Laminated recurve build along

[OH Longbow]

Originally posted by AkDan:
does rubbing chalk on files work as well for woodworking as it does for metal working?  Keeps the gullets from getting clogged in the files with metal bits.  I would assume  it would work on wood?!?!

Great tip!  I'll try when we're doing my buddy's bow.  I was just about ready to turn the file on myself...lol  

Thanks.  

John

[OH Longbow]

Well, it's finally finished.  Here are some pictures.  The pictures are not that great.  I'll try to get some better ones tomorrow.

 

The tips came out nice.

 

 

I love the differing colors of the Dymondwood on the contours.

 

[Dano]

Very nice John, I'm not crazy about Dymondwood, but that bow is SWEET!!

[OH Longbow]

Here's the last pictures.  It has a couple of coats of Minn Wax Polyurethane sprayed on right now.  I might put a couple of more coats on it.  Now, all I have left to do is twist a flemish string for it and put some carpet on the arrow shelf.  I might do that tomorrow night.  

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lessons learned:

-Recurves are more involved than longbows.
-Make sure you have someody around when you glue it up.
-Dymondwood is really tough to work!!!
-Posting the build on the internet is just as involved, of not moreso than building the bow.

Thanks for following the build.

John

[OH Longbow]

Thanks Dano.  I don't think I'll use it again.  I do like the looks of it though.  It's just not worth the effort or expense.

John

[tj69]

Thank you so much for sharing your bow building experiences and doing the photographer job.
Its a great build along and a nice bow.

[SoNevada Archer]

John, what an awesome build-along! I think you did a great job of not only building the bow, but showing us how you did it.

I have a piece of Diamond-wood for a riser that I've been saving for a bow for my son. Looks like I'll have more work in front of me than I thought.
Thanks again!

[OH Longbow]

Originally posted by SoNevada Archer:
John, what an awesome build-along! I think you did a great job of not only building the bow, but showing us how you did it.

I have a piece of Diamond-wood for a riser that I've been saving for a bow for my son. Looks like I'll have more work in front of me than I thought.
Thanks again!

Don't let me discourage you from using it.  It is a very nice wood.  It's just dificult to work with the tools.  I'm kinda' impatient so, having to stop to clean the file bugged me.  The best tool to use with it was the clesco sanders I had mounted in my drill press.  They did a great job, as did my bench mount belt/disc sander.  I truly believe you would be hard pressed to find a more durable wood to use.  The drawback is it's good qualities are what makes it difficult to work with.

BTW, I used a block of it to build a longbow riser and had no complaints whatsoever.  There is just more shaping work that goes into a recurve handle.

John

[OH Longbow]

Originally posted by tj69:
Thank you so much for sharing your bow building experiences and doing the photographer job.
Its a great build along and a nice bow.

Thanks for the kind comments TJ. I do photography as a hobby and part-time job.  I was going to photograph the set up but, I was kinda getting into it.  I had umbrella flashes set up and my camera.  I would have to take all the stuff out because of the dust.  I would then clean everything off, set the shot up, bring the camera in and take the shot...then repeat...I really enjoyed doing the build along.

[pditto613]

I have the materials to make a bow very similar to yours. Charcoal dymondwood and back glass.  When you started your build a long I decided to wait and see how yours turned out.  That is one pretty bow. But you're not making me excited about working with the dymondwood.

[OH Longbow]

Originally posted by pditto613:
I have the materials to make a bow very similar to yours. Charcoal dymondwood and back glass.  When you started your build a long I decided to wait and see how yours turned out.  That is one pretty bow. But you're not making me excited about working with the dymondwood.

Go for it!  It's worth it.  I probably complained just a little too much.  I should say that if I use it again, I will work it differently.  The main problem was when I was trying to square the inside corner of the arrow shelf and put the overall radius on the surface of the shelf.  If I would have used the coping saw in the beginning, I wouldn't have been quite so aggravated.  Also, I probably would sand as many of the riser contours as I could, rather than cut them in.  The burr I used had already been used before so, it was starting it's downhill slide and the bandsaw blade was already on it's last leg.  

John

[ChristopherO]

Again, thank you for all the work and effort.  I've learned even more from this.
You are missing, though, the necessary Full Draw Picture!  We'll be waiting patiently.......