One for me, finally...

[halfseminole]

So this work wasn't mine so far, but finishing up will be.  scars built the "frame" so to speak here, the core of the bow.  Core is Kentucky coffeetree, siyahs are locust I believe.  Took a fair bit of weight in shipping it seems, as it has a fair bit of propeller twist, but I think I can heat that out no problem.  I can still do that much.

I should post some pics here.

 

 

 

 

What's left, of course, is to put sinew and horn on it, finish the sanding, scraping, etc., sew it up in leather and ray skin and make a decent proper horsebow string for it (endless loop, tied on nock loops.)  Sounds a lot like nothing, huh?  He told me that it's clear enough to leave the horn off, and I may agree, but I'm not sure whether horn would make a big difference at 35-40 pounds and a long draw.  I simply don't know enough to know.  I'm unsure whether it will need string bridges or not, as it's not all made up and this is my first (and probably only) selfmade horsebow.  I'm planning to take this one slow-let the sinew age on the bow and dry at its own rate.  I've got a ton of sinew and I've got some pounded up, some partway done and a whole bunch still in a bag ready to be hit with a rock.  Still unsure what people mean by a "comb" for the sinew when they comb it out on glass to make sinew sheets for a neater application.  I have a lot to learn, but here's hoping this will make me a bow that will shoot from this blasted chair I have to use.

Advice, snide comments, etc. are always welcome.

[KellyG]

Looks good. There is a horn bow build on here you can find more info on combing sinew.

[scars]

Glad it got to you HS. Shame it twisted it was dead straight when I sent it. Should be able to put a hot wrapped wet towel on it with a pipe wrench on the side you want it to twist back. Like I said it is not much. KCT wood is a nice and forgiving wood. I like it better than hack berry.
A florist frog is what I use to shred sinew. The only combing I have done is when I lay it on a board with hide glue make the layer, let it gel then peel it off the combing board then apply it to the bow core with heat and fresh hideglue. There are lots of guides here and on PA.
Pat M's Pearl Drums and Pat Bs to name a few.

Should be able to thin the siyahs more than a third before you sinew.

If you choose to use horn make the horn and wood core less than a 1/4" combined. With a 1/8 inch sinew added to it. Will come out to 45# or so Then you will have to scrape the horn to tiller.

Tiller the wood core, Tiller the horn wood core combo then once sinew is added and seasoned scrape the horn and sand sinew to shape and to reduce to  weight.
Have fun enjoy They are a blast to play with.

[LittleBen]

How long and How wide is it?

40# @ 36" is alot of energy storage for fairly short narrow limbs. Sinew is a definate must, nto sure if the horn wil be necessary, but it will be cool thats for sure.

[takefive]

That is wild!  Looks like you put a lot of time and effort into it, scars.  Let us know how it comes along, halfseminole.

[critman]

You'll get it done halfseminole. I have plenty of faith in ye! Make it what you want it to be, it's yours afterall. Enjoy the rest of the build and don't sweat the small stuff.  Remember, it's the imperfections that make it perfect.      

[scars]

I only had about 3 hours in it before I realized I put the siyahs on the chased ring side of the core. Lost heart in it and it sat in the shop for six or seven months. Can't remember the specs but the core with horn an sinew should get about 75-80 degrees on draw before stack is noticeable. Should be able to get a 33" to 34" draw. Maybe more.
If I find the gemsbok horn I'll send it to you HS But don't hold your breath. I have 3" of sawdust on the floor stacks of wood every where. I have a shop computer and can see it but can't get to it.
Yes the shop is a mess.

[halfseminole]

My wife kindly suggested that I just buy horn strips, because even though I work with horn all the time I don't have a bandsaw to make the cut clean.  As we all know, that is approval to purchase horn when we can afford it, so there we go.  When I'm not having a bedridden day I'll show all of the sinew I've got so far and all of my glues, and offer up a few questions that won't make sense until then.  But with this snow and ice moving through down here I can't walk hardly across the house.  It's miserable.

Siyahs glued on the wrong side?  Will that constitute an issue, do I need to remove/flip them, or is it OK?

[scars]

Siyahs are okay, no need to worry.

I chased that ring 4 deep and it was going to be the side I was going to put the horn on. Adam K recommends core built with the growth rings to the belly. And tiller on the back of the bow core.

When I realized that I had cut and glued the siyahs facing the chased ring I got disgusted with myself not the stave. And just put the thing aside.

I've made three horn bows with the chased ring as the back of the bow.

[halfseminole]

 

I don't think she liked the taste of that.

So do I have enough sinew (and cat) prepared?  It was something I could do while laid up (which I'm not much better now) and it occupied my hands.  I've got some cleaning on the individual strands to do, but when I make my comb for the sheets I'll get it out then.

Incidentally, I also have some pics of the thumbring that nearly killed me.

 

I'll post the other pics of it in my osage allergy thread.  Anyway, let me know if that's enough.

Also, because the handle is on backwards, essentially, do I need to rasp it off and go flat, and then glue a handle up to the front side, or just ignore it?  Unsure how I would have to proceed here...

[scars]

I think you have enough sinew divide it into 3rds or halves and arrange one bundle from kasan eye to kasan eye. That will give you a ball park idea of how thick your layers will be.

The closer you get the sinew layers to weigh the same the less tillering you will have to do after it has seasoned.

My method is to weigh out the sinew on a scale. Get the bundles close to the same weight, once there you divide each bunch like this.

First layer six bundles  three per limb. Use long and short strands of sinew in each of the six bundles.

Second layer use long and medium lengths of sinew, make four bundles Two per limb.

If you go with a third layer use short medium and the rest of the long sinew.

Hide glue, The easiest way to get the formula close is: 1O parts total, 3 grams of hide glue to 7 grams of water: 3 table spoons of hide glue to 7 table spoons of water. That's it.

You need to size the core with 7 parts water to .5 parts hide glue. Sizing can take as little as two times to as many as ten just depends on when the wood becomes glossy and will not accept any more glue.