Here are the finished pix of the walnut bow I've been working on...
I was extremely pleased with "Bamboozle", my classic pattern shelfless extreme string follow bow. Not only did it look almost identical to my first bow as a teenager, but with glass added, it shoots very well. I would have to say that I am shooting it better than I have shot any other longbow. It's strictly a personal reaction, but I attribute it to the string follow. The bow seems to forgive a lot of my poor form.
Naturally, I wanted to see if I could duplicate that performance. I had a bow to build for a friend where I had a lot of freedom to do whatever I liked, but a bit more draw weight was wanted. I decided to try something new and use all walnut cores. Unfortunately, in my effort to insure the additional draw weight, I rather overdid it. The bow is a perfect copy of Bamboozle in design, but came out about 12# overweight at 50#! Ah, well, it's still a beauty. Now I'll have to try again to get the bow I actually needed... Darn, don't you just hate it when that happens?
Anyway, here is Chocolate Moose, named because the dark swirls of the bacote back on top of the walnut cores reminded me of dark chocolate syrup on top of a chocolate pudding.
The Layup:
Clear glass: .037
Bacote back: .063
Walnut: .100 parallel
Walnut: .108 tapered .0015
Walnut: .103 parallel
Clear glass: .037
Tip Wedges: 4"
Power lams: 12"
Riser: Sapele 18"
Total Wood Stack (exclusive of wedges): .374
Total Stack: 441
66" (actually a hair more) 50@28
Strung
Per my usual practice, glass only up the fades. Actually, at this weight, I will usually put the thinnest core lam up the fades as well, but I had anticpated a lighter bow.
Slightly dished grip.
I had very nice bacote for the back.
This shows the string follow, just over 1 1/2"
It's taken me awhile, but I'm finally making a bow that is very close to what I remember from my youth. It doesn't have the wide curved edge limbs... those were selfbows at that time... but the narrower, deeper cored glassed Hill style limbs give good solid performance and will be much more durable. The shooting feel seems just right... off the hand, smooth draw and very forgiving. I can see where quite a few of my bows will be to this "Classic" pattern.
Captain Dick
Topic: Meet "Chocolate Moose" (Read 453 times)
