   :dunno:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on April 25, 2024, 11:15:02 PM
Very nice elm staves, Bue. Hickory I've cut has a similar surface under the bark.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 28, 2024, 08:22:49 PM
Finished up a new form that doesn’t have nearly the preload my last experimental form had that was coming in so heavy. The old form had 3/4”of preload in the butt wedge section. On this one I relaxed that butt wedge preload to 5/16” transitioning to a flat 4” section before it starts to reflex towards the base of the curl.

I made this one out of mdf for flatness and a couple of 1/4 plywood sandwiched in the middle. I then sealed the whole thing with water thin CA. It’s rock solid now. If it works good, I’ll seal the top of the form the same way.

Also, trying out these small steel tipped applicators for the CA. So far they have been super nice to use and seal up really good.
(12) of them on Amazon for $8
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on April 28, 2024, 10:59:34 PM
Looks good. May I ask which glue you used for the plywood/mdf combo? For the «stop» steel pin I have been using Kenny’s idea with a small steel spring from a ball point pen in the hole.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on April 28, 2024, 11:06:08 PM
Bue, I just use Tightbond 111 to laminate the mdf and plywood.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on April 30, 2024, 03:38:43 PM
What did I do today?  Made some yellow shavings of course.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on April 30, 2024, 09:38:11 PM
Picked up 200 bd feet of 1.75” walnut
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on May 01, 2024, 06:58:13 AM
Got back to work on my maple recurve selfbow after a long rest post coal firing.  I had to steam one limb again for tip alignment as the firing process returned the limb to its more natural orientation.

Im being extremely patient tillering this one, I'm trying to limit set as much as possible through careful tillering and multiple and possibly various heatings of the belly.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on May 01, 2024, 08:44:40 AM
I might be a little Coco Loco when it comes to glueing up stuff, but so be it. I wanted a glue that could take heat for use in bow forms, when in the heat box. I bought this German white glue which they claim can take heat up to 90 degree Celsius before glue lines come apart. I do not heat laminated bows to more than about 50 degree Celsius, so I put a couple of test pieces in the oven at 60 gegree Celsius for a few hours. They held up just fine when breaking apart with a hammer in a vice. So I am good to go.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on May 02, 2024, 07:59:15 AM
Got some more work done on my 'study on patience' bow.

I think I have it bending pretty good.  She's on a low brace of about 4 inches. Gotta make a string up at this point but now that I have it bending most of the way I'm going to heat treat each limb with a heat gun, and then I'm going to coal fire it once more on a slight reflex form.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on May 04, 2024, 07:01:36 AM
She's been over the coals again, and this time it was after using the heat gun to adapt the bow onto the reflexed form.  I've been keen on adapting my coal firing process over the coarse of blowing up a few bows on the tiller tree.  I've been using an infrared thermometer to keep an eye on even coal bed temps, and I'm finding consistent temps that I like on the bow belly when i flip the form to check. I've been slowly adjusting this temp higher and I'm getting a really good deep and even heating when the bow belly is reading between 320-360.  I had maybe less than five minutes where the belly got around 400.   I compared the bow to my failed attempts and the back has not cooked through in a way that makes me think of failure.   The blackened maple is glass smooth after hardening. She now sits to acclimatize. Look at the nice reflex added since the original tillering.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on May 04, 2024, 03:15:38 PM
That's going to be a very nice bow. Patience grasshopper!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: DVSHUNTER on May 04, 2024, 08:53:46 PM
That thing looks slick man!.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on May 05, 2024, 09:38:46 AM
Good job Dbeaver!
Tempering is an artform unto itself- Too much the material becomes brittle-too little there is no benefit. Majic when you get it right!
After years of trial an error I finally built a flame oven that I can get a perfect temper for my bamboo.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on May 05, 2024, 10:02:35 AM
Thanks for the encouragement fellas.   Hoping for no crunchies when I pull on her again next week.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on May 06, 2024, 12:27:08 PM
Glued up bow form blank.



Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on May 06, 2024, 03:48:21 PM
55 mph winds in "the shop" today.  Ready for some heavy duty material removal on the swap bow riser but it involves too much dust and debris for indoor work.  just straightening up my work areas and making some strings.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 07, 2024, 09:04:20 AM
I’ve always struggled with my initial string grooves being even on both sides startout with a chainsaw file so I made this jig last night for the table saw. Still need to tweak it a little but it shows promise. I put two grinding disks on it and rounded them off with an angle grinder. Groves come out shaped well and just need a little file work to soften the edges to put a string on it for tillering and adjusting.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Smguinnip on May 07, 2024, 10:18:53 AM
pretty ingenious time saver right there. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on May 07, 2024, 12:04:41 PM
What I like very much about this site is that there is always good new ideas coming along. That nock grinder, me like very much.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 07, 2024, 03:20:29 PM
That’s awesome Jon !! No matter what kind of bow , if you can start with them even it will be a big plus!! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 08, 2024, 11:13:05 PM
I’ve been thinking something like this might work. I’ll find out in the next couple of weeks.

I’ve never had a great way to rough cut risers that had fiberglass or G10 in them, whether as accent stripes or an I-beam.
I used to use a jig saw or band saw as much as I could while trying to stay away from the composites.

Not willing to spend $145 on a carbide tipped blade, I ordered one of these portable bandsaws for $100. They cut steel, brass, aluminum, fiberglass, etc.
Built a stand with dust collection out of scrap plywood and hopefully off to the races.
Fingers crossed.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 09, 2024, 06:32:51 AM
Will be interesting to see how this works
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on May 09, 2024, 09:45:10 AM
Yeah - G10 will wipe out a standard bandsaw blade in 1 or 2 passes.  I bit the bullet and got a carbide band saw blade - they are pricey, but if you believe the manufacturer they are supposed to last 5 times longer than a regular blade, and can be re-sharpened 4-5  times. Time will tell whether this was a good investment in the long run or not.  I have roughed out a bunch of osage blanks with the new carbide and it went through them like butter - I may not even use the carbide on questionable stuff such as G10 and save it for my osage and any re-sawing I might have.  These blades are supposed to be super for re-saw work.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: mmattockx on May 09, 2024, 11:41:19 AM
Not willing to spend $145 on a carbide tipped blade, I ordered one of these portable bandsaws for $100. They cut steel, brass, aluminum, fiberglass, etc.
Built a stand with dust collection out of scrap plywood and hopefully off to the races.
Fingers crossed.

Very nice, Jon. I recently bought a similar bandsaw for cutting steel, especially knife blanks. I didn't like the idea of hanging the saw off those two bolts that you have your table attached with, so I made a hanger type stand that carries the weight of the saw on the carry handle instead. Now I just need to make a table from 1/4" plate steel and I will be rolling. Just another option for those looking at this...

(https://i.imgur.com/RlpZKUN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/H1JkmV5.jpg)


Mark
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 09, 2024, 03:24:51 PM
That should work nice as well Mark.
The other end of that aluminum plate sits in part of the cooling slot in the case. That carries the majority of the weight.

I cut some scraps this morning that had a 1/4” G10 I-beam in it and cut as tight of a radius as I could do with this half inch blade. It’s not a fast cut but it chewed through it with ultra smooth straight cuts and OK radius cuts. Stayed square the whole way which was nice.

Dust collection worked decent as well.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 09, 2024, 08:47:04 PM
Jon where did you get the saw for that price?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 09, 2024, 09:07:35 PM
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-94396-Variable-Handheld-Portable/dp/B07KKXNWXK/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?adgrpid=118985993956&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KsDb7loKloe8MrBgAKQvMi0aq9xLQsJvWNjxKjwHz3orUw6KtjtZ1X--YhlxzkMLO5BPKG_u5PdzuDm7shwrV5nB3dFN7NTpTSTSpEp0MA7KujJldvDCHLVE9R-5Y1Te2lWRLRIcyYBYqvbV-jLV31SSgWb9PTHY4ADEWGwYtMaUEK8u-D2HcOCmm39MFWciW2WqRfN2hRZMlqUMXuU2eg._4H2eEr1LqUoAgbYyDQiR0B3nNiG9l0w-BLHk-x-P5k&dib_tag=se&hvadid=557252215851&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9017764&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7933876544493648847&hvtargid=kwd-370509795807&hydadcr=1316_13436013&keywords=wen+band+saws&qid=1715302902&sr=8-7
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 09, 2024, 09:15:28 PM
Yeah - G10 will wipe out a standard bandsaw blade in 1 or 2 passes.  I bit the bullet and got a carbide band saw blade - they are pricey, but if you believe the manufacturer they are supposed to last 5 times longer than a regular blade, and can be re-sharpened 4-5  times. Time will tell whether this was a good investment in the long run or not.  I have roughed out a bunch of osage blanks with the new carbide and it went through them like butter - I may not even use the carbide on questionable stuff such as G10 and save it for my osage and any re-sawing I might have.  These blades are supposed to be super for re-saw work.

I got my first 1/2" 4 TPI carbide tooth bandsaw blade in 2008 and it lasted 6 years and i cut hundreds of riser blocks with it. glass, g-10, hardwood... no problems. Then it broke and i had it welded and resharpend, and ran it another 4 years.... But this is the only thing i used it for was riser work. I bought a second Bandsaw for just wood.
The second one i bought lasted 4 years and couldn't be welded when i broke it.  Then i couldn't find a replacement in 1/2" depth, So i bought another one a few years ago that was 3/4" and has heavier steel in the blade itself.  It doesn't do radius work well at all but i still cut out shelf cut outs with G-10 I beams no problem...  The carbide tip blades are worth their weight in gold in my opinion.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 09, 2024, 10:01:57 PM
I done a 54 in. 12 in. Riser to keep some limb length. This one came in at 47@28 and gained 3 lbs. to 29. I would say 30 would be okay with it. I found a pice of mulberry for a riser and some Osage veneers. Clear glass on the tips looks neat.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2024, 07:36:45 AM
Nice job on shaping that tip Mike. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 10, 2024, 03:20:43 PM
Thanks. If you seen me ruffing it out on the spindle sander it would make you nervous  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Noah70 on May 10, 2024, 03:28:16 PM
I just put the finish on this 62” static recurve, built for a friend that wanted a light fast bow for 3D shooting that he could also take out into the woods in the fall. It finished out at 40# @ 28”
Riser is Bubinga with Wenge I-beam, veneer is Smoked Zebra spliced to Quilted Maple, cores are Toasted Bamboo and Edge Grain Yew. Very pleased with the test results!


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Noah70 on May 10, 2024, 03:33:05 PM
Man - that’s annoying!  Sorry about that everyone, I’ll try again.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 10, 2024, 05:26:53 PM
Very nice Noah.
In this month's  PBS magazine
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2024, 08:16:40 PM
Thanks. If you seen me ruffing it out on the spindle sander it would make you nervous  :biglaugh:

Not really bro…. I rough mine out with 50 grit on my edge sander. :o :o :o
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2024, 08:21:14 PM
Well it’s almost 5:30 pm and I haven’t even unlocked my shop yet. Went fishing today instead of working….. but I may go out there this evening and start taking down my arctic curtains in preparation for my spring cleaning job… man I got a bloody mess piled up out there this winter.

We hit 85 degrees today here…. Instant summer time. :o :o :o   
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 10, 2024, 08:30:51 PM
Practice with the hvlp , my spraying is getting better i think but still pretty shiny for a matte finish. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2024, 08:45:12 PM
You can get an almost frosted finish using high gloss material, with a fine mist fan setting at  higher air pressure. That, and move back to 12-14” from the bow when spraying…. The product starts kicking off in mid air before it sticks to the bow.

If it’s too shiny, turn down the volume, and increase the pressure, and back off a couple inches on distance to the surface… I’ve also played with using a bit of reducer to get a finer spray pattern…. One more thing…. In winter when temps are cooler often times you can get a hotter activator for your clear coating. Then go to medium during the warmer months. I’ve never used the slow activator before. I think that is used in more environmentally controlled spray booth conditions where they force dry the finish at high temps. As in auto clear coating shops.   

Just about the time you think you’ve got it dialed in, if you change materials, ya gotta start over again…. :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 10, 2024, 08:47:58 PM
Man - that’s annoying!  Sorry about that everyone, I’ll try again.
Haha. I had to look twice. I thought, that guy is really good at making his tips look the same!!!


That’s really cool Stic!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 10, 2024, 09:57:26 PM
I just put the finish on this 62” static recurve, built for a friend that wanted a light fast bow for 3D shooting that he could also take out into the woods in the fall. It finished out at 40# @ 28”
Riser is Bubinga with Wenge I-beam, veneer is Smoked Zebra spliced to Quilted Maple, cores are Toasted Bamboo and Edge Grain Yew. Very pleased with the test results!





Cool loking tip overlays...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Noah70 on May 11, 2024, 11:45:33 AM
Thanks Kirk !!  Apologies again to all for the repeating photo’s.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: mmattockx on May 11, 2024, 02:26:58 PM
Thanks Kirk !!  Apologies again to all for the repeating photo’s.

You can go back and edit the post to delete the extras if you want.


Mark
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on May 12, 2024, 01:00:26 PM
Not today but yesterday...my wife, a friend and I went to a plant sale, not a plant store but the Master Gardeners and local garden club sale and looky what I came away with.
  A right hand Ben Pearson Cougar, 64"n/n, 40#@28". She has a few longitudinal cracks that I think are superficial, she's a bit dirty and stained. I've strung it and the string lines up down the center. The best part of this find was the price...
(https://i.imgur.com/hEiR8Iz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/W0dK80Z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kbYe9SP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qh3gKrO.jpg)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 12, 2024, 01:38:45 PM
Good score Pat.... That was my first traditional bow i owned prior to building them myself. :clapper: :clapper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on May 12, 2024, 05:04:42 PM
Made my Daughters a lil ILF Riser for some 17# SR Limbs.
Tried out a AI Word to Picture Generator to create a Hamster with a bow.
Came up with about 100 nonsense Pictures, but 1-2 cool ones.

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on May 12, 2024, 08:25:50 PM
Made my Daughters a lil ILF Riser for some 17# SR Limbs.
Tried out a AI Word to Picture Generator to create a Hamster with a bow.
Came up with about 100 nonsense Pictures, but 1-2 cool ones.

That's cute 😍   How did you apply it to the bow?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on May 13, 2024, 12:34:23 AM
I have a Laser engraver.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 14, 2024, 10:15:40 AM
Actually yesterday, got a steroid shot in lower back, so today supposed to do nothing.  I'm trying my best... :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 14, 2024, 04:12:05 PM
Hope you find relief Kenny, Iam having a heck of a time with mine  :deadhorse:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 14, 2024, 04:20:36 PM
I knew back trouble sucked by working with guys with it, but never KNEW til last 3-4 years.  Made it 63 years without a hitch, then bent to pick up my tape measure and WHAMMO :dunno:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 14, 2024, 08:34:00 PM
You might try chiropractor. They wanted to cut on mine about 6 years ago. Went to chiropractor. Pretty regular for 2 years. Now just when needed.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 14, 2024, 08:52:26 PM
That was first plan , two different ones but no results .
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on May 15, 2024, 09:41:32 AM
Have been doing a bit of finishing work on my fire hardened experiment.  I decorated it with dye, and I'm finishing now with oil based spar urethane.

When does this stuff dry! The can claims dry to the touch after an hour, wait to use 24 hours. Well after 24 hrs it's a bit tacky. Is this a waiting game between humidity and temp?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 15, 2024, 11:35:54 AM
Have been doing a bit of finishing work on my fire hardened experiment.  I decorated it with dye, and I'm finishing now with oil based spar urethane.

When does this stuff dry! The can claims dry to the touch after an hour, wait to use 24 hours. Well after 24 hrs it's a bit tacky. Is this a waiting game between humidity and temp?

Get away from the oil base finish and you'll be much happier... I experimented with Helmsman water base spar varnish and it is EXCELLENT for outdoor furniture, and would make a great bow finish.... Dried quickly, allowed multiple coats without sanding, and looks good after two years outside...   .02 cents worth...   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on May 16, 2024, 04:38:55 PM
Norwegian deer season is on. Saw this one behind our house today.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Carpdaddy on May 17, 2024, 08:06:05 AM
That deer must have passed through Kentucky; I have seen his offspring!  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 22, 2024, 10:00:43 PM
Actually yesterday, got a steroid shot in lower back, so today supposed to do nothing.  I'm trying my best... :laughing:

Really?   I have been getting cortisone shots off and on for a year, and was never told to to take it easy except the first day. I hope it gives you some relief. My shots only lasted a few months at best, but they definitely help.    Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 23, 2024, 06:45:54 AM
Kenny the problem with doing NOTHING is you don't know when you are done  :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do tod
Post by: Buemaker on May 23, 2024, 04:58:55 PM
I have been doing NOTHING all day and is still not finished.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 23, 2024, 07:41:18 PM
I had to do something so I swept the shop.

Looks nothin like Bue and Roy tho... :thumbsup: :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: simk on May 24, 2024, 08:48:09 AM
Found the time to measure 2 of my new Horn/wood/Bamboo longbows on the machine. Pretty satisfied. cheers
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 24, 2024, 04:07:19 PM
Bue is a neatnic and I don't think Roy does much here lately  :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on May 25, 2024, 12:14:38 AM
He's kicked back sleeping with his dogs and feeding unsuspecting deer. .

I'm watching Robin Hood,  Men In Tights.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 25, 2024, 01:37:29 PM
finish sanding another heavy weight bow....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2A7EAzhMhMj5xXUQ8
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 25, 2024, 03:03:30 PM
I'm getting ready to spray a bow here and thought i'd try this surgical tubing over the pins this time. This technique works EXCELLENT!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: A Lot better than masking tape.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on May 25, 2024, 04:25:43 PM
Looks like your riser underwent major surgery and had drains set in. :bigsmyl: Good idea though.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 26, 2024, 04:55:34 PM
Told ja so  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on May 26, 2024, 05:25:44 PM
Heat shrink tubing is also good for that application.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 27, 2024, 08:28:21 AM
Told ja so  :biglaugh:

Thanks for the tip Mike…  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: OldRawhide42 on May 27, 2024, 09:08:33 AM
So where do I buy surgical tubing ???
Jim
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: OldRawhide42 on May 27, 2024, 09:54:28 AM
Never mind I found it. 
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on May 27, 2024, 10:55:08 AM
SIMON, Those are EXCELLENT numbers!!!!

Have pics of the profile strung/Unstrung?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on May 27, 2024, 06:55:23 PM
Regular 1/4 in. Hose will work. Thinner is better tho.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on May 28, 2024, 08:11:51 PM
“Thinner is better” that is the reason I use heat shrink tubing … thinner wall dimension.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 28, 2024, 08:53:04 PM
“Thinner is better” that is the reason I use heat shrink tubing … thinner wall dimension.
I like the shrink tube idea !  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 28, 2024, 09:30:05 PM
I decided i didnt like the large hole around my limb bolt inserts so tried something new and installed The inserts first before I put the back overlays on … i think it looks better. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 28, 2024, 09:39:25 PM
Finished up these three recently.  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 28, 2024, 09:42:12 PM
Can’t seem to get pictures straight, but there consistent  :o :o
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on May 28, 2024, 09:51:01 PM
Elegant !!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on May 28, 2024, 10:26:44 PM
Looking good Bryan!!!!   :clapper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 30, 2024, 10:34:10 AM
Elegant !!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Iam not really liking the pointed limb bolt overlays,spent a few hrs for sure trying different ideas but havnt come up with anything i really like …. All the great ideas are takin .  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on May 31, 2024, 02:20:14 PM
Shipped another one to Germany this morning.... 2 sets of limbs .  64" - 75 @ 31.5"  , 67 @ 31.5"

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GcUuoxhSnh4XkLB77

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on May 31, 2024, 05:31:12 PM
Very nice Kirk !!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 05, 2024, 07:48:54 PM
Something new. With my tweaks.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 06, 2024, 11:30:00 AM
Looking good Stic, but not sure about them holes :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 06, 2024, 11:34:00 AM
I drill the strap holes before I cut the form apart. Use a drill guide for the holes.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on June 06, 2024, 12:31:22 PM
Hope that's a take down form and not a one piece!!  :laughing:

Can't wait to see strung profile!!

You should  do a build along, nobody has done one for awhile... :goldtooth:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 06, 2024, 03:11:37 PM
Maybe.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 06, 2024, 06:43:00 PM
Build along would be interesting.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on June 07, 2024, 09:29:27 PM
Kinda looks like the Willcox Duo flex limb profile. Interesting!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 07, 2024, 11:09:37 PM
Never heard of that Gary ?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on June 08, 2024, 10:51:35 AM
Kinda looks like the Willcox Duo flex limb profile. Interesting!!

I remember those bows …. He was at the Western states rondy many years ago when we first met. But… he had two separate wiggles in his limbs….pretty wild looking…  Kirk

Hey Stic…. What are your goals with this hybrid limb tweak? 
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 08, 2024, 01:19:52 PM
Kirk if it works I will tell you.. It is not really tweaking your design so much as it is pretty much way different.
Taper wise preload etc.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on June 08, 2024, 04:59:48 PM
Well i thought i would try the simplest design and build some templates with baltic birch because i had it in stock, anything with a flare will test a mans patience for sure …. i may go see someone with a cnc.  :biglaugh: Black Limba & pecan, with pecan veneers. A good friend brought a piece up from Florida for me.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 08, 2024, 05:02:32 PM
Nice combo.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on June 09, 2024, 06:49:53 PM
Wow! That pecan looks alot like Tiger Myrtle
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on June 09, 2024, 09:06:04 PM
Overhauled my tiller board.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 09, 2024, 09:24:27 PM
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Moving along.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 10, 2024, 06:10:55 PM
I got two limbs and a block. Limbs profiled. Tip overlays curing now. Think this one way light but got to start somewhere. It's got a httle daytime unstrung
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on June 10, 2024, 06:14:58 PM
One more re
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Susquehannariverarcher on June 14, 2024, 04:40:03 PM
Today I got an all zircote bow strung up. Only shoot it once in the pouring rain. It shoots well so far. Although grip is uncomfortable as well as ugly.

Bow came out 2 lbs under goal weight and I'm ok with that since it was my first time milling my own lams.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Smguinnip on June 14, 2024, 09:40:56 PM
Finished the daughter in law’s birthday bow-purpleheart/osage w angle cut charcoal spectraply veneers and finally got around to putting some finish on mine-bocote w purpleheart Ibeam and quilted maple overlay. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 25, 2024, 05:38:51 PM
Looking very nice.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 25, 2024, 05:44:11 PM
Just finished my new bowshop with indoor firepit for firehardening bow bellies.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on June 25, 2024, 06:28:04 PM
Bue, that is fantastic! A truly beautiful and inspiring workspace!  :clapper: Even if you are joking
around with us, the architecture remains impressive!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 25, 2024, 06:46:19 PM
One can always dream. It is from Leire in Denmark. A reconstruction of a large hall from Viking age, a fantastic build.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on June 25, 2024, 11:46:02 PM
Beautiful building….  :clapper: :clapper:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longcruise on June 26, 2024, 02:44:39 PM
Ya had me there for a minute.   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on June 26, 2024, 09:59:14 PM
I was like Damn - Kirk cleaned his Shop !!! Lol 😂
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on June 27, 2024, 09:35:59 AM
Those carved columns are very fine!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on June 27, 2024, 03:01:58 PM
I was like Damn - Kirk cleaned his Shop !!! Lol 😂

 :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:    Actually i DID clean my shop Gary... But it dont look THAT good...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on June 27, 2024, 03:17:03 PM
Got ya Bud. I saw that Beautiful shop and know you have finish Carpentry skills.
I should do that to mine when i get it cleaned out sometime in my next lifetime. !!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on June 27, 2024, 05:14:49 PM
A couple more pics. Hall is 60 meter long.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on June 27, 2024, 05:39:42 PM
That is an outstanding
Craftsmanship right there!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on June 27, 2024, 09:11:28 PM
The time alone in just those wood carvings represents a lot of hours of skilled labor. In modern days of cnc woodcarving machines, this type work is underappreciated, and rarely done by hand...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on June 27, 2024, 09:47:31 PM
Ya beautiful work there. 👌
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on June 27, 2024, 11:35:54 PM
And dig that boardwalk guys.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 01, 2024, 07:06:26 PM
Well today I had to clean up a mess on a perfectly good bow. I have a combo of rosewood and curly maple on this baby I’m trying to get finished and decided to use a product specially designed for popping the grain figure in curly maple.

So after all the finish sanding was done I wiped down the whole bow with this stuff so I would get the overlays and limb edges all evenly colored…..At first it didn’t seem to do anything….So I wiped on a second coat, and went in the house to get me another cup of Joe….. By the  time I got back to the shop… the whole bow had turned black. :o :o :o   You could barely see the grain in the rosewood and the maple was seriously dark…… I just about puked…. What happened? :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

So I spent two hours carefully sanding the stuff off after it had dried completely and decided to go a different route. So I got out some golden oak stain I’d used in th3 past to darken up the maple a bit, and didn’t effect the rosewood at all…. Great! Looked beautiful! I decided to let the stain dry over night before clear coating, which is always a good thing to do.

So this morning I head back to the shop thinking I’d be spraying first thing only to find that the stain didn’t dry completely…… :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Now I’m getting a little bent out of shape here… this dad burn bow refuses to give me a break and relent to getting finished….. So I’m thinking about what is the best step going forward here. I know better than introducing a solvent into the mix, but I’ve got extra stain that is like a sticky film in spots all over the whole bow.

  So I ended up getting a bunch of clean rags of different consistency first. Some sweat shirt material, some old long John material, and some other stuff very soft like micro fiber cloth. I approached this mess like sanding and started with coarse cloth to remove the excess, then slowly polished it out with finer cloth by hand. I’m talking two hours of hand rubbed polishing to get it looking good and finally dry to to the touch again…..

At this point I’m spooked about spraying clear coating at all, and half tempted to just let it dry another day and use furniture polish on it….but….those type finishes just don’t hold up well over time without a lot of maintenance. So I decided to just hang it in the spray booth leave the lights on and let it cure at 90 degrees over night, and spray it tomorrow…..

You think I would learn to leave staining  alone when it comes to these bows. I swore years ago I’d never stain another riser after a similar nightmare occurred by trying to touch sand between coats of clear and went through the stain… That was a whole different nightmare there I won’t go into…


Moral of story here guys…..If you ever feel the urge to stain your riser and limb edges, immediately leave the building, go fishing, or shoot your bow until you get that stupid notion out of your head.  Save yourself some grief….   Kirk


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on July 01, 2024, 10:01:57 PM
Yes sir I just had a guy wanting maple stained. I said no it wont work good as stabilizing with dye. I had to stain a drop and send him pics. Seems one can't not enough and before you know it it's just a mess.  :dunno:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on July 02, 2024, 12:14:21 AM
Ha ! I was ready to spray this pecan & blk limba for tomorrow so today I decided to darken the maple limb edges with Tru oil  :laughing:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Jon Lipovac on July 02, 2024, 03:24:46 AM
Kirk. What ‘stuff’ did you use to stain your bow with? Ive had really good luck with powdered dye stains mixed with acetone.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 02, 2024, 02:20:33 PM
Kirk. What ‘stuff’ did you use to stain your bow with? Ive had really good luck with powdered dye stains mixed with acetone.

It was a high quality "Varathane premium wood stain" that i've used before. Where i screwed up was using this stuff first, and trying to sand it off before putting the Varathane product on it. Turned into a science experiment real quickly. the first stuff sealed it deep, and the stain i applied would dry properly....    You guys can have the stain nightmares... I'm back to just saying NO again...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YedQRmN5F9GACeJ49

Btw.... This curly maple juice DOES pop the the grain dramatically, and can be darkened using heat. I used it before and had good luck on a maple riser. But this time i had the rosewood too, and i didnt like what it did to that..., What a mess... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longtoke on July 03, 2024, 03:02:03 AM
I think the bowyers and luthiers should get together and share their secretes for dying maple.  I know a little dye rubbed on then sanded back can really make a maple top guitar pop. 

Kirk, :shaka:  your day is giving me an idea or a burst stained bow.....  might be classy. might be trashy,  but would sure be unique.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 03, 2024, 11:39:53 AM
Years ago, but not long before I started into bow building, I and an opportunity to work with an amazing group of craftsmen for a couple years building large motor yachts. These boats were 112’ to 145’ in length, had fiberglass hulls , and were loaded with some crazy amounts of exotic hardwoods. The crews were broken down into 3 groups. The fiberglass guys, the framing carpenters, or shipwrights perhaps?
The 3rd group were the master craftsmen consisting of luthiers, furniture specialists, and master custom cabinet builders…. Now this was back in the late 80’s, and all the woodworking on the boats was done by hand. Of course they had a cabinet shop to die for, with some pretty wild milling machines, pin routers, shapers, planers, and incredible table saws or panel saws with power feed set ups….  But…. It wasn’t huge like a factory size place. There were only 7 work benches in the cabinet shop surrounded by all these lovely toys, and only the top craftsmen had their own work bench.

I started out with the boat carpenters that did the framing on board for the first 6 months I worked there, and is not to be confused with any wood framing you see in the construction industry. The biggest challenge was everything was radius shaped or elliptical. Even all the cabin doors were radius topped, and all the framing material was Honduras mahogany, using stainless steel screws and 5200 marine adhesive to assemble. Very few nails used on these boats at all.

It was interesting work that I dove into big time head first…. I loved it. They had 3 yachts going at the same time and were finished differently with different kinds of exotic woods. After the framing was completed the masters came on board to do all the cabin paneling, build the furniture, and install the custom built cabinets. In many cases the cabinets were built in place….. All the joinery was S scarfed joints with very few exceptions. All the laminations and wood bending techniques they used were amazing to behold…. It didn’t take me long to figure out that that was where I wanted to be. I wanted my own work bench in the cabinet shop working with these master craftsmen….

Well one day I was doing some touch up work in one of the main cabins on one of the boats and framing a custom shoe rack in a closet. The main cabin had a beautiful teak paneling installed. Not to be confused with your standard sheet goods either… this stuff was grain matched from one sheet to the next coming off the stack so when installed properly the wall looked like one piece of solid wood. And the owners expected this to be installed seamlessly…. Well I could hear the boat Forman and the cabinet shop Forman arguing about what the hell they were going to do with this mess… the carpenter who installed the paneling pretty much just threw it in and didn’t fit the seems well at all, and the whole cabin was almost complete. Keep in mind this book matched teak paneling cost a bloody fortune, and would take months to replace. The foremen were pretty upset by the poor workmanship.

 So I spoke up ….  I told them that with special care and a bit of time this joinery could be repaired  with veneer inlays rather than tearing it out. They both stoped and looked at me kind of funny, and said, “ You could actual do this?”  I told them I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t think I could do it myself, but…. It’s going to probably take a week or so to pull it off with all these full floor to overhead inlays, and I’d need access to the cabinet shop to make my inlay jigs, and some razor sharp router bits and a trim router….. The cabinet shop foreman told me if you can pull this off, you can have your own bench in the cabinet shop and a bump up in pay grade too….

I did indeed pull it off, and spent two more years in that shop working with some incredibly talented craftsmen. It was like getting my doctorate in woodworking. The combined knowledge in that shop was unheard of…. 

Of course it’s all done by CNC machines now, and very little of the stuff is done by hand anymore. I went back up there years later after I moved on to talk with a friend that had taken over the shop, and it just wasn’t the same at all… operators running machines instead of master craftsmen…lts enough to make a grown man  cry.


Thought ya might enjoy that story. I sincerely appreciate luthiers and master craftmen.       Kirk

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 03, 2024, 03:10:08 PM
I took some photos of my latest bow build this morning.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on July 03, 2024, 08:19:14 PM
Nice Kirk. !!!!’
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on July 03, 2024, 08:29:16 PM
And a great story. I worked with a guy at the Wind Generator place in Ephrata Wa. Very knowledgeable guy snd we set up the shot booth for cleaning the tower sections for painting and built the jig tables for welding clips for ladders and wiring every weld was mag tested and the guy was a perfectionist in every way. I learned a lot when he wasn’t screaming at me. Paid off in my Millwright career !! 
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on July 03, 2024, 10:49:31 PM
[quote

Kirk, :shaka:  your day is giving me an idea or a burst stained bow.....  might be classy. might be trashy,  but would sure be unique.
[/quote]

Star burst ??

(https://i.imgur.com/YrYKRen.jpg?1)

(https://i.imgur.com/0QyjbtL.jpg?2)

(https://i.imgur.com/d1Tmd1j.jpg?1)

(https://i.imgur.com/YJiqCT9.jpg?1)

I used J.E.Moser Aniline dye--water base on this one.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on July 03, 2024, 11:30:46 PM
Fine looking bows guys!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on July 04, 2024, 10:47:31 PM
That looks great, Mark. It would look good on your snaky glass bow too.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longtoke on July 05, 2024, 04:35:58 AM
That is a great story Kirk!  I did tile work on big cruise ships for a few years. usually they would dry dock and remodel the whole ship.  sometimes they were pressed for time and we would try and do the work while at sea. those big boats are a world of their own.

It looks like your maple turned out top notch. Beautiful bow!  I have a soft spot for contrasting I beams. 


That burst bow is really neat!  The back of it reminds me of a snake.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Longtoke on July 05, 2024, 04:38:57 AM
Mad max, how did you keep the lam wood stain free?  tape or scrape  or some other method?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on July 05, 2024, 07:22:48 AM
I had to mask off the riser lams
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 05, 2024, 10:57:34 AM
That one came out cool looking Max.  :thumbsup:   Reminds me of some of my air brush adventures. I had a ball learning how to do realistic flames, and using translucent paints……but I went through a couple cheap air brushes while doing it.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on July 05, 2024, 08:57:27 PM
Nice looking riser wood there Kirk :o
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on July 05, 2024, 09:28:51 PM
Both of those bows look very nice ! Well done.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 06, 2024, 09:55:00 AM
Here is an example of some of the translucent air brush paint I was playing with…it was pretty cool stuff.

I cant find my flame bow right now on my I pad.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sXYhGGJQ3UfGM8MJ6
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Mad Max on July 06, 2024, 08:13:08 PM
 :o :scared:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on July 18, 2024, 04:28:33 PM
I decided to cut into a piece of padauk i have had for a long time ….. and the wenga and walnut iam building for a dear friend that gave me this walnut that was his fathers that passed away recently, he has helped me alot in the last two years since my back injury so I thought I would surprise him with a bow and a little memory of his father. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 18, 2024, 11:27:43 PM
Cool looking risers Bryan.  Just be careful to cap all grain run out on the back of your riser with overlays. that Wenge, paduke, and even the walnut can easily split and fail . It’s actually seriously stiff material, with plenty of strength. But its brittle and the density and grain structure being relatively straight can come apart on you.

Be real careful using any solvents on paduke. Even spray lacquer can make the stuff bleed if you hose it down too heavily. When you finish it, hit it with a light coat first and let it tack off before doing any wet coats. A hot clear coat can also make it bleed.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on July 19, 2024, 12:31:36 AM
Good to know about the finishing ….. this is the first time ive used padauk ,i think i will be adding a glass lam with my wood overlays on the backs of these ones even thou they will be low poundage bows …  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 19, 2024, 01:41:21 PM
Good to know about the finishing ….. this is the first time ive used padauk ,i think i will be adding a glass lam with my wood overlays on the backs of these ones even thou they will be low poundage bows …  :thumbsup:

The paduke, and wenge both make a great core wood mixed with bamboo too if you keep your lams around .050-.065. If you use two of them in a hybrid, or long bow you will notice a significant bit of horse power increase. its relatively light in mass weight and has excellent deflection properties. I've used it combined with straight grained Zebra wood and got a few bell ringers in the past. Hickory is another one of those brittle hardwoods better used in thinner lams rather than thicker.

I would avoid putting it on the belly side of an RC limb next to the glass though... its compression qualities are not all that good. i use a thin rock hard maple lam against the belly glass on all my RC limbs. Even an .030- .035 maple lam will insure a good shear/compression factor.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: 4 point on July 28, 2024, 10:41:44 PM
Putting a recurve together that I forgot I was supposed to build for a guy. I’m liking the wood combo he picked. The veneers are bocote.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on July 28, 2024, 11:18:45 PM
Looks like kingwood and what?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: 4 point on July 28, 2024, 11:59:14 PM
It’s Honduran rosewood and bocote
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on July 29, 2024, 06:57:20 AM
Nice but for me them are itchey woods
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on July 29, 2024, 07:38:51 AM
Looks great Travis!!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 29, 2024, 02:37:17 PM
Where did you get the bocote... I haven't had very good luck finding any 8/4 stock.

I just had a reaction from the last rosewood i worked with BIG TIME... i broke out in a rash that started spreading from my hands, up my arms and even my chest... had to go get some steroids from the doctor to tame things down...Took a week or more to clear up.   It's a shame too. That rosewood is nice riser material.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: 4 point on July 29, 2024, 06:20:18 PM
I got it from Kenny, I think he usually stocks it.

I was worried about a reaction but I didn’t have any problems. Cocobolo will tear me up!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on July 29, 2024, 11:01:57 PM
Bacote cocobolo Bolivian Rosewood for me is like rolling in poison Ivy  :knothead:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: OldRawhide42 on July 30, 2024, 08:28:35 AM
You guys are making me rethink my dust collection. I have 2 rosewood risers going right now.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 30, 2024, 02:05:40 PM
Zebra wood saw dust makes me go into sneezing fits bad....i'm talkin 30 sneezes in a row non stop.
Last time i used it i almost blew my mustache off... :o :o :o
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on July 30, 2024, 03:37:59 PM
Also a dust mask for any wood.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on July 30, 2024, 07:04:11 PM
Yesterday it was loosing the conveyor belt on my drum sander, and having to change it out with a spare, or 1/2 spare belt I had stashed.

 I’ve always had tracking issues with this Jet 16/32 conveyor belt. The stock conveyor belt cannot be purchased anymore, and the only one I could find was a very thin belt that didn’t hold up well at all. I really need to find a source to have another higher quality belt made for it…

Today my little 14” bandsaw that I run my carbide tip blade on broke down on me. There is a bracket that the wheel shaft is mounted on that not only adjusts tension, but the blade tracking. With this being an off brand machine that has gotta be 30 years old, I cannot find a source for parts at all.  Anyone ever heard of “HDC Quality Tools” ?   

Well I was looking at random bandsaw parts on line and found a part for a Jet 14” that has unbelievably close specifications as the part I’m looking for. So close that I ordered the part to see if it will work. I may have to modify it a bit. But I took the old part up to a welder buddy of mine and he shook his head saying he didn’t know whether the cast aluminum could be welded or not. I was told the shops call it “pot metal” and it was always a mystery how they made it, and what was used in the molten mix. Sometimes it could be spot welded, and other time it couldn’t be welded at all….

Of course I had a riser with a G-10 I beam needing to be roughed out with my carbide tipped blade , and had to revert to my old technique with a lot more edge sander work to get this one piece riser ready to lay up.

Kinda strang to have two machines go down in two days….  Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: wood carver 2 on July 30, 2024, 07:28:52 PM
Kirk, I used to have a bandsaw that had a pot metal casting under the table that supported the guide bearings. When it snapped in two, I JB welded it and it held up for years before breaking again. This time I took it to a welding shop and I explained how I had repaired it. He agreed to try welding it, and believe it or not, he succeeded. He said that he had no idea what metals were in that piece of crap. I guess he saw it as a challenge.
Dave.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: OldRawhide42 on July 30, 2024, 08:04:56 PM
Kirk what is your old technique . I do not have a carbide blade. Right now I sand a lot.
Jim
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on August 01, 2024, 09:34:28 AM
Update!   That part I ordered on Amazon for the bandsaw not only fit perfectly, but was tapped with the same size holes for the adjustment knobs and the tension spring housing was identical too… It must have been one of those universal parts used by many different bandsaw manufacturers for years. I was shocked it needed no alterations at all and that upper wheel slipped right on the shaft and the old nut holding it on fit perfectly too.  Amazing…

My old technique for cutting G-10 is a carbide tip saw blade on my table saw and removing as much as I can, then use the edge sander and die grinder.

Prepping for lay up isn’t bad without the band saw, but more time consuming. But cutting out the strike plate with an exposed, thick G-10 I beam is really a chore without that carbide tipped blade on the bandsaw. 60 seconds on the band saw, vs 20 minutes using a hack saw and a die grinder.

Glad to have that baby back up and running.   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on August 01, 2024, 02:49:49 PM
I think if you take a look at most bandsaw of the same size you will find the main parts are the same with different names.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on August 02, 2024, 09:53:36 AM
I think if you take a look at most bandsaw of the same size you will find the main parts are the same with different names.

Well that’s a good thing… makes me want to update and replace some roller guides that are getting pretty rustic looking on this unit. This is the part that broke that I replaced fo $44.00 on Amazon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kjBvF7RiVKvqhVLs8
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on August 02, 2024, 02:23:47 PM
That perzactly what my 14 in. JET looks like
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on August 19, 2024, 10:15:31 AM
Found a couple more promising Osage logs on some land being cleared by the County Park District. Not the time of year I would typically harvest logs/staves, but the Park District already had them cut down and if I don't snag them, they just end up in a large burn pile. Good exercise wheeling these suckers about a mile + out of the woods through the trails.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on August 19, 2024, 01:01:16 PM
Nice haul. Looks like good stuff.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on August 24, 2024, 07:20:40 PM
https://youtu.be/cOuB9_kYs_E?si=A3QLrjkIPpWlZm4m
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on August 25, 2024, 11:43:30 AM
Yesterday, i found a Knife blank laying around in my Shop and had a small piece of Bocote left over from a Riser.

So my daughter got a new cooking Knife.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on August 25, 2024, 03:27:18 PM
Very nice knife. I'm sure your daughter will love it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on August 29, 2024, 09:54:12 PM
Trying to decide what to build, I cut some veneers out of Patagonia rosewood.
The local woodcraft had it 50% off, I had never heard of it.
It's ridiculously hard and seems to be excellent bow wood.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on August 29, 2024, 09:55:30 PM
That bacote looks great on your knife!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 02, 2024, 11:43:48 AM
Trying to decide what to build, I cut some veneers out of Patagonia rosewood.
The local woodcraft had it 50% off, I had never heard of it.
It's ridiculously hard and seems to be excellent bow wood.

Some of those dark hardwoods are heart breakers under clear glass, and should be avoided. I remember the first time I tried Macassar ebony under clear glass. I just about cried over that one. It had some very cool looking contrasting grain with light and dark colors, and it came out pretty much black, and showed every tiny imperfection in the clear glass. I built it for my wife, and still have that bow. After about 7 years you could see every little micro crack in the clear glass.

The bow still shoots fine, and there is nothing wrong with the structural integrity, but I might as well of just used black glass with ebony overlays and not wasted my time milling ebony veneers.     

Btw…. I’ve had some cool looking Bocote do the same thing and turned almost black as it darkened up with age.

Food for thought….  Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 02, 2024, 12:34:32 PM
That's good to know,  thanks Kirk!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on September 03, 2024, 12:13:07 PM
This ones a gift for a friend, iam still looking for a better grain filler, this piece of wenge was alot of work. Many coats of laq and high gloss auto clear, sprayed matte finish last night ended up with unacceptable blemish just above shelf …. Will sand it down for the 6 th time and respray. 😊
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 03, 2024, 01:24:44 PM
Wenge is terrible for filling gain using just lacquer sanding sealer because it shrinks so much. Brandon Stahl used to use a polyester material for filling those grand canyon type slots, but i've never used it myself, or really know what to recommend for that stuff, but it might be worth researching it.  What i do with that stuff is avoid using it as much as possible, but when i'm stuck with it i start with lacquer, then do a several wet coats using the auto clear coating. then i let it set a day, touch sand and do another wet coat. something about letting it cure for a day before sanding and recoating gives me a better build up....

It's the nature of the beast Bryan. That stuff is just a bear cat to fill.. It just takes more material, and you want to use a high gloss material with good solids for grain filling to ensure it doesn't shrink.that's why you wait a day for it to cure ... I'd look into the polyester material for a sanding sealer if you plan on using more of this Wenge....

btw ...Paduke is the same class, as well as Red Oak. Of course not many bowyers use red oak for risers.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on September 07, 2024, 09:40:22 AM
Couple of finished pics , boo with birds eye maple veneers/ wenge & blk walnut riser.
And dreamin up a recurve template.
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 11, 2024, 12:22:44 PM
A little finish sanding on some sister bows.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on September 11, 2024, 01:06:12 PM
Sweet looking bows there Kirk!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 11, 2024, 02:46:13 PM
Couple of finished pics , boo with birds eye maple veneers/ wenge & blk walnut riser.
And dreamin up a recurve template.


Great looking bow Bryan!  Cant wait to see what comes out of that RC form...
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on September 11, 2024, 04:26:54 PM
Been a while guys recently moved.
Here we are mixing old and new.  D/R osage selfbow. Got this heat bent and made some tip alignment adjustments, still likely a few heat adjustments but a very short brace is tracking right down the center of handle.

This was made possibly by a fellow tradgang member who sent me a few staves to work.  Love the bowyers bench truly.  Thanks for all who post
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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on September 11, 2024, 04:53:40 PM
Dylan,
Do you have a picture of the caul you used to make those bends?  That thing looks slick!
Heat gun or steam?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on September 11, 2024, 05:36:13 PM
heat gun, did the middle as seen in the photo and then slowly worked outwards, had some spring back on the deeper part of the reflex after the first treatment so i went one limb at a time from the tip back towards the center, heat corrected one tip for better alignment and that got me good enough to start getting her bending and a long string on it.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on September 11, 2024, 10:55:46 PM
Cool looking bow. Will you post a pic of the back profile?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on September 12, 2024, 09:48:07 AM
here is the profile of one limb its mirrored.  room for tips to be thinned down with accordance to how much the tips are working by the end of tiller.
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a small morning session of balancing thickness from side to side throughout the limb, deepening nocks and heating tips and handle for better string alignment, not perfect but after i get it full brace ill have a better idea. I believe im ready for a regular string on this bow. Looks like itll be a recurve with baby hooks folks we will see at final tiller.

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on September 12, 2024, 09:56:53 AM
Looking good. Them curves can be a bit tricky.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: kennym on September 12, 2024, 01:16:11 PM
Nice!! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Pat B on September 12, 2024, 05:50:36 PM
Looking real good.  :thumbsup:
 Low brace now would be a good idea to see how the string tracks and see how the limbs bend on their own. If everything lines up and the limbs are balanced go to your intended brace height, check it out to full draw and take a few shots.   :archer2:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Ashs Gulch on September 12, 2024, 11:33:20 PM
Put some hair on cow hide on the shelf of a old York Cadet and made myself a string jig.


Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Richard Korte on September 16, 2024, 11:45:42 PM
 I cut out the belly profile on 14 new risers for my version of the '59 Kodiak, both 60 and 64 inches, and the '60 Bear Kodiak Deluxe. I recently made a trip to Edensaw lumber in Pt. Townsend, WA and bought 3 great boards...one of curly Maple, one of figured Black Limba, and a third, a highly figured large slab of Maple. The limb veneers are all done...ready for risers. Now I'll begin the process of gluing on the riser trim, like the Purpleheart trim on the original '59 Kodiaks.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Richard Korte on September 16, 2024, 11:47:41 PM
Here's a photo of the boards I made the risers from.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Burnsie on September 17, 2024, 09:13:03 AM
That wood looks awesome Richard - That is going to make a nice batch of bows.
I know you don't take orders - how does one get on your "list".
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 17, 2024, 09:28:43 PM
A pair of sister sasquatch hybrid longbows i just completed... There is a good story to come on these bows...

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Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 18, 2024, 04:48:52 AM
Roughed out a 21" ILF yesterday evening.
Bocote/Phenolic.
That will be pretty pretty, once finished.

Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: dbeaver on September 18, 2024, 10:45:59 AM
cool idea for a quiver.   looks great absolutely holding that one in the back of my head
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 18, 2024, 01:40:19 PM
Roughed out a 21" ILF yesterday evening.
Bocote/Phenolic.
That will be pretty pretty, once finished.
Phenolic?   G-10?  Micarta?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 18, 2024, 01:48:32 PM
Micarta
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 18, 2024, 07:20:02 PM
Those interesting limb mount plates. Where did you get those at? and are they adjustable side to side?  Most ILF risers have lateral limb adjustment capability for adjusting for limb tracking using set screws.

Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 19, 2024, 12:24:16 AM
They are ajustable.

Those are milled by my specs for me.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 21, 2024, 11:40:09 PM
My friend Tony is shopping for a new home and was kind enough to hire me to do his mortgage loan. I decided to build him a early house warming present to use this season.
So far, so good..... the epoxy started stiffening while I was in the middle of laminating, normally I have plenty of time. Would the heat effect that?temperatures were 90ish
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 21, 2024, 11:42:41 PM
Pics
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: onetone on September 22, 2024, 10:50:51 AM
90 degrees is likely the cause of the early gel.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 22, 2024, 11:09:49 AM
My friend Tony is shopping for a new home and was kind enough to hire me to do his mortgage loan. I decided to build him a early house warming present to use this season.
So far, so good..... the epoxy started stiffening while I was in the middle of laminating, normally I have plenty of time. Would the heat effect that?temperatures were 90ish

Having a good system down to spread your epoxy quickly and evenly is important. I use a flexible putty knife myself…. But on one piece bows that EA40 epoxy can start kicking off a bit before you have everything buttered and in the form if you mix too much at one time….. even with moderate temps in the shop. This makes it tougher to spread evenly with a putty knife.

On one piece bows where I’m using veneers under clear glass, I’ll mix two smaller batches of glue rather than one big enough to do the whole bow. The first batch allows me to get the glass and the back side lams and the riser in the form. Then I mix a second batch for the belly lams and glass.

Make sure your mix ratio is less than 50 / 50 resin to hardener and go heavy on the resin side. I like 2/3 resin to 1/3rd hardener the best.

   Hope this helps. Here is an old lay up video I did that shows how easy it is to spread with a putty knife.

https://youtu.be/uAMsgze0u7Y
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 23, 2024, 11:13:31 AM
Coming along
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on September 23, 2024, 11:23:22 AM
I sure like the looks of that riser sweep into the fades.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 23, 2024, 12:07:41 PM
Thanks, that's a great compliment from a expert bowyer like yourself.
The limbs have your bamboo in them, looking forward to shooting it.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 23, 2024, 12:13:17 PM
Bocote and Amazakoue.
One with clear coat, one oiled.
Both beautifull bows.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on September 23, 2024, 02:22:32 PM
That bacote looks great!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on September 25, 2024, 07:39:38 AM
Very nice BJ! What oil finish did you use?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 25, 2024, 12:59:05 PM
Thanks.

I used a dark gunstock oil.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on September 26, 2024, 05:04:37 PM
Looks really nice- is that the total finish?
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: B-JS on September 27, 2024, 01:14:00 AM
 Just the first wet coat.
Finished, it's a Bit darker and not that shiny.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Stagmitis on September 27, 2024, 08:17:35 AM
Gotcha!
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on October 12, 2024, 11:35:18 PM
I finished up 3 bows for good friends today.
Kenny M sent some spalted ash veneers that look wild with pale moon ebony.
All 3 have Kirk's bamboo in them and shoot great.
I really appreciate you guys pointing me in the right direction.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on October 29, 2024, 07:12:28 PM
New DR bowform coming along.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on October 31, 2024, 03:21:20 PM
Getting ready to go. Template is made with a computer guided laser cutter, so now it is up to me to not mess up.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: garyschuler on November 01, 2024, 03:25:12 PM
Looks good, I still love your machine ya got there. That’s the Bee’s knee fight there.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: chefrvitale on November 01, 2024, 04:13:01 PM
Agreed! I was admiring that as well
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: BO-R on January 01, 2025, 09:36:58 AM
Added a power feed to my mill for the New year,
makes x feed alot faster and saves the wrists.
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 01, 2025, 04:40:40 PM
Looking good, I’m a bit envious. ;)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Crooked Stic on January 01, 2025, 04:44:28 PM
Yeah Bue me to wish I had a mill  :goldtooth:
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Kirkll on January 06, 2025, 11:15:24 AM
Added a power feed to my mill for the New year,
makes x feed alot faster and saves the wrists.

You are going to like that. It makes machining a lot smoother being able to adjust the feed rate. Do you have a DRO on that machinist table yet? If not, I can share a cost effective solution that works well.   Kirk
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: WhistlingBadger on January 06, 2025, 11:44:41 AM
Wow, some cool stuff on this thread!

I've got a RM juniper bow almost ready for some elk sinew on the back.  Juniper wood is beautiful stuff and an absolute joy to work with.  I've broken a couple juniper/sinew bows in the past--there is a lot that can go wrong with them.  Fingers crossed that I'll get it right this time.

(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/img_1493-jpeg.357476/)

(https://www.fishforums.net/attachments/75770902675__ed1f1c97-363e-4067-9ac3-122b53f95f50-jpeg.358477/)
Title: Re: 2024 What did you do today
Post by: Buemaker on January 07, 2025, 05:07:44 AM
Nice color on that wood. Looking good.