Some recent bows

[flntknp17]

I don't think I have posted in here before, but I do enjoy seeing all the cool bows you guys make!  Mine aren't going to win any beauty contests, but they make me happy and they shoot fine so all is well.  I have been making all wood bows since about the early 90s, but really have concentrated on making bows from things I can buy at the local hardwood lumber store for the last 15-20 years.  I know "board bow" is a naughty word in some circles, but I like them and when paired with a bamboo or hickory backing, they make really excellent bows that are very durable.  I have had a bit more time than usual for working on bows in 2020 since we have been working from home rather than the office since March......that means two hours less of driving in my day and I've been spending some of the "extra" time in my shop.  These are all bamboo backed with either hard maple or hickory bellies.  Most of them have padauk handles though some have che chen.  They are all glued up with perry reflex using Titebond 2 or 3. 

Keep posting all the fun things you make.  I really enjoy seeing them.

Matt

[Shredd]

Nice...  Thanks for sharing your work...

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice..

Stop in here more often.

One suggestion I will make is it appears the edges of your limbs are square, they should be rounded over a little.

[KenH]

Good work -- don' be a stranger!

[flntknp17]

Very nice..

Stop in here more often.

One suggestion I will make is it appears the edges of your limbs are square, they should be rounded over a little.

The edges of all the finished bows are fully rounded.  The one close up was a bow just after glue up that hadn't had any work done other than sanding the glue off.  I am pretty careful about putting a chamfer on all the corners of the bendy parts, it probably doesn't show up in the wider pictures because they're not zoomed in enough.  I could probably use some rounder bellies just to make them more aesthetic, but the flatter bellies probably reduce any chances of chrysals so I'm not sure how far to go.

Thanks!

Matt

[Roy from Pa]

Ok great, was hard to see in the first picture.

[Flem]

Thats a fine looking collection of Bows Nothing wrong with lumber Bows, it's all wood no mater how you slice it. Looks like you have done well with the Perry reflex. I tried it on a couple of Bows, must have screwed it up because it did not make much difference for my efforts.

[kennym]

A tip of the hat to folks who back with boo!!  I haven't progressed(or regressed) that far yet..

[flntknp17]

A tip of the hat to folks who back with boo!!  I haven't progressed(or regressed) that far yet..

I'd say "tip of the hat to those who back with glass" because I don't think I could figure out all that epoxy and hotbox and lamination thicknesses and grinding and such.....I keep thinking about trying it, but then I realize I just don't have the tools or knowhow for it so I keep using bamboo because its simple and effective 

Matt

[ztontonz]

Nice bow production production!
Are you able to find bamboo at your local lumber store as well?

[Mad Max]

On those bamboo backed bows, what is on the belly?

[flntknp17]

Nice bow production production!
Are you able to find bamboo at your local lumber store as well?

I am not able to.  I have been buying rough split bamboo pieces from various online sources.

Matt

[flntknp17]

On those bamboo backed bows, what is on the belly?

They are all simple two-piece laminates.  The belly on some is hard maple and the belly on some is hickory.  Some made with 1/2", some with 3/4", and some with 5/4" boards.

Matt

[Mad Max]

 

[Buemaker]

Magnificent 7. Looking good.

[onetone]

Nice collection of your own bows, all looking good! What is the spread of bow lengths in the pictured collection?

[Azwatasha]

Very nice! I really like the stained Bamboo.

[Doug in MN]

They Look great !!!
Lot of fun making bows, more fun shooting them.