A recurve for a friends daughter - build a long

[KellyG]

Well this is shaping up to be an awsome bow. You always do great work. Can't wait to see it finished.

[Bradford]

So Thursday night I got it out of the oven and sanded off the excess glue.. stripped the tape off:

 

 

Then I taped it back up and laser lined it for center line and got it drawn up.

Yesterday after work made all the rough cuts:

 

 

You can see all the wood burnt from using an old bandsaw blade.. but it's the quickest way I have found.  I throw on an old blade and cut it up.  Then got a little sanding done as well.

So tonight after work there should be some major shaping going on!

[KellyG]

That Fabric under the clear glass worked like a charm and looks great. Can't wait to she her finished. I think your friends daughter will love it. Can't wait to see the lime green ink on it.
Kelly

[Bradford]

Yeah.. it is coming out nice.  I was hoping the pink would be a bit more vibrant, but it still looks good.  I should have the green on her Monday or Tuesday at the latest.  Tonight and tomorrow will be sanding and shaping.. as well as gluing up the tips and any accents.

[Bradford]

okay.. home from work and got into the shed..

did the "trench" with the 1/2" dremel drum sander

 

Then I use a hand held belt sander, then a rasp, then the mouse sander to get the handle in shape.  Takes me a about 45min to do this

 

 

Then did some other sanding as well.  Really getting there now!  This Ash has some wicked grain to it.  Almost a figured look in real life.  I think with the green dye it is going to really POP!

 

More tomorrow!

[KellyG]

That is going to be one lucky little lady. She better hope her daddy does not dicide to take and use it. LOL

[Bradford]

YEAH!  Got past my point.. It's like in Top Gun where you have to fly the plane thru the flat spin and get out, or like in Days of Thunder and have to drive thru the wreck again to regain your confidence...LOL

I put a string on her and no breaking or cracking or any kind of noise at all!  Yipppeeeee

 

So got it on the tiller tree and this pic is at 22". Let it sit there a while and looked for imperfections.. none!  So exercised it and no creaking or cracking.  Then got it tested at 28lbs at 26".  So real close.  I still have a lot of finish sanding to do, so it should come out at 25lbs at 26" which will be perfect for a young girl.  Limbs looked nice and straight and no twist.

Bow should hit hard for a 25lb bow!  It is working the fade areas as well as the tips.. There is a lot of energy stored in the fades.  Now I am getting excited.  Was getting a little worried after having two in a row fail at this point.

[Bradford]

Look what I was able to save from the broken bow:

 

 

Got those all sanded in shape and got the tips all shaped up:

 

So tomorrow nights agenda:  Break out the 120 grit.. then the 220.. maybe even get it stained tomorrow night!  Getting close now!

[KellyG]

Love those wow it was looking good with out that pink heart but that really added something.

[monterey]

It looks great!  Do you think the pink cloth contributes to the draw weight of the bow?

When I saw that pic of the broken bow it was liking watching a movie where the hero gets killed only half way through.

Boy, is that a dumb analogy?

[Bradford]

Thanks boys!  Looking forward to seeing this one completed.

No, the fabric did not seem to add anything in the way of weight.  Came in about the same as my other kids bows.

The hero did die in the middle.. but then gets ressurected with even more grace and power!  

I like it.. we shall call this bow - "The Phoenix" ....LOL

[Bradford]

So here she is after sanding with 120grit and taking the tape off

 

 

 

Then I sanded it down again with 240 with the mouse.  Now it is time to do some "finger" sanding.  I use 1" 240 and 320 grit paper with towel on my lap in front of the tv and finish sanding it up.. all the little stuff.

[monterey]

Very nice.  I might try that cloth under the glass thing.  Opens up many possibilities.

[JJB]

I really like the looks of it, great work.

[Bradford]

Thanks guys.  Yeah, the cloth thing has been on my mind for a while. I have a few designs that have been brewing in my mind for a while.

Well, got the lime green ink on it tonight...

 

Letting it dry up and I will sand with 220 along the glass areas to clean them up then do a real light sand with 300 plus grit to clean it up.  Tomorrow will be tung oil time!  Yeah.

[KellyG]

Oh that turned out really Cool.

[Bradford]

All right.. after 2 days of final sanding and applying tung oil, she is all done..

 

 

 

 

 

Came in at 25# at 26".. it flings arrows real good!  I ran quite a few arrows thru it this afternoon and did real good.  Then had my 13 year old son shoot it and he did real good.  So this bow is now complete and ready to ship.. hope they are happy!

[KellyG]

That looks awesome. I hope your friend daughter likes it, I am sure she will though.

[JJB]

It turned out great, a one of a kind for sure!

[Bradford]

Thanks guys.. not a color combo I would pick myself.. but that is what "custom" means.. and if it makes the recipient happy -- well then all is good.