1st Self Bow Started

[gudspelr]

I got lucky and managed to trade for 2 Hop Hornbeam staves.  I didn't know a whole lot about the wood previously, but all the reading I've done says it's some really good bow wood.  It has a "muscled" back which is why there are the pockets of brown left on the back.  If you tried to just get it all out with a draw knife, you'd cut through all the high spots.

 


It's pretty straight, but I've noticed a bit of twist in one limb.

   


Need to start removing some wood towards the fade so it's bending a bit more...

 


Need to get on building a tillering tree and a new (sharper) 4 way rasp/file-HHB is REALLY hard...  Hopefully I'll end up with a stick that'll fling an arrow       .

------I hope the pics aren't too big...I keep trying to resize them in photobucket, but regardless, they end up at this size.

Jeremy

[briarjumper12]

I like the look of the back.  Sand and finish with the brown still on there.  I done my last hickory that way and everyone that's seen it likes it.  I had removed it all the previous ones.  Hickory has that muscled look too.  I like it, gives it character.
Looks like a hinge starting at midlimb, definatley get the fades working.

[George Tsoukalas]

You can narrow to 3/4 in nocks . After bracing to see how the string lines up you can narrow to 1/2 inch nocks. Jawge