Maple & Ipe Long bow

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2 weeks ago I started to work on this bow. I ruffed it out and got it to bend nicely in floor tiller.It's 72" t2t 1.5" at the fades tapering to .25" at nocks when I get done. When I got back from watching a friends house I backed it with a cotton backing from Rudder bows, it is called  Rainforest. Here is pic's of the backing.
 
 

Here is some pic's of the backing still drying, but I cut off the extra & You can see the Ipe handle.
 
 
 

I like doing wrapped wedge nocks so I'll thinking of doing them with some Black Walnut.

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Here is the wedge nocks, I glue them on just to be safe, when finished I'll wrap them with sinew. I was going to use black walnut, But I also cut out a red elm handle for the Black walnut bow and used some pieces for the nock on this bow.
 
 

right now the nocks are .5" after the glue cures for 24 hrs I'll take them down to .25". They calling for a chance of rain so I'm going to hold off on tillering till Sunday.

[Dano]

Nice start Sal, I like that backing.

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Dano, I had the same stuff but in a camo leaf. The bow broke on me and the backing held, I was checking weight and pulled down to far and snap. I'll be starting another bow Sept 14, Because of no hunting on Sunday. It will be a Red Oak Pyramid in trade of a self made knife. Same kind of backing different pattern of snake.

[Dano]

Sometimes all the backing in the world won't keep a bow from the fireplace.

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True, but sometimes that's the fun part in making bows. I mean I learn so much from seeing how it broke then try and not do that again... Before Nov, I should have this bow & 2 others done. Then a brake till Winter gets here... I think that one will be a Osage and real snake backing but have maybe linen under the snake or even hickory.

[JEFF B]

hey bro that looks awesome i hope the one iam making comes out as good as that. mind you it is my first one ever.

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first bows are the best bows... You learn so much and you also find your hooked after it comes out or brakes.... Build slow & have fun.

[Pluck Yew]

SWEEEET...Sal, stepping it up a bit?  

Shawn...

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Well I got to do some more scraping. I'm almost to 5", but needs more off the upper limb. Camera crapped out on me so I'll post pic's later. It just started to rain so I just some work done. I also gave the back it's first coat of Tru-oil. Darken up the art-skin some. I'll post pic's of that too. I also did the handle, The Ipe sucked it right up.

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Ok, I need some help. I'll still getting the limbs to bend and when I have the bow on the tree bending to about 5" the tips twist, but when the bow is unbraced they are flat. I know it is from me taking wood off, but would I need to take more off on the high side or low side of the twist.

[Pat B]

Take wood off of the thicker side.  A limb always bends towards the strong side so remove wood from the low side.
   I find if I use my bench vice I usually have one side slightly thicker. It is the side against the bench. When working on the shaving horse things come out more even.     Pat

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so the lower side of the bend is where to remove more wood. I'm loading pic's on photobucket just to show it. I'll remove wood after I post pic's & get replies.


Thanx Pat.

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here is some pic's
 
 
 
 

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Pat & other I should take from the right side as you look at the pic's

[Pat B]

Sal, The right side should do it. Go slow and check often to be sure.     Pat

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Well I started to take out the twist & the limb broke... Glad I have 2 more boards... Black Walnut next.

[Pat B]

Be careful with the black walnut. I just fretted a nice hickory backed BW bow I was making for a friend. I did the same a few years ago on an ELB style bow of the same recipe. The first one I started for him was a hickory backed ERC but it had a knot running diagonaly across the belly and fretted at that knot. Now I'm back to my favorites...self bow. I made him a mulberry selfbow.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You like mulberry Pat? So is that your go to wood for a bow? So far Red Oak is mine, but I want to try and find other woods at I can make a bow with. This Time after I get it floor tillered I'll just scrape it like I did the ROP bow I have & will be using this Season.

[Pat B]

My go to wood is probably osage but mulberry(cousin to osage) makes a very good bow. A little bigger all around than an osage bow but lighter so you can get the same results. I use many different woods. I like trying different wood to see if they will work.
   Generally I use just a scraper after floor tillering also. Sometimes I will use a rasp for difficult areas but mostly a scraper.     Pat