Well, started my first bow build today with the gracious help of longbowhuntr
. He has been walking me through a stave takedown. Now I understand the meaning of chasing a ring.
I thought that I knew what it meant from reading articles and Bowyers Bible. Now I am somewhat sure I understand. We picked out a stave and got started, then David felt that it was not going to be a good first stave to start with. I think he knew that I was in way over my head with that one. Then to the second stave and it looked good. After a bit of looking and thinking about it we, David, felt that he could get 2 from one. It worked out great, split where he thought it would. He walked me through chasing the rings, early growth and late growth, how it felt when you cut through one to another and all. How to work with pin knots and knots in general. Now I can tell you without reservations, I got a good portion of it but some just spilled right out of my head when I bent over. I wasn't sure just what we were going to do today so I didn't take pictures, MY BAD!!! If all goes well, I will be going up to see him Sunday and make a good stab at it again. I, for sure, will take pictures of the progress. He sure make nice looking bows and I hope to not goof up to much. Kind of felt like a kid at Christmas, going from ring to ring and around pin knots was like unwrapping a package with wide eyed anticipation. Fun and informative, wish I had started this way back when. I will post more when I get more done with David's AKA longbowhuntr's help. Oh yes, pray for him, I think he just may have bitten of more then he can chew.