I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do today in the shop then I thought my Grandson turns 1yr old this coming Thursday. I better make him a bow. I selected a snakey short stave that I had been working on for his bow.
My brother recently speared a carp in the Ohio river with his bamboo spear. It wasn't a grass carp nor was it very long but because he got it in a primitive fashion I asked him to skin it for me and he did.
So, I would put his great uncles carp skin on the bow his grandfather made him for his 1st birthday!!
I got the little 51" snakey bow tillered out and was shooting a 22" arrow at 25lbs. Just for safety reasons I tested the bow to 25" and it held up really well taking no set at all.
Soaked the carp skins in warm water for awhile then scrubbed them with steel wool and dawn dish liquid to remove some of the oils from the skin. Glued them down with titebond II. After they were dry I trimmed up the edges and wrapperd the ends with gold B-50.
Cut me a piece of leather for the handle and I'd say I'm about done for the day. I'll let the bow dry for a few days before stringing it again.
Oh yea,,, I also stained the backing at the tips with a little dark stain but I left the belly raw yeller wood.
Oh, I had to make him a rubber tipped bush arrow too... by the way his 1st arrow with flethings from a turkey his grandpa took a few years ago.
This week I'll finish the black leather handle with the same gold B-50 used to wrap the skins, make a new string (black & gold) & give it a few coats of finish.
Sabastian will only be 1yr old but, I had to make sure he got his 1st bow on his 1st birthday... Just glad his first could be one of mine!!!
I'll try & post some more pics of it finished off and in the hands of the birthday boy soon!
Topic: Sebastian's 1st Bow (Finished) (Read 1018 times)
