black locust stave

[L82HUNT]

I've known you alot longer then your wife and Im still waiting on my bow you said you were going to make me.  

[cooter]

Jawge, How ya been? Still skin'n that lucus stuff I see.     I got a couple questions for ya. First, ever heard from or seen DRT or his brother lately? Secondly, have ya hung any of your silk ties horizontally lately?    

Hope all is well,
Cooter

[DCM]

Derwood is around.  Saw him at pirates not a month ago.  Don't know about Tonto.  Derwood figgers hisself an archer, all rigged up with a metal riser bow.  Threatening to come South for a IBO shoot in the summer.

You dropped off the planet Eric.  Good to see you post.  I think I still have a sheet of that fabric you made, filter material perhaps, we tried for backings.  Seems like long ago.

[DVSHUNTER]

1/2 inch is the tip, did you mean to say tipoverlays instead of handle?  The handle is 1 1/2 thick.

[Osagetree]

I believe he thought your handle was 1/2".  Your handle and tips are fine in regards to thickness.

How many rings in the stave? I ask because sometimes, say if you have 6 rings from the belly to the back of the limbs; you can use them to judge the taper or make sure you're stepping the rings down to the tips. i.e. 8 rings at the fade, then the 7th ring for 6" or so then every ring after steps down to the next ring every 6" or so until your out of limb or at the tips.

Having a good feel or plenty of experience with similar staves tells one how many rings to start with and how far apart the ring step should be to begin with or to reach a desired weight a ends result.

Black Locust usually has large rings and you may only step down one ring or not at all so be careful here! Though it looks like you are not using the facet method and are shooting for a flat bow. So you should see a ring or maybe two on the belly.

I'm sure someone else here can explain better or would advise other. Please take my direction with some reservation.

Looking back on the pic I provided you in this thread of the belly of the snakey locust I made, you can see I stepped down two rings just below the fade and then the third ring was so thick tillering did not cause it to step to another ring. Leaving the tip showing 3 rings.

Just my opinion but you need to exercise the wood alot after scrapping on the belly. Shorten your tiller string like Pat said and see where you're at.

You're doing fine! Keep us posted!

[George Tsoukalas]

cooter, so good to see you back on the forums. I was thinking of you and the old days. DCM's been on here also. Darren is around alright. He visited me last summer to attend a local shoot-the White Mountain Traditional Bowhunters. He stayed with Joni and I for a few days. Can you believe he actually BEHAVED that is until we got to the shoot and then it was non stop laughter. Can you believe he's shooting some kind of a fancy bow and soda straw arrows? Shoots it well too. How have you been? Email me we got some catching up to do. [email protected]
Jawge

[cooter]

Jawge,

email sent

Cooter

[George Tsoukalas]

Thanks, Cooter. Answered it. Jawge

[DVSHUNTER]

I went on and glued a few pieces of leather to the handle. It took about 2 inches maybe less of set. Tiller was looking good so I finished it up and started to shoot it in and watch it settle.  It is shootin well at least it was till I glued it up. My wife canlt pull it back so I might have to keep it for myself. I will post a few pics when I figure out how to  do it from my new phone.

[George Tsoukalas]

DVS, Ole Jawge got confused I thought your handle was 1/2" thick. Glad it turned out well for you.    Jawge

[DVSHUNTER]

I would not say good. While excersizing the bow today the handle broke. I don't know what happened. It just popped almost off.  I guess I am open to options right now.

[Pat B]

Most probably the reason your handle popped off is because your bow in bending in the handle. It doesn't take much bend for this to happen.
  A couple of fixes...make your next handle riser out of thin pieces of wood stacked up in graduating lengths. This type of handle riser will flex a little and if the handle area is not bending too much, it will work. Another method is to make the handle riser out of leather, laminated to build it up. A leather handle riser like this will bend no matter how much the handle area does.

[DVSHUNTER]

I was thinking about a leather handle. Ireallylike the look of those superglue soaked handles, but now I have been thinking about an osage handle. I have plenty of the stuff lying around.will regular carpenters wood glue work. I think it os titebond 2. I still can't decide on the grip.

[George Tsoukalas]

I can describe how to pin the handle with dowels if you want. jawge

[DVSHUNTER]

I'm not sure what you mean by pin the handle george.