Nobody has posted anything so I thought I would be the first

[JonD.]

Recently I've gotten into woodworking a little--- I'm making my own bows. See the traditional archery thread. I'm working on a couple of flatbow self bows right now along with a laminated take-down recurve. Both have been very fun projects. I will get some pictures of the recurve on here later.

[Carl l.]

Looks like you are doing a good job. What kind of wood are you using? Carl L.

[Glanceblamm]

Thats more than I ever did!
I did make a pair of stilts once that my daughter enjoyed greatly for several years. They serve double-duty as I also use them to brace up the front of the vehicle ramps to keep them from sliding on the garage floor.

I really do like my little 10" table saw along with my compound miter or chop saw. If I measure twice I can come up with some very acceptable general carpentry for trim work, or to reframe old windows that need to be replaced and the like. No cool tools for me yet but it is very intriguing as my neighbor uses the planers and joiners and the biscuit tool along with an array of other tools and has done some outstanding cabinetry work.

[JonD.]

Looks like you are doing a good job. What kind of wood are you using? Carl L.

The one on the left is maple, the one on the right is hickory.

[Carl l.]

JohnD, When you get them finished, post some pictures of them. That hickory should work ok. I do woodworking, but I make furn. and stuff. I will try to learn how to post pictures. I have never tried them yet Carl L.

[JonD.]

Carl l. here is a "how to" link.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,1804.0.html

[DalesCarpentry]

I myself have never tried anything like that. I have worked with wood my whole life and have not tried to make a bow or carve a stock. Looks like you are headed in the right direction for sure. Please post pictures when you finish it. Dale

[Carl l.]

JonD, thanks When I get the time I will try it out. Carl L.

[AtlLaw]

I've always enjoyed wood working but like so many things I just don't have the time to do all that I would like to do.  Mostly I'm relegated to carving rifle stocks once in a while but I would love to build a really intricately designed piece of furniture (rather then Shaker) and a small sailboat.  Another is a long bow.  I've been looking for a piece of hickory for a long time; wanting to cut staves from a log, but no luck.  Where did you get yours?

[JonD.]

I've always enjoyed wood working but like so many things I just don't have the time to do all that I would like to do.  Mostly I'm relegated to carving rifle stocks once in a while but I would love to build a really intricately designed piece of furniture (rather then Shaker) and a small sailboat.  Another is a long bow.  I've been looking for a piece of hickory for a long time; wanting to cut staves from a log, but no luck.  Where did you get yours?

I got it from the scrap pile where I work(a hardwood indoor trim manufacturing factory).

[AtlLaw]

Geeeze!     Some people have it easy!  I look for years without luck and he picks it up from a scrap pile!     Uh, you don't have any Osage Orange laying around on that pile do you?  

[JonD.]

Uh, you don't have any Osage Orange laying around on that pile do you?  

I wish! Sent you a PM.

[AtlLaw]

Got the PM and sent one back at ya!  Thanks!  That is very generous!

[JonD.]

Here are the pictures of my take down recurve project from plans I got from Bingham Projects. See the Traditional Archery thread for more info on Bingham projects: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,136859.0.html

I broke my first riser trying to string it.  I placed it between two pieces of round stock that I tack welded to a welding table, and then used a come-along to try to flex the limbs to put the string on. My thought was that this would be like putting it in a bow press. Well, it didn't work and I was sick after I had shaped on the riser for a month, a little at a time.

My heat box. This required to set the epoxy that is used in recurve making. I tried to be cheap and just use a sheet of underlayment insulation with the foil on one side. This does work, but it won't hold up for very long, if anyone decides to try bow building go ahead and use the plywood lined with aluminum foil like the instructions say to do.



My limb press with air hose(this is a fire-hose) installed. The limb laminations are glued and placed in this, and then the hose is inflated pressing the laminates together tight. This is then placed in the heat box and sits for 6-8 hours to cure the epoxy. A bit of advice: do not use PVC pipe fittings for this, only steel ones and make sure you test it in your hotbox before you glue up a limb-- I learned the hard way-- I was able to save the limb, but with a lot of headache that could have been avoided.


A picture of my first riser that I broke. This one was white oak and mahogany laminated together. It took me about a month to shape this one, a little at a time. I was sick when I broke it. The second one only took me a couple of days, the wood is solid red-oak and is not as pretty but it looks well enough.


Here are pics of it almost finished with the 2nd riser. Specs are 64" AMO 60lbs at 28"draw. Left-handed as you can see. I still need to add the limb tip accents, finish filing the string groove, remove the protective tape from the limbs and give the entire bow a finish sanding and then aplly polyurethane. I'm still debating on whether or not to lightly stain the riser and limb wood first.

[DalesCarpentry]

Very Cool!!! You have talent and looks great. Dale

[AtlLaw]

Hey Jon.  That is so neat!  I never thought of making a laminated recurve.     I'll probably never try it, especially since I've a Bear Kodiak I haven't shot in at least 25 years.     But!  I can't wait to start on that stick bow!     Thanks again!

[JonD.]

Your welcome,  and enjoy it.

[JonD.]

Well I finally got my recurve finished,( along with a dozen honey-do's  ) Now comes the real test: and that is how does it shoot? here are some pics:









And last but not least, here is the next one that I've started with a walnut riser... 

[Carl l.]

JonD, that looks like you did a fine job. I hope it shoots ok. Let us know how it does. Carl L.