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Author Topic: juniper bow  (Read 1534 times)

Offline White hair

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juniper bow
« on: July 30, 2014, 08:49:00 AM »
I just joined here and love archery. Primitive mostly.
I just started a juniper bow that I will back with sinew. Never done one so would anyone have any advice?  I have made a lot of self long bows and plains pony bows .
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2014, 09:10:00 AM »
I haven't worked with juniper(except ERC)but I've heard that it makes a great short sinew backed bow. I think you use sapwood and heartwood. I do have a stave from Oregon but I haven't got to it yet.
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Offline jporter@work

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2014, 10:16:00 AM »
I have a board a friend gave me.  I had thought about a maple or ash back on mine.  Good luck and keep us posted.
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Offline Bob at Work

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2014, 11:49:00 AM »
please post your progress and lots of pictures.
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2014, 02:10:00 PM »
How do I post pictures here? I will try. I cut a pig nut hickory tree today. 7" diameter 6' long. All I could carry out on my shoulder. Took about an hour to walk it out. This old man is tired.

Daniel
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline Crittergetter

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2014, 02:56:00 PM »
Welcome aboard!  X2 what Bob at Work said!!! We love pics!!!
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Offline takefive

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2014, 03:47:00 PM »
Welcome!  I use Photobucket to post pictures on here, but I know there are other photo sharing sites.  Upload your pictures to Photobucket and then you can transfer them to the forum by copying and pasting the IMG code.  Give us a shout if you run into any problems.  Usually works good for me.
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Offline Bob at Work

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2014, 07:25:00 PM »
I see you are in Mo. and I'm in Arkansas...where did you find a good piece of Juniper?  I want to make a sinew backed Juniper but ERC is the best I can do around here.
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2014, 07:59:00 PM »
From Chuck out east. There was an article on him in Primitive Archer. I spotted a Juniper today up
here in the woods. Not sure if there is any good pieces though. I will go back and check Friday.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline blacktailchaser

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2014, 11:07:00 PM »
hey daniel,what do you want to know..is the wood western juniper...IF so then like pat said short and wide make wonderful bows..keenan howard has showen me stuff about it..you need to over build your limbs because it is a softer and lighter wood..all so sinew backing juniper is the best combo i have ever seen...and yes i live in juniper country..if you have any questions i will try to help out if i can..john
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2014, 08:15:00 AM »
Thank you. I was thinking over build, but wasn't sure. I have a lot of deer leg and back strap sinew. Was wondering what would be better to use as glue. Tite Bond or hide glue? I saw a video of Ed Scott (owl man) using tite bond II.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2014, 08:34:00 AM »
Use hide glue, definitely. TB will work but IMO you don't get the full potential from the sinew unless you use hide glue. Make the bow on the short side for best performance too. About 2x your draw length.
 Knox gelatin works well for the glue as it is food grade hide glue. I have had mixed results with Knox so on my last few sinew backed bows I used hide glue instead of Knox.
 I've used both leg and back sinew and prefer back because it is longer and makes a smoother matrix with the glue. I think I used about 6 or 8 back sinews for a 47" sinew backed osage I built a few years ago.
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2014, 09:00:00 AM »
my stave is 52" with a natural 2" D flex. Cut it to shape with my hand axe and rasp. 3/4" thick and 1 3/8 wide.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2014, 10:47:00 AM »
52" will make a good sinew backed bow. Kick the tips up and lay 2 or 3 courses of sinew and give them plenty of time to dry/cure.
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2014, 11:21:00 AM »
When you talk of over build how thick are you making your limbs? I had to trim the ends , it's now 50". This is my first in juniper let alone sinew backed.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #15 on: July 31, 2014, 01:54:00 PM »
Keep it 1 3/8" for most of the length and taper the last 6" to 3/8" tips. I'd tiller the bow at lease to first brace and possibly our to half your draw before adding the sinew. You might want to take the deflex out with heat first before sinewing. As far as thickness, tillering will determine that. 5/8" is probably a good place to start but take that from someone that hasn't worked juniper.
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2014, 02:23:00 PM »
At the center of the deflex there is a knot. I thought of taking some out and a slight recure at the tips. Going to be an adventure.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2014, 02:52:00 PM »
Will you post pics of the stave/bow so we can see the knot, back and belly? The knot might not be an issue with sinew backing.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
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Offline White hair

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2014, 03:13:00 PM »
By the time I get the wood reduced the knot will be mostly gone. It came out the side and not through the back.
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Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline Bob at Work

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Re: juniper bow
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2014, 07:19:00 AM »
pictures of your progress?     :bigsmyl:
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