TG BOW SWAP 2011 (pics and post)

[Keenan]

I'm not sure if this is where we are supposed to do buildalongs for the bow swap, so correct me if needed.  Ok Got it narrowed down to two staves. Decided to go ahead and start a rough out on this one to see how she looks.
 58" Juniper. As you can see in the first pic she is fairly clean for juniper.
 
The first pic looked to be fairly straight but as you can see in this second pic the heartwood centerline shows clearly some snakyness.
 
 I used a marker to highlight the flow of the center. On these juniper staves it is often hard to follow the center from the back so I often aproach them from the belly side for the rough in.
 
As you can see from the next pic the overall center line is fairly good. but some definite character. I use the centerline as a guide for the first cut out and just stay a good strong inch to the sde of the line. Here is the first stage. Notice the the end shows that we are still very centered on or rings.  Juniper dose not split out very clean like osage or other bow woods so often a bandsaw following the heart is best.
 
 
look again at the back befor we started. It was hard to see the character from the back on this one. Often people will make a mistake of trying to cut a straight bow and end up with grain run off.
 

[kerryb]

looking good Keenan.

[hova]

never seen juniper before . what type is that?


-hov

[1oldbowguy]

VERY NICE!!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Your in the right spot Keenan. Keep it coming!

[Pat B]

Looking good Keenan. I am paying special attention because I might have some juniper coming and looking forward to working it and following your suggestions.

[Osagetree]

Nice stave Keenan... Really like your bench too!

[ranger 3]

Sorry I didn't get pics. up to this point but here is one after I put cherry backing my trade bow.
 

[hova]

nice ranger.do us proud!

do i see yeller wood b'hind that cherry?
-hov

[fish n chicks]

Dang this baby talk. I woke up yesterday morning to let the dog out, and the wife says "look on my dresser".

ok.


Pregnancy test. Two lines.

Damnit! Don't get me wrong, I WANT kids. We both do, but man, being unemployed for a couple years now with no love in sight here in MI, I'm nervous as all hell. Oh well, I told the wife this stuff is in God's hands, and if we're blessed with a child it was what was to be.

I have been racking my brain as to what materials to go with for this bow, and so far, it's come to red oak, ebony, and lignum vitae. I really don't like red oak anymore, but it's a great board I found, and I can't seem to find anymore of that cherry I liked so much. What sucks is I can't even start on the dang thing till i'm done renovating this house and we get moved in. Then I gotta set my shop (garage) up.

Man, I need a beverage!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Take a deep breath Fish it's all good and you got plenty of time. Heck your Baby will 2/3rds of the way here before the deadline   :D

 If we waited until we could afford kids none of us would be here. I got three girls, talk about breaking the bank.

 Stiks

[Diamondback59]

fish congraulations     it ll all work out bro  enjoy   it s in god s hands  brock

[DVSHUNTER]

way to go fish. I'm with kris, I have three of my own and can't afford a single one of them. My last one came five days after I got laid off for a year. You'll make it. It just happens.

[Goose Gossett]

Congrats fish on the future kid.  You'll have some time to prepare.  I'm on the last 1/3 of the pregnancy (actually my wife is and I'm along for the ride) and I still don't completely know what I'm doing.  I just know that the baby might come out speaking Spanish the way she is craving Mexican food.

[hova]

thats funny  goose. when my wife was preg , we went to this place almost four times a week. the other three were usually pizza...lol..


and fish , it is what it is man . i am technically self employed , so trust me i know what you mean being nervous. if you ever get that mouth-watering , and your heart starts beating faster , you might want to get to a bucket. i was driving along aboout a week after we found out , and it just sort of hit me. not bad nerves , but just a complete unknown. i was happy and excited , but my body was in shock i think.


-hov

:ps i puked all over the car cause i had no clue what was happening...

[KellyG]

congrates fish heck in a few years you will have a hunting buddy, fishing buddy, and young bowyer. I think 99.99999999999%  of us who have kid just did not know, and was nervous as heck at some point. Let me tell you just pick up the bible (I an no good with verses or book) and find the verse about providing for the all the aniamel and birds of the field and you will feel better.

God Bless and Happy fathering,
Kelly

[fish n chicks]

You guys are good peoples. It's much appreciated and also needs to be heard. Or read. Whatever, same difference. I took some deep breaths (always good advice Stiks) and had a couple coney dogs and well, I'm pretty excited for it now.

Hova, I know how you feel but nobody's puking in my truck bro. Things would perish.

Fellas with girls... I think that's the reason i'm nervous!

Now back to bow talk, cause that is rarely depressing. Anybody finish a bow yet?

[NTD]

Originally posted by Goose Gossett:
Congrats fish on the future kid.  You'll have some time to prepare.  I'm on the last 1/3 of the pregnancy (actually my wife is and I'm along for the ride) and I still don't completely know what I'm doing.  I just know that the baby might come out speaking Spanish the way she is craving Mexican food.

My wife craved mexican food too.  She wanted green chiles on everything    

Congrats on the expected arrival Fish.

[KochNE]

Kelly...the one you're thinking of is Matthew 6:25-34.  One of my favorites.  Congratulations, Fish!

Talked to a buddy last weekend, & his dad farms south of here closer to the KS border. Lotsa yellow wood down there.  "Thistles" was how he described the attitude towards "hedge apple" trees.  Going out in the next week or two when we can coordinate some free time.  Just hafta make him a bow in exchange for as much wood as I want.

Gonna be interesting tryin to dry staves in a downtown apartment...

[eman614]

congrats fish. i hope everything goes well for your wife and you. i had your same feelings about 8 months ago when my wife pulled that same stunt. the tile business hasen't been that great, but i just found out yesterday that i got hired on with a company that makes animal vaccines. finally a steady pay check. it has made the whole babies gonna be here in the next month or so thing go alot better. good luck finding a job, and again i hope all goes well with the pregnancy.

eric