Very 1st bow build.....

[Badwithabow]

Ok guys this is my 1st ever bow build so we'll see how it goes..... Shootin for 66 in 60 @ 28

Heater box was built from pvc and a reflective insulation from home depot. 2 150 and 2 100 watts get the temp to about 145. Will this be enough?
 

Form was made from Melamine (MDF board with counter top type material. Each piece is exactly 3/4 so walla 2 and i'm at a dead even 1.5in.
 

O yea and my dad gets a timber rat today so he'll go on the back!

 

[Apex Predator]

Can hardly wait for the next installment!

[Badwithabow]

thanks marty you are my mentor in all this... I think i'm goin to name this style the Oostanaula, its a river right by my house

[walkabout]

very cool, your form has got some great curves.that timber rattler will make a great accent on the back im sure. ill be watchingfor updates, good luck.

[Goose Gossett]

Interested in what you use for your glue up.  Definitely looking to do something along these lines.  If you don't mind me asking what did the heat box and the form set you back?  General price range is good for me.

[Badwithabow]

I've got about under 200 in everything... i mean everything... except the actual bow supplies....

I mean heck if you want i could scan and email ya the receipt would make a dandy shoppin list lol...

I had an AHHHH HHAAAA moment just now.... i been thinkin about the whole i've dug by having a curved riser on my form... welllllll as i thought about it i got out there and started doin some odds and ends and walla i thought about the top part of the boards i just cut my form out of... marked the middle measured off 18 inches and there ya have it a easy to do template for risers on the form...

will post pics of what im talkin about tom. i'm bout to pass out lol

[jess stuart]

I am with Marty can't wait to see more.  Nice looking form.  Are you going to use rubber bands or clamps?

[Badwithabow]

bands..... thanks guys... i'm really just dumb luck here no science just kinda eyeballed it til i liked it..... I made a 35 in model and drew a 1 and 2 inch line to measure refelex/deflex and went to work.

[Badwithabow]

more pics prep work....

Got my measurements done.... and guide strips installed...

 


Next i measured 18 in for the riser marked it and cut it out.. I have very limited tools to use this should get me very close as far as risers go with out a lot of manual sanding.

 

 

[kennym]

Looks like a good start Brandon!!  Keep takin pics!!  LOL

[Badwithabow]

lol thanks kenny can't wait to get ahold of my goodies!!!

[Badwithabow]

well kinda had a lil problem... i hope to have it fixed by tom... my dowels i cut them to 3 in and they are to short sooo i took some duct tape and thickened up the dowels and slid some 1/2 in pvc over them to add a lil strength... well see...

my goodies should be here tom.. i have a busy day, flyin to tx to drop off my son then fly back to get my hands on the bow..

something beginners should think about that i didn't and its cost me some time and sweat is to make sure your form is squared from the get go.... i've done alot of sanding and leveling yest and today to get it juuust right... and i finally just now made myself happy with it...

[Badwithabow]

got the riser shaped what do ya'll think?

 

also i couldn't find any bike tires so i thought what the world this is about the same thing? I'm gonna buy 4 more and i mean you can get these boys TIGHT!!!!! with a pressure strip on top this should work... I HOPE!

 

[Apex Predator]

Here are my thoughts.

-  To aid in keeping your form straight, go buy a straight pine 2X6 and glue/screw it to the bottom.  

-  I use a bunch of rubber when clamping, and would not be able to make those little stubs work for me.  Mine are 1 1/2" long on each side of the form, which is perfect.

-  The fade on the right side of your riser dips.  The left side looks great.  You will have to get your fades way thinner on the real riser, but you probably knew that.    

-Make sure your marks at the end of your form allow for the tip to tip length, or it may screw you up.  My 66 mark makes a 68" long bow, since I am cutting string knocks one inch from each end.  You can always bob the tips to suit your taste after.

I'm excited for you Brandon.

[Jason Scott]

Hey Brandon get more of those rubber clamps than you think you'll need. Also, I've had wooden dowels break on me while clamping and also during the bake in the oven. Continue on with your pvc pipe reinforcement idea.

[Jason Scott]

On second thought, it looks like the pvc does not go all the way through the form. Rethink the peg material, Mr. Murphy says some will snap on you if you are applying the right amount of band pressure.

[Apex Predator]

I use 1/2" oak dowels and put tremendous pressure on them.  I haven't broken one yet.  I do select them from the stack, and avoid any with lots of run-out.  I pull most of the stretch out of these rubber bands and sometimes have 5-6 wraps on each dowel.

[Badwithabow]

yea marty great advice... ..... bought more oak dowels today i'll install them for long pegs..

[Badwithabow]

well today was FUUNNNNNN... got my bow materials today from Kenny (awesome guy by the way) now i got to work.... cut my riser
 

 
 
got to work on the sander i got borrowed from my granddad.

got the lams cleaned my a dry run and got adjusted and glued her up!! awesome can't wait to see what tom. holds.... either UPPP OR DOOOOWWWNNNNN
 
 
 

SEEE YOU ALL IN THE MORNING!!!!

[Apex Predator]

It's morning!  ????