Hickory Bow pics

[BCWV]

I've given up on photo bucket and going with what I've got. It's taking me longer to get pictures downloaded to it than it did to build the bow.
 This is my first selfbow. It's hickory, 68" and 53@26". It shoots nice and has very little handshock.
 
 
  Alot of room for improvement, especially on tips. I put antler on it.
 
 Gotta work on my penmenship too.
 
 Had to do some begging to get my wife outside to take this.
 
 I now understand why my buddies are always laughing about my form. I've never seen myself untill I started this tillering stuff  :eek:  My elbow doesn't feel like it's that high!
 Thanks for the tillering help last week fellas.
 Brad

[4est trekker]

Very nice bow!      Is the bottom limb shorter than the top?  Also, it may be my eyes playing tricks, but do check the top limb about 10" from the tip for a possible hint of a hinge.  

By the way, VERY nice signature.  Strangely enough, I look at four things on a bow straight off before even looking at the tiller...the tips, the handle, the fades, and the maker's mark.  Those three things can tell you a lot about a bowyer.  You did well on all accounts!  Congrats.

~4est

[Buemaker]

Good work.    Looks like you have as much snow as we have. Bue--.

[jsweka]

Very nice Brad!!

WOW, you just finished up two dandy bows.  How do you decide which one to shoot?  

[Roy from Pa]

I guess it's Ok..  

[BCWV]

Thanks fellas.
 4est, the bottom limb is 1/2" shorter. I see what you are seeing on the top limb. It's strange but I can't really see it on the original picture but seems like it's there on the resized one. I plan to shoot it tomorrow at our indoor shoot and will keep an eye on it. Thanks.
 I'm taking them both tomorrow John. We normally shoot two rounds of 30 arrows each so I'll give em both a round.
 I've got another hickory blank and supposed to have an osage stave on the way. I hope to get enough to put some pressure on Roy one day.   :D

[Osagetree]

I like the hickory and for your 1st it's a dandy!Wish my 1st one looked as good. Was that from a purchased preshaped blank w/glued on handle?

I find hickory harder to tiller than osage. I bet you won't want to go back once you've tried the osage.

We can all use a little help from time to time. And since I'm bored today I will provide you my two cents.

Nothing too wrong with your tiller but, in my opinion try and get the limbs bending more closer to the fades. I'd say you got a little set in those limbs after shooting it in?

It looks like your shooting up hill a bit. Bend at the waist to maintain better form rather than raising the bow to get on target.
The red lines represent we both hold the elbow a little high.


 

[BCWV]

Thanks Joe,
 
 It was from a hickory that I cut a few years ago. It had good straight grain so I sawed out a couple blanks. I ruined a few but ended up with 2. I didn't have a clue what I was doing when I cut them. Still don't know much more. I glued a piece of red oak board on it for the handle.
 
 Yes it does need to bend some more closer to the fades. I shot it quite a bit today and I think I've wore the new off of it enough to work on it some more. I was just so happy to get one that was close enough to make a shooter I was scared it would end up in the scrap pile with my other attemps.

 Thanks
 Brad

[Osagetree]

You'll only get better from here on out.

Keep us all posted,,, you know we all love pics!!!

[lad]

darn good job.

[Thousandstar]

Great looking bow!

[BCWV]

Thanks everyone. I got her bending a little more closer to the fades, worked more on the top limb. I lost 2 pounds but I think it looks a little better. After posting this it looks like it needs some more though.

 

 I learned a lot on this one and hope my next one is better.

[Osagetree]

Looks good... Sometimes you have to know when to stop. Looks like you're there on that hickory.

If you ever come down to Huntington, WV let me know. I'll try and slip you an osage stave if we can meet up somewhere.

Joe

[BCWV]

Thanks Joe,

 My two oldest sons live in Huntington. I've got my oldest one looking for osage down that way. He told me that he saw some in the Barboursville park but I hate to see him in jail.

 I've been looking for some up my way but have come up dry so far. I bought a couple staves, one green that I roughed out, steamed and have on a caul, another seasoned one, from a trad ganger and is being shipped and bought a pair of seasoned billets that should be here next week. I've got plans for a 2 pc with them.

 I would buy a stave from you for sure. I'll holler at you next time I head down to see my boys.

 Thanks
 Brad

[KellyG]

Holy smokes Joe I have passed by your way a few times!

[Osagetree]

That don't suprise me Kelly, you've been clear around the world! Next time, give me a yell before ya come by and I'll try and ambush you.

I live in Ohio but Huntington WV is just across the river. I work in Huntington in the east end at St-Mary's Medical Center. So if your family comes to you before you come down mybe they could pick up your stave at my work? Wouldn't sell one to ya but if you feel the need to want to trade something....

I too have seen the osages in the Barboursville Park. Some real nice one's. But, I don't think they'll like us cutting there.

[Osagetree]

P.S. There's some osage in Lesage, WV just up Rt2 from Huntingtion. Oak Hill road, top of ridge on left side as you start up the 1st hill. Don't know who owns the land though.

[BCWV]

Thanks Joe! I'll have to see what I can dig up to swap you for a stave.

 I'll ask my son to check out the osage in Lesage you spoke off. I've been in that area but was years ago and was into rasing beagles then, I bought a pup from a fellow in Lesage.

 I'll get to thinking and try to come up with some trade.