View Full Version : Linen-Backed Flatbow
My good friend had a delivery of timber from a woodmill...Scrap oak planks for fuel. I took one look and rescued half a dozen potential bows. this is the first and made as a gift for my friend.
70" N to N. 1 3/4" at fades narrowing to 1/2" at Nocks. Handle, leather borrowed from an old coat and finished with braid. The whole is backed with linen and draws 45# at 28" using a string I made from linen threads supplied by a very helpful scots lady :You_Rock_ (I haven't forgotten, and will feed back in good time, now that the nights are drawing in I'll be more industrious).
Unbraced showing linen backing
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/flatbow1.jpg
Braced
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/flatbow2.jpg
Handle
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/flatbowhandle.jpg
Haven't managed to get a full draw pic yet, it was late when I finished ;ast night, but will post later when I get a chance...
bent-stick
29-09-2006, 11:56
Great bow...
Looking forward to seeing it a full draw.
Really nice bow mate. Did you chase a growth ring?
I'm off into the garage later to glue up some oak board billets. Mine will end up 68" but I'll get it 2" wide. I'm probably going to linen back it. I'm tempted to try salmon skin on it but I'm not sure it'll hold up to a board bow. Plus I'm getting low on skins and as I don't chef anymore I can't get hold of them now.
Mine will probably be pyramidal, but I'm tempted to go for a holmgard style as I've never tried that.
longshot
29-09-2006, 18:08
stovie, another great bow man, cant wait for the full draw pics. :You_Rock_
dean
Not quite side on, but you get the feel
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/DSCF4128copy.jpg
Excuse the attire...just back from work :D
Really nice bow mate. Did you chase a growth ring?
No. Hence the length and backing. The wood did not lend itself to following a ring. Edge on...But she's holding...
how does it shoot stovie ?
any good
leon
No. Hence the length and backing. The wood did not lend itself to following a ring. Edge on...But she's holding...
Sould be OK at that length and draw weight.
My board is edge grain too, it gives me hope that it will survive.
how does it shoot stovie ?
any good
leon
Very low set, Leon, and it shoots fast.
Wish I owned a chrono just on one occasion to actually measure arrow speed.
Sould be OK at that length and draw weight.
My board is edge grain too, it gives me hope that it will survive.
Look forward to seeing it, Snufkin. keep us posted...
seany boy
30-09-2006, 09:54
Hi Stovie
the bow looks great, i have recently taken up archery and have found a local club http://www.friskneybowmen.co.uk/ ,great bunch of people very enthusiastic and helpful,i have yet to buy any gear but would love to have a go at making a bow some day. Would like to have a go at Field Archery , do you shoot at a club or take part in Field Archery at all? One of the guys at the club let me have a go with his longbow the other week,up until then i'd only used the clubs recurve bows,wow so different, definitely the way i want to go. Didn't realize archery was going to so addictive. Anyway must get off to bed,(been on nights) all the best. Sean.
Very low set, Leon, and it shoots fast.
Wish I owned a chrono just on one occasion to actually measure arrow speed.
thanks
thats a lovely looking bow there mate
leon
Very nice work, and you have a very lucky friend!
longshot
01-10-2006, 01:09
stovie great pic, from what i can see thats a lovely tiller.
dean
Hi Stovie
the bow looks great, i have recently taken up archery ........Would like to have a go at Field Archery , do you shoot at a club or take part in Field Archery at all? .
Hi Sean
I am not a big club fan, prefer one or two people roving across the fields outshooting each other...not that there is anything wrong with clubs, it's just not for me....
working on this ELB at the moment...got nice grain
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/DSCF4139copy.jpg
this is it's shape to date
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/DSCF4135copy.jpg
This one's for my brother-in-law.....
seany boy
02-10-2006, 21:38
Hi Stovie
Like the sound of the roving with a couple of mates,guess i'll have to wait untill i've got my own gear and have a go (christmas is coming) just leaves the finding some mates :o :D Like the look of the new bow, got anymore sister's? :D All the best.Sean.
bent-stick
02-10-2006, 22:31
Hi Stovie,
what's the wood in the elb. It looks very pretty. Is it a self bow or are you backing it.
Hi Stovie,
what's the wood in the elb. It looks very pretty. Is it a self bow or are you backing it.
It's the best of the Oak (so far) saved from the fire. I'm hoping to keep it free from backing....but depends on how it tillers...
I think my wife is out tonite, so should get some more work done on it
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/bowarrow.gif
woodmunky
03-10-2006, 15:17
Hi... i've just joined this forum and have recently been on a bow making course and made myself an american flatbow (Walnut with an Ash backing and pyramid taper)
I'm currently sanding it down and finishing it off... but was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on preserving the Bow? They mentioned Linseed Oil and then adding some kind of wax, buty sadly i was a bit late when i finished my bow... so didn't get around to the oiling/waxing proccess :(
Any advice would be extremely helpful to me, as i have further staves and plan to make more Bows :D
Cheers!
bent-stick
03-10-2006, 15:44
There are those that will tell you that linseed oil will take all the strength out of the bow. I don't think it does but experienced bowyers of my acquaintance can get quite heated about it ;) If you are going to use it get _Boiled_ linseed oil the raw stuff will leave a nasty sticky finish. You can get rid of that by wiping with turps.
Personally I give my bows about 5 coats of danish oil. The first coats are put on with a cloth that has been dipped in turps (real turps - not white spirit) to help absorbtion. Then I finish them with another 5 coats of liberon black bison wax applied with 000 grade wire wool and polished with a yellow duster - beeswax polish is too much like hard work. :)
The finish is not as glossy or deep as varnish but it doesn't crackle with time and exposure. If the bow gets wet a polish with a duster will usually remove the water marks. If it doesn't another coat of polish does.
woodmunky
03-10-2006, 17:14
Thank you for your advice Stovie! Will certainly be giving that a go :)
p.s this is a great forum! Do you get the magazine? what's it like?
woodmunky
03-10-2006, 17:15
Sorry Bent-stick! was reading my forum upside down! lol
Thank you to you! DOH!
chas brookes
03-10-2006, 18:15
Hi Woodmonkey
Longbow made on Bowmaking course out of ash and walnut sounds familiar, was it the Woodcraft School course. If so I was there with you I made my bow out of Wych Elm it was a superb course. As regards finishing the bow I have since been told that if using wire wool on Ash it can pick up discolouration from the wool and stain the Ash. I have been advised to get one of the fine nylon type sanding pads from a DIY shop to use on Ash.
I finished my Flatbow of with a couple of coats of liberon wax and it looks really good
Charlie
I've had no problem with boilled linseed oil and Tim Baker uses it and I don't think anyone in the world know more about bow performance.
Another option is Tru oil. It's a gunstock finish. It's quite hard to find and pricey, but goes a long way and gives a tough finish.
It's the best of the Oak (so far) saved from the fire. I'm hoping to keep it free from backing....but depends on how it tillers...
I think my wife is out tonite, so should get some more work done on it
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/stovie/bowarrow.gif
I found someone in the UK who'll sell deer rawhide in 36"x2"strips is you want a more natural backing, haven't received mine yet but I'll let you know what it's like as I plan to use it on my oak flatbow.
Cheers Snufkin! I'd certainly be interested to hear what it's like.
Time to crack on, me thinks....pretty much floor tillered....gently does it now...
Well the deerskin rawhide strips I ordered at the weekend turned up today, they look good, nice and thin. I'll probably glue them on tomorrow. here's (http://www.traditionalmaterials.co.uk/html/main.php) the address. He has other nice stuff too.
mtnfolk mike
05-10-2006, 21:04
that's a great looking bow..... nice work... :D
Nice bow, certainly rather better looking than the bamboo bundle longbow I've made this afternoon but then again I guess it took rather more wrkk to make :rolleyes:
Well the deerskin rawhide strips I ordered at the weekend turned up today, they look good, nice and thin. I'll probably glue them on tomorrow. here's (http://www.traditionalmaterials.co.uk/html/main.php) the address. He has other nice stuff too.
Cheers Snufkin. just got back from Paris...will take a look at the link when i get a sec... :D
Cheers Snufkin. just got back from Paris...will take a look at the link when i get a sec... :D
I've not had a chance to glue them up yet as I'm busy knifemaking at the moment. Might get time next week to do some bowyering.
woodmunky
11-10-2006, 10:39
Hi Woodmonkey
Longbow made on Bowmaking course out of ash and walnut sounds familiar, was it the Woodcraft School course. If so I was there with you I made my bow out of Wych Elm it was a superb course. As regards finishing the bow I have since been told that if using wire wool on Ash it can pick up discolouration from the wool and stain the Ash. I have been advised to get one of the fine nylon type sanding pads from a DIY shop to use on Ash.
I finished my Flatbow of with a couple of coats of liberon wax and it looks really good
Charlie
Hi charlie! Yea that was the one! And i do remember you making a very nice Wych Elm bow :You_Rock_
Gonan go buy oneof those nylon pads today and get started on finishing it off :)
Got an extra stave from them... gonna try the longbow next!
Steve
chas brookes
11-10-2006, 17:26
Hi charlie! Yea that was the one! And i do remember you making a very nice Wych Elm bow :You_Rock_
Gonan go buy oneof those nylon pads today and get started on finishing it off :)
Got an extra stave from them... gonna try the longbow next!
Steve
Hi Steve
I am also going to contact John for another stave, and try for a longbow this time.
The wych elm bow is shooting well, however the archer is having a problem with his aim but i can not blame the bow for that.
I am about to fit a leather grip on the bow to finish it off.
Several members of the club would like to make their own bow now,and I have given them John's details.
I hope you have fun making your longbow it is a good project for these dark evenings
Let me know how you get on
Charlie :lmao: