boo backed black walnut and yew

[gordonf]

This is my first attempt at a laminated R/D bow. The backing is bamboo, with a black walnut core and a yew belly. The yew was cut from a log that Joe Klink kindly gave to me (thank you Joe!). The bow is 64” ntn, 60# @ 27”, 1 ¼” wide to the mid-limbs tapering to ½” at the tips. Handle wrap is dyed elk with kangaroo lacing and the bow is finished with Tru-Oil. I’m not entirely satisfied with the result – I glued in too much deflex and I lost more reflex than I had hoped during tillering. So I ended up with some string follow. But I learned a great deal from this bow and I expect to do better on my next attempt. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DBerrard]

That looks really nice.
Great landscape you have going on there,too.

[straitera]

The walnut gives it character plus. Good job.

[LEOPARD]

For a 1st attempt, I think I'd give you an A+!         Well done! That's a very nice looking bow!  

[Indie]

It´s a beauty!

[snag]

Outstanding effort and results! I am thinking of attempting my first...I'm am very impressed. It really has graceful lines. Looks like it fits you well!

[snag]

Gordon, this may be a stupid question...but I'll ask it anyway...did you use black walnut because it is so hard and would allow you to get the weight of the bow up to 60#? Seems like a lot of selfbows are in the 50# or less range.

[gordonf]

David,

Black walnut seemed like a good choice for the core wood because it has good elasticity and it is fairly light relative to other hardwoods like osage or various tropical hardwoods. But more importantly, I happen to have a bunch of it in my garage and I need to figure out how to use it.  :D  

You can definitely build selfbows in the 60-70# range and more - I've made several. This particular bow, however, is not a selfbow. I am fairly certain you do not need a core lamination to make a higher poundage laminated bow.

[ChristopherO]

Gordon,
I understand just what you are saying about the deflex overtaking the reflex but it is still a good looking bow.  I just finished my first R/D bow, too, and had the same thing happen to me.  It is a boo backed hickory/hickory for a friend and my goal was to keep a strong reflex to it.  But after tillering it looks just like yours.  My friend is still very happy with it, though, and it should serve him well.  Next time I will not induce any deflex at glue up and allow the tillering process to create it, unless the core is osage or ipe.  
I imagine after you shoot it in you won't be too disappointed with it.  Thanks for sharing.

[Jack Skinner]

Gordonf,

I like the looks of the bow. I found this past weekend a draw full of western ceder. I was thinking sinew back selfbow, and my first try at bamboo backed ceder. I hope my first attempt at a composite bow looks as good as yours.

Nice work

[gordonf]

Chris, I have shot the bow a fair amount since completing it and am actually quite happy with the way it shoots. I agree with you about not inducing deflex the next time.

Jack, backing Western Cedar with bamboo would certainly yield a bow that is light in the hand. I would be concerned about the durability of such a combination, however. Thank you for the compliment.

[mmgrode]

Awesome bow Gordon!  You sure are a stickler for the details and it shows in beautiful bows!  Thanks for sharing!  Matt

[elk ninja]

Wow

[Jack Denbow]

Wow that is certainly a beauty. I am a sucker for bows like that. Excellent job.
Jack

[mjc]

Very nice looking bow,I like them to follow the string a little, it makes for a sweet shooting bow.

[wislnwings]

I hope when I decide to make my first laminated wood bow it turns out that good.

[bentpole]

Looks good to me

[4runr]

Beautiful as always Gordon!!

[gordonf]

Thank you all for all the nice compliments. It is such a pleasure to be amoung folks who appreciate this kind of work. You guys rock!

[Walt Francis]

Gordon, Another good looking bow.