The DIY traditional bow thread.

[Tradhunter]

That is awesome! Last year I built my first bow (62''hybrid longbow) and am now hooked needless to say. However I built a laminated bow and have yet to go as far as you are. Again thats awesome and its nice to see how many other people are still into traditional archery.

[lucky33]

I love traditional. Carefree and far less things to keep in check than compounds. Far more rewarding.  I am still working down the limbs to the point where I can begin bending them. Ill update this thread tomorrow.

[lucky33]

These where my great-grandfathers, except for the half round rasp. They have seen much use and have become my best buddies through this project. 

[lucky33]

My cat is quite fond of this bow.  Im still planing the limbs down, I should be doing some bending in the next couple days. This wood seems to get harder and harder the farther I work into the stave.

[h20hunter]

Hope kitty is declawed or you may have your first animal down before it is even done!

[lucky33]

If I find any scratches I might have to go buy a cat tag 

[h20hunter]

Nah....no tag needed....just SSS.

Awesome project by the way. I've been lurking and following the thread.

[lucky33]

Thank you. Ill have more time to really get down to work on this project, and show some real progress. My goal is that we can all learn something here.

[NoImpactNoIdea]

That looks good so far...is that a 40 of OE on the floor?

[Smossy]

That looks good so far...is that a 40 of OE on the floor?

Was* lol Im sure its all gone now! Project Modivation right there!

[elk247]

Looks like a bottle of high life to me just curious what your expectations are with the maple vs. Yew. Wilk be a pretty bow for sure and a 20 year old stave deserves to finally be a bow. im glad you are putting a black fiberglass backside on her.

[lucky33]

Yes that is exactly what that was. Help me rasp more vigorously. 

[lucky33]

Looks like a bottle of high life to me just curious what your expectations are with the maple vs. Yew. Wilk be a pretty bow for sure and a 20 year old stave deserves to finally be a bow. im glad you are putting a black fiberglass backside on her.

This bow is going to be very light, the maple is so dense that it wont take much thickness on the limbs to add up to 55# of draw weight. I also think with the reflex deflex design this bow will really zip arrows down range. This wood really is starting to speak to me. Yew is also an exellent bow wood, and much easier to work, but this maple was waiting patiently for a long time to become something amazing. Nothing Ive worked so far even compares. And I still have 4 staves. Im already thinking about my next one. 

[elk247]

Very cool. 

[lucky33]

Ok, so I got some work done over the weekend. Finally roughed out and starting to flex, I deflexed the limbs 1/2 of an inch in the top 1/3 of the limb. Doesnt seem like much I find it pleasing to the eye.  For that operation I used two 2 1/2'' x 1/2'' thickness ply. The top I radiused to a gentle curve and then super-heated the limb with my heat gun until the wood charred slightly. Slowly I added pressure with the c-clamps until the proper bend was created. I had to heat the wood numerous times until it began to stay where I wanted it. Symmetry is the name of the game at this point, as I want the limbs not only to bend the same, but also have  the same bend at rest.  I had said in an earlier post that the bottom limb had ran off when I removed a large amount of wood, and in working the top limb it also has relaxed so no bending was required to correct this.  Before I back this bow with glass I want the curves to be as even as possible on the back of the limbs, since once glassed in there is no changing this. 
This bow is really starting to speak to me, and looks wonderful. It only weighs 1 pound 12 oz. and there is still quite a bit of wood to be removed in tillering the limbs. I expect it to weigh around a pound when finished.  If anyone has any ideas about looks or things I can do as far as artwork or staining ect. , let me know. I am open to suggestions as I near completion. Our very own Carpsniper has decided to donate a hand made obsidian head for me to inlay in the handle. Thanks again.  At this point I have 29 hours into this project. Any questions?