# 6 - Finally a bow for myself

[fish n chicks]

Whoever said you can't make just one bow sure was right. This particular day in the shop was like the day you decided you'd paint the living room and it ended up turning into an addition complete with vaulted ceilings and the elk mount above the fieldstone mantle. Some things just seem to take their own crazy paths.

This bow was no exception. I knew it was going to be mine but I still wanted to practice on a few things nonetheless:

A good tiller, a great feel in the hand, and... my patience. About 32 hours later, my 6th bow as an apprentice to the art and craft, and my first as a married guy, was born. And born angry. NO stack, a draw as silky as lingerie, and the kind of hand shock that makes you ask if this thing has any hand shock.

My second bow from a board stave of common cherry I got for $8 from woodcraft, along with some purpleheart which seems to be my favorite to work with lately, and ebony, my arch nemesis. 60" tip to tip, 46# @ 28", and she weighs in at a sweet 21 ounces strung. 7" brace height and hopefully I'm gonna get her chronoed tomorrow cause man she WHIPS! The guide and alignment pins were a concept for glue-up, but I want to work a couple ideas for those out in future bows too.

If I ever make another one...

 

 

 

 

 

In this next pic, you may be able to see the only tooling mark I couldn't get rid of, so i improvised and used it. It's the arrow shaft in my specs, and the mark is my neglegence on the band saw. If I were to try to sand it out, the bow would've turned into a 30#er (if that) for sure from the hinge I would've created.


 

 

 

[fish n chicks]

 

 

 

[Swissbow]

Very nice job ! Like the wood combo. Cherry makes very fast bows. My friend Phil has a cherry d/r-longbow and i'm always amazed how fast this thing flings the arraws.

----------
Andy

[Igor]

One of the best board bows I've seen!

Excellent work


><>

Glenn

[hova]

that is one sexy 8$ bow... ill giv
e you 20 for it...


i wish
-hov

[bjansen]

Very nice. I like the pins you added.

[Eric Krewson]

Beautiful craftsmanship! Those grain runouts on your limb may come back to haunt you somewhere down the road.

[SteveD]

Wow Nice job. Beautiful bow

[Trux Turning]

Wow- that is a fine looking bow- great job!

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Eric Krewson:
Beautiful craftsmanship! Those grain runouts on your limb may come back to haunt you somewhere down the road.

You share the same thoughts I did when it was time for glue-up Eric. I was holding my breath EVERY time I tillered cause I was waiting to hear the dreaded "ksssshhhkk". The grain was far different than the bow I made out of the adjacent stave. But she keeps shooting em and I keep loving it. I gotta tell ya there's a lot to be said about rounding corners prior to tillering. I usually only round the back too, cause you're gonna be scraping and sanding the belly anyway, once the tiller looks good I finish rounding all the edges.

But this bow came from scraps like me so we're one in the same. Good eye Mr. K!

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by hova:
that is one sexy 8$ bow... ill giv
e you 20 for it...


i wish
-hov

I saw you're getting in the game yourself. Look out bro, this is addicting. I wanted to throw out a dollar figure so people who may be leary about trying to make their own bow can feel like they can without breaking the bank.

And 98% of the knowledge to make that bow came from right here.

[vanillabear?]

[Guru]

Great looking bow bud, you're talented    

[Stiks-n-Strings]

First thing I seen was the grain that Eric mentioned. Other than that WOW!

 You make some fine board bows Fish. Love the grip and tips.

 Awsome job bud.

[KellyG]

WOW!

[KellyG]

Did you do any Pics of the build up?

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by KellyG:
Did you do any Pics of the build up?

Unfortunately not. Was there something you were wondering about? I'd be happy to help how I can.

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by Stiks-n-Strings:
First thing I seen was the grain that Eric mentioned. Other than that WOW!

 You make some fine board bows Fish. Love the grip and tips.

 Awsome job bud.

I know right? That cherry is something awesome lemme tell ya. I'm just gonna have to shoot the heck out of her till she explodes. Hopefully that's not any time soon. Sure doesn't feel like it will be. It's funny you mention the tips Kris, my wife hated these. I liked em tho.

[hova]

Originally posted by fish n chicks:
 

Originally posted by hova:
that is one sexy 8$ bow... ill giv
e you 20 for it...


i wish
-hov

I saw you're getting in the game yourself. Look out bro, this is addicting. I wanted to throw out a dollar figure so people who may be leary about trying to make their own bow can feel like they can without breaking the bank.

And 98% of the knowledge to make that bow came from right here. [/b]

sorry to double quote , but it happens.


fish : im definitely in it for the long haul. i looked into it years ago , but back then all i learned about was stave bows. and a decent stave was around 50$ plus shipping , so thats why i never tried it. im hooked for sure , and i even have some pics up finally.


im using bowery as rehab till my leg heals and i can get back to work...still another two months to go. now that the wife is back to work , i have 40 hours a week all to myself. no kid , no woman , and of course no cash. the woodlot at the end of the road may look a little thin by this time next year , and all my nice fishing spots will be a few river canes short , as soon as i can hobble out to them.


i just cant get over how nice that looks...

[fish n chicks]

Originally posted by hova:
 

Originally posted by fish n chicks:
   

Originally posted by hova:
that is one sexy 8$ bow... ill giv
e you 20 for it...


i wish
-hov

I saw you're getting in the game yourself. Look out bro, this is addicting. I wanted to throw out a dollar figure so people who may be leary about trying to make their own bow can feel like they can without breaking the bank.

And 98% of the knowledge to make that bow came from right here. [/b]

sorry to double quote , but it happens.


fish : im definitely in it for the long haul. i looked into it years ago , but back then all i learned about was stave bows. and a decent stave was around 50$ plus shipping , so thats why i never tried it. im hooked for sure , and i even have some pics up finally.


im using bowery as rehab till my leg heals and i can get back to work...still another two months to go. now that the wife is back to work , i have 40 hours a week all to myself. no kid , no woman , and of course no cash. the woodlot at the end of the road may look a little thin by this time next year , and all my nice fishing spots will be a few river canes short , as soon as i can hobble out to them.


i just cant get over how nice that looks... [/b]

That's pretty much how it started for me bro. I was laid off about 20 months ago now, and the architecture world in the metro Detroit area isn't exactly back yet. Nothing is! lol So finding work is a full time job now. And when i'm not doing that and tending to the honeydo list, i'm finding peace one bow at a time.

Good luck to you, and I hope your leg gets you in the woods soon.