Home Grown Hunting Equipment for 2006/07 (UPDATE - Nov. 5th, 2006)

[John Scifres]

I should have added that this is one of the most interesting buildalongs.  I can't wait to see what happens this fall  

[Shaun]

OT, its the spirit of "make it all yourself" that makes this thread so sweet. From berry pickin with the wife to wading for cattails for the quiver this one has soul. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

[Osagetree]

Thanks guy's!

Shaun,
      I thought I was the only tree rustler until I looked at your profile pic on the Tradgang!

For shame, for shame,,,,,        :p

[Osagetree]

I gave the woop in the limb another heat bend and it seems to have helped. Thanks John S.!

 

I am going to go ahead and add the whitetail antler tip overlays and the string knocks, so I can put on a shorter string before continuing with the tillering.

 Looking at tip alignment before I trim up the tips of the limbs.

 

[Osagetree]

I start out using some pincil marks to guide me. No measurements, just what looks good to me.
A small sureform rasp takes off the first bit of wood. Then, I use a flat file to finish rounding everything off.

 

 

Finished tip shape.

 

 

To cut the antler I use my old wood saw. It makes quick work of it.

 

I cut two sections of antler a couple inches long and at the base of the horn. Marking the top to guide me later when thinning it down.

 

Using a self adhesive sanding disk, I cut it to shape and stick it to the back of the bow where the overlays will go.

 

[Osagetree]

Sliding the cut antler over the sand paper, will form it, to better fit or lie flat on the back of the tip.

   

After a few strokes you can see on the paper where the antler is being sanded away to fit the back of the bows contours better. This gives a better glue line and tighter fit.
Here is a shot after a few strokes, the sand paper is white in spots and this tells me it is not lying flat on the back of the stave.

   

Almost there!

   

When you have a pretty good fit the sand paper will be white all over.
Like this.

   

Shot after sanding and removing sand paper.

   

Using a flat file , I create a bevele on the bottom of the overlay.

   

This makes the transition to the limb and the overlay.

   

[Osagetree]

Glue it up and clamp it down for a couple hours.

 

[Osagetree]

Using an old worn out wood rasp and the flat file I shape the overlays to blend in with the tip ends.

Glue line shot.

 

One tip.

 

And the other tip.

 

I'll cut the grooves in later and get a string made up for it. I want to get it back on the tiller tree.

[Osagetree]

I usually just file a simple groove, but for this thread I thought I would try something different.

Got this idea from the Farrets site, and this is how I interperted his method.

With the coping saw, I cut 3/4" from the end of the tip, a straight line around the sides and front of the overlay. This is just a score line to guide the round file that will actually cut the grooves.

 

Around the front and down the other side.

 

Then I follow it around with the round file.

 

Until this is what I have looking from the belly side of the tip.

 

and around the antler overlay.

 

Then another score line with the coping saw at 45 degrees to the line above that I just cut.

 

[Osagetree]

I took the round file and followed the  second score line and filed out the wood and antler that was in between the two line. Then rounded everthing off with a file and sand paper and this is the finished tip.

Note: I broke my dang round file! (See Pic.) It's my only round file.

Belly side.

 

Front of overlay.

 

Profile.

 

[Osagetree]

Seven strands of black, Dacron B-50 and seven strands of red, Dacron B-50.

 

Cross the two bundles about ten inches from one end.

 

While holding the end where the bundles cross  firmly, I start twisting one bundle (Red) away from me and over the other bundle towards me. Then twist the Other (Black) away from me and over the red one towards me over the black bundle.

 

When I have the twisted part long enough to make a loop, I am ready to tie it all in to make a permenent loop.

 

Create a loop and wrap the red bundle with red and the black bundle with black.

 

I use the same twisting procedure I used above, I continue one down the string bundles.

 

Until I have gone past the ends of the shrter bundles, and the loop is all tied in. I trim off the stray ends later to make it look neat.

 

[vermonster13]

I can't wait to see how you make a new round file. One of my favorite threads going here.

[Osagetree]

Letting the loop end of the string hang loose over my leg, I us my hand to roll the two bundles towards my knee. The string basicly twists itself from there! keep it up till I reach the end.

 

At the end of the string I tie a knot to keep it from coming loose.

 

I hang the loop end of the string over a big nail in the door of the shop. Then the other end of the string, I tie a piece of rail road track and let the string stretch for an hour or so!

 

[gifford, MO]

Osagetree; this has been and is one of the most enjoyable threads I've seen in some time. Congrats on the fine job you're doing.

[Osagetree]

Well, like I said,,, I ain't the best!

I got to the final tiller and it ain't good!

Sure glad I included a back up bow for this thread.

Here it is at brace.

 

Full draw.

 

Profile after shooting it a dozen or so times

 

[Bucket]

Did it loose any of the set after it sat a bit? Other than a little more bend at the handle, I don't think it looks too bad. But then again I haven't tillered but one bow.

I like it.

[TexMex]

I like it, too!!

[John Scifres]

Scrape that midlimb on the right until it comes around some and it'll be fine.  It's just a matter of fine tuning now.

[LazerRay]

Can we see a pic of all the finished products

[Osagetree]

I apologize for jumping ahead on this one, but it ain't going to make it as my hunter this year. So, I jumped ahead and finished it off. What I did not cover on this bow I will on the locust I'm working on now. Remember, it was my back up stave incase I missed the mark on the osage.

LazerRay,
Nothing is really totally complete or finished at this point. I will go back near the end of construction or before season and ready all the gear with final touches.

Hear are some pics of what I have so far.

61 1/2" selfbow 38# @ 28". I went ahead and made it a right handed bow, though I shoot left. Most people shoot right and I can too, but I prefer left.

 

Antler overlay.

 

Rivercane Arrows and Cattail Quiver.

 

Unstrung, Blacksnake skin backing.

 

Belly.

 

First shot after finishing.

 

Handle.

 

Character and skin.