bearded bowyer
New member
ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!
one lightning strike later and the monster I have christened 'Frankenstein' has lumbered into life. 45lbs at 26" 60 inches total. I've had enough of it now so, no more work or tillering.
So...after I had spliced in the new piece of wood it was still bending in the fades way too much so I stuck on a thin slither of ash onto each limb.
Back on the tiller there was now a huge hinge (both sides) just where the ash bridged the bubinga.
So I tried to clamp a leftover piece of lemonwood into the area, but because it was so thick it wouldnt bend, so........two thin slivers of lemonwood (still waste wood destined for the fire) conformed beautifully to the flexed area and I cascamited them into place.
I have decided not to tidy it up at all, leaving all the toolmarks, bits of wood sticking up and spilt glue on it. Its even strung with a bit of paracord.
Now wondering how to finish it.........may just spray the whole thing in black lacquer!
It really is a patch work bow. I was amazed in particular how the thin narrow lemonwood reinforcements worked so well. Not pretty but very functional.
By the way I had no end of trouble glueing the patches on. I tried good old pva, tightbond 3 but both gave out proximally to the handle. Cascamite as always did the trick nicely. Food for thought.
I'm about to start my very first yew longbow, from a tree, not a plank.........I'm a bit nervous but itching to get going.
Best to you all.
Matt
one lightning strike later and the monster I have christened 'Frankenstein' has lumbered into life. 45lbs at 26" 60 inches total. I've had enough of it now so, no more work or tillering.
So...after I had spliced in the new piece of wood it was still bending in the fades way too much so I stuck on a thin slither of ash onto each limb.
Back on the tiller there was now a huge hinge (both sides) just where the ash bridged the bubinga.
So I tried to clamp a leftover piece of lemonwood into the area, but because it was so thick it wouldnt bend, so........two thin slivers of lemonwood (still waste wood destined for the fire) conformed beautifully to the flexed area and I cascamited them into place.
I have decided not to tidy it up at all, leaving all the toolmarks, bits of wood sticking up and spilt glue on it. Its even strung with a bit of paracord.
Now wondering how to finish it.........may just spray the whole thing in black lacquer!
It really is a patch work bow. I was amazed in particular how the thin narrow lemonwood reinforcements worked so well. Not pretty but very functional.
By the way I had no end of trouble glueing the patches on. I tried good old pva, tightbond 3 but both gave out proximally to the handle. Cascamite as always did the trick nicely. Food for thought.
I'm about to start my very first yew longbow, from a tree, not a plank.........I'm a bit nervous but itching to get going.
Best to you all.
Matt
