« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: juniper bow  (Read 1977 times)

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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 .
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15027
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.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline jporter@work

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 7
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.
Logged

Offline Bob at Work

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 208
Re: juniper bow
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2014, 11:49:00 AM »
please post your progress and lots of pictures.
Logged

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline Crittergetter

  • SPONSOR
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 2634
Re: juniper bow
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2014, 02:56:00 PM »
Welcome aboard!  X2 what Bob at Work said!!! We love pics!!!
Logged
An elitist mentality creates discord, even among the elite!
"I went jackalope hunting but all I saw was does!"
Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity, I just need more opportunities!

Offline takefive

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 1098
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.
Logged
It's hard to make a wooden bow which isn't beautiful, even if it's ugly.
-Tim Baker

Offline Bob at Work

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 208
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.
Logged

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline blacktailchaser

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 378
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
Logged

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15027
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.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15027
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.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15027
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.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15027
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.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline White hair

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 228
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.
Logged
Daniel   Ecc. 4:12

Offline Bob at Work

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 208
Re: juniper bow
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2014, 07:19:00 AM »
pictures of your progress?     :bigsmyl:
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »

Users currently browsing this topic:

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.
 

Contact Us | Trad Gang.com © | User Agreement

Copyright 2003 thru 2024 ~ Trad Gang.com ©