Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Archery Gear => Topic started by: Ray on April 30, 2009, 10:36:01 PM

Title: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on April 30, 2009, 10:36:01 PM: Ipe and Bamboo... This is unfinished...

About 69 inches long. Somewhere in the low 50s on draw weight. Left and right handed.

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/ipe-bamboo_059.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/ipe-bamboo_057.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/ipe-bamboo_061.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/ipe-bamboo_068.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/ipe-bamboo_056.jpg)
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: bow4elk on April 30, 2009, 10:42:39 PM: Love it!! Where are you getting your bamboo?
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on April 30, 2009, 10:49:08 PM: There is bamboo here http://www.raptorarchery.com/newstore/products.asp?id=264
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: bow4elk on April 30, 2009, 10:58:29 PM: Thanks...I forgot about Raptor.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 12:00:19 PM: Sanded off the tool marks. First coat of tru oil.

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_007.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_004.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_002.jpg)
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: rasbo on May 01, 2009, 12:10:49 PM: Quote from: Ray on May 01, 2009, 12:00:19 PM
Sanded off the tool marks. First coat of tru oil.

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_007.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_004.jpg)

(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10001/bambo-oep2_002.jpg)

I did a rifle stock yrs ago with tung oil,it looked great cant wait to see how the bow turns out,are you using steel wool between coats?
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 12:20:09 PM: Yes, steel wool between coats. It will look pretty much like it does right in those photos.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: TribalDragon911 on May 01, 2009, 12:49:04 PM: What grade of steel wool do you use between coats?
I am going to refinish a custom stock for my wifes grandpa. I plan on using tru oil too.

Also, what would be the best for stripping it's current finish? It's a custom sport stock carved by his father. The stock is made from myhrwood.

Thank You
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: rasbo on May 01, 2009, 01:25:49 PM: Quote from: TribalDragon911 on May 01, 2009, 12:49:04 PM
What grade of steel wool do you use between coats?
I am going to refinish a custom stock for my wifes grandpa. I plan on using tru oil too.

Also, what would be the best for stripping it's current finish? It's a custom sport stock carved by his father. The stock is made from myhrwood.

Thank You
you can use klean strip,then use a plastic bristle brush and remove the gunk,home depot carries it.just follow the directions.I would use 00 steel wool
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: TribalDragon911 on May 01, 2009, 01:36:34 PM: Thank You :)
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: whacker1 on May 01, 2009, 02:41:32 PM: Would you explain what sort of wood "Ipe" is? I have not heard of this.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 03:19:19 PM: It's a dense hard wood that grows in South America. You can google it. Brazilian Walnut.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: whacker1 on May 01, 2009, 03:22:52 PM: Thanks! never heard of it prior to today

Great looking project - How many more do you intend to make? Seems like the building process might be the part you enjoy more so than the use? Keep up the good work..
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 03:25:39 PM: I will probably make another one with hickory backing instead of bamboo some day. I don't have any plans. It's just something to do. To me the Ipe wood bows are appealing. I'm not sure I enjoy making them as much as I do shooting them.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Bscman on May 01, 2009, 03:45:48 PM: Just make sure you get the steel wool off before your next coat. I've seen my share of "blonde" rifle stocks with little rust specs throughout (especially around checkering or carvings).

Looks great...nothing beats shooting traditional!
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 03:54:04 PM: Aint that the truth. The steel wool does like to get into little depressions.
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: PacificNWhunter on May 01, 2009, 06:03:38 PM: Looks great ray!
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Todd_ID on May 01, 2009, 10:23:39 PM: Looks great Ray! I wish I had the kojones to step into a project like that! I know I've got the time, skills, desire and attention to detail, but getting started is a whole other story. Where'd you start when you didn't know anything about it?

I'm not sure what I'd do with it once I got it done other than play around for now. I don't think I'm quite ready to give up all I've worked to learn about compounds quite yet. Maybe if I get lucky and can win the World Championship this year, then there'd be little left to do but make the sport more challenging and fun.

Either way, the handmade bow harvest has to be equal to the trout caught on a hand made rod and a hand tied fly in some ways, and I know the feeling of high achievement from that!
Title: Re: Another Experiment
Post by: Ray on May 01, 2009, 10:35:18 PM: I watched my frient Jay put together countless bows when I have been over there reloading or just shootin' the breeze. He has helped me and has some tools which make things go fast. (Band saw, drum sander, belt sander, pneumatic sander) All of which might not necessarily be required. I would say that band saw and belt sander are pretty useful and were key to making this project move fast. You might be able to substitute everything but the band saw. Maybe a farriers rasp with time and muscle. I also picked up some of the ideas for this bow online. Building this sort of bow is a bit different than a self bow which would be from a raw tree.

Just like reloading there are tons of sources to get information. Here's a good article http://tillertree.com/tutorials/bows/making-a-bamboo-backed-ipe-bow-by-sam-harper

I suppose once you decide on what the project is going to be then you can know which tools will be most helpful.