My Very First Bow Completed

[Wagstaff]

Its taken me a while to work through building my first bow.  Now that I've done it, I'm already planning for more.  My son really got the ball rolling, and has to get a lot of credit for convincing me that we really need to learn this skill.

We've both been reading along here on TradGang, and sincerely value the wealth of information shared.   Learning from you folks has been a tremendous help and inspiration..  

So, please let me say thank you to all.  I especially should thank KennyM for those first few phone calls, to get me going.

One thing is for sure.. I realize that I have a long way to go, and so much more to learn..  ie...  Putting on an attractive and durable finish on one of these things still seems to be elusive.!  If anyone has some suggestions on that, I'm all ears..

I am sorta proud of how this first one turned out though..
It almost seems like luck that everything came out as planned.!

64" 50lbs @ 28"
Ziricote Riser
Phenolic Accents
Cocobolo Veneers
Amberboo Core Lams

Whatcha Think?
    PICTURES- First Longbow Build  

Jeff

[D]

What a great looking bow. Nicely done. I like the shape of he riser and holy cow what a deer in the background. Very good looking bow

[Trux Turning]

Great job on the bow!    

[timbermoose]

Great job!

[Mike Most]

Judging from those pictures your well on your way. In looking at the wipe on poly can I wondered if that was semi gloss? (been a while since I have looked at those cans.) I really liked using the true oil gun stock finish, about 5$ at Academy in doing my last couple of bows.

But what you used is a good one imho. by the way which side of good ol SA are you on?  

[Wagstaff]

I tried using that "Wipe On Poly"..  It was still tacky after 3 days!.. So, I sanded it all off completely.  I re-finished it with Spray on Min-Wax Helmsman Spar Urethane, Satin.  Looks good, but not very tough..!  I'm looking for something better..

I may just invest in a sprayer and use Krystal...

[MoeM]

Man if my first would have looked like this... really great job!!

[Wagstaff]

Thanks Very Much for the compliments, guys..!  I like the way it shoots too!..  

@ Mike Most.. I'm just north of Stone Oak, off 281.. Lookout Canyons.

[BenM]

Wow.  Great job.  Really like the way that belly lam runs all the way through the riser.  Very cool

[bornofmud]

Nice, you did the riser the same way I do them, not very common (cut through the back, have the belly lams run through the middle).  Great job for a first, nice piece of ziri too.

[kennym]

Nice job Jeff! You keepin this one or is your son laying claim to it? LOL

[Al Dean]

super job.

[Crittergetter]

Would have never known that was your first bow if you hadn't said so! Very very well done!!!!

[Wagstaff]

Thanks Very Much, Friends..

This has been a really rewarding project..  Especially so, as something to share with my grown son.. What more could a Dad ask for, right?

Kenny.. No Way.. I'm keeping this one..!  Ha!

My son built an "all bocote" bow, which came out fine too.  Our bows dont look anything alike, even though we used the same form...  He tapered his limbs into a "Whip" style of bow, while mine is rather atypical...

They both really shoot well..!

[delongbows]

Excellent work!

[LESKEN2011]

Very nice job!!

[Robertfishes]

Looks awesome! Did you seal the cocobolo? If not then that might be the reason there was some tackyness with the finish. A q-tip with super glue on it wiped over the cocobolo veneer edge should work. I did that once and it came out nice. Can't wait to see your next bow.

[Pheonixarcher]

Very nice! Great choice in woods, and neat looking design! Good job.

[JJB]

I love the looks of that one, well done!
-Jay

[Drewster]

That's impressive work for your first one.  Can't wait to see you 20th bow.  Well done.