american white ash slow build finished

[JEFF B]

would like to know is american white ash good bow wood?

[Justin Falon]

made a nice (short) bamboo backed ash bow about 2 years ago out of ash.  62" ntn and 74#@27".  Shot well for that season but since has gained some moisture because I failed to seal it well enough.  Has 1" of set now.

jf

[JEFF B]

i got a board today 6" x 8" x 8 foot long and i am going to have a go at making a longbow or a short bow out of it any suggestions -drawings-pics i want to make somthing in the 45-49# at 26" draw and about 68" long or 60" long. thanks .jeff

[**DONOTDELETE**]

jeff,go to theb ferret's or gorge's website.You'll find bow lay outs. Remember to take you time.

[rbbhunt]

Also check the Traditional Bowyer's Bible.  Has some great chapters on building a board bow.

[JEFF B]

will do guys. hey sal hows the bow going bro any pics?  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I'll be working on it when I get home.. Watching a house for a friend right now. I did hear the backing came in, so that's there too.

For a quick lay out try a Pyramid style bow.

[JEFF B]

now i just found a longbow design that a buddy sent me and its already to just glue it on the board and cut it out. so i will go with that and see what happens. LOL!!!

[b.glass]

I've read where the specific gravity of a particular wood tells alot about how good a bow wood it would make. A book I got recently has osage orange at 84, green ash at 71 and white ash at 64. Ash tends to grow straight and clean like hickory (80). I've been wanting to try ash. Tell us how it works out.

[JEFF B]

well Bona i hope to be cutting it out tomorrow and then i am going to dry it out in a hot box over night just to make sure that it is dry oh you know what i mean. all i got to get me now is one of those wood scraper things thats if i can find one. LOL!!!! as i have a rasp and spoke shave and heaps of sand paper of diferent grades. there's a start it may take a while so bear with me. i will see if i can get some pics tomorrrow of progress. or lack of LOL!!! well it's past this little kiwi's bed time 10.23 p.m later guys and gals. jeff

[b.glass]

"Little kiwi", that's cute. :>

[JEFF B]

well guess who's been a busy little kiwi.
as you can see by the pic i marked this flat bow out on the white ash board.  
then i started to cut it out and i may say not a bad job at all for a novice LOL!!!!
 
 here is the end result
 
 
now for the hard part but this will be long in the making as i got to get a few tools together so it may take a while. well at least i have started.  

[JEFF B]

opps i just thought of somthing i got to make me a tillering stick i just knew i did it ass about face. should make tiller stick first then bow.  

[Danny Roberts]

Never made one from a board but I've made a few from staves. They turned out pretty good shooters. Two of 'em were Christmas presents for nephews last year. Good luck !

[JEFF B]

thanks danny i will need it lol!!!

[JEFF B]

ok back to the board bow all iam using at the moment to take wood off slow is a usmc knife and a rasp   as ya can see in this pic it is going slow but i will get there LOL!!!
 
ok lets make somemore shavings.
  will post pics when i got somemore done. i still have to make the tiller tree. i better do that now. later

[**DONOTDELETE**]

way to go Jeff, You'll have that all shot in by the time I finish Your bow I'm doing. I got the backing and I'm home now... Guess it's time to start it.


Just take your time. She come out great...

[SoNevada Archer]

Can't wait to see....  :cool:

[JEFF B]

man i need some scrapers this is hard with the knife.i have been ringing the second hand shops but none of them have even heard of them how sad is that.  :rolleyes:

[**DONOTDELETE**]

are you at floor tiller Jeff? if not you can use the rasp to shave down the board to get the limbs to bend nicely then move to the knife to take small shavings of wood off.