View Full Version : New birch bow. Lots of poor pictures x posted
Ayup all,
The is my latest bow made from silver birch. I heard a lot of bad things about birch for bow making, strong in tension, weak in compression etc. However it seemed to turn out ok. The set is about 1 inch on one limb and about 1,3/4 on the other due to a deflexed limb. I heat treated it a little but upon reflection a little more to reduce set would have been handy.
Birch was pretty unforgiving in regards to tiller, if one limb was a little off the other would chrystal.
She is about 62 inch ntn, and drawing about 55lbs at my draw of around 28inch. A bit snakey due to the grain and knots. Treated only with boiled linseed and a re-claimed leather handle which bends just a little.
Shoots sweet, fast and hard.
Pictures are just from my camera phone as my other is on the blink..
Top limb
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG0005-1.jpg
bottom limb
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG0343.jpg
braced
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG0012-1.jpg
back
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG0327.jpg
Brace height
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/IMAG0015.jpg
Some other shots and arrows
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/th_IMAG0330.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/?action=view¤t=IMAG0330.jpg)
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/th_IMAG0310.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/?action=view¤t=IMAG0310.jpg)
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/th_IMAG0013-1.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/?action=view¤t=IMAG0013-1.jpg)
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/th_IMAG0010-1.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/?action=view¤t=IMAG0010-1.jpg)
Indoorsout
26-05-2009, 15:25
Nice one :)
Nice one :)
Thanks indoorsout :)
Ricky369
26-05-2009, 19:00
Nice work, im going to attempt making a bow in the summer and see how it goes :d
Very nice. I did a birch bow once. Frets all over it but it shot smoothly and pretty fast. It was around 35lb at 28 if I recall.
Very nice bow Dwardo,
By the way have you ever wondered about the warning on linseed oil about soaked cloths spontainiously combusting? Could be feasible (like wet and dry strw for starting a fire) but never heard of it happening and neither has a chemistry teacher pal who thinks its to inert. ( Though if the cloth was damp or contaminated)? Who knows. Makes me kinda paranoid after I've made a walking staff though.
Goatboy.
I have not seen that happen with linseed oil but know that it can. See here (http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infpai/inflinspontaneouscombust.html) .
This is a really nice bow Dwardo. I like those snaky bows, they are full of character. Thanks for sharing.
I have not seen that happen with linseed oil but know that it can. See here (http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infpai/inflinspontaneouscombust.html) .
This is a really nice bow Dwardo. I like those snaky bows, they are full of character. Thanks for sharing.
OK JOJO,
I've howked all the rags from under the kitchen sink now ... how much damage can they do under there ... thinking now out of the window and have called my chemistry teacher pal and told him to retrain... :lmao:
Thanks for posting that.
Goatboy.
I read the same about oil soaked cloths. But i believe its in very hot climates, not likely here :o
Snufkin. It did chrystal badly on one limb but only till i corrected the tiller, applied heat and sanded out the chrystals. It seems like a nice fast wood but i dont think it will have the life of other woods without a backing, no problems yet but time will tell :)
Sleepy Weasel
01-06-2009, 22:10
Very nice Dwardo, I've been thinking about having a go at a bow myself.
I like the snakyness of it, I'm guessing that not everyone has access to perfect, straight grained bits of wood and the skill of bowmaking is turning a gnarly knotted length of firewood(to some people) into something that will shoot hard and fast, and look good too!
As I'm Welsh I won't be venturing into Chester after sundown knowing that there's a bowman about!
Very nice Dwardo, I've been thinking about having a go at a bow myself.
I like the snakyness of it, I'm guessing that not everyone has access to perfect, straight grained bits of wood and the skill of bowmaking is turning a gnarly knotted length of firewood(to some people) into something that will shoot hard and fast, and look good too!
As I'm Welsh I won't be venturing into Chester after sundown knowing that there's a bowman about!
Cheers sleepy,
Snakey staves are a bit more of a challenge but worth the work. If you do see me on the walls of chester the safest place would be directly in front of me :o
Ozhaggishead
05-06-2009, 12:10
Good job mate!!
suburban bushwacker
05-06-2009, 12:36
Great work
Be carefull with that oil though...If it gets on the sofa! Ohheerrrrr!
SBW
Survival Bill
05-06-2009, 17:07
beautiful bow you made and the the wavy look gives it character I like it please let us know how it shoots I would love to make a bow and if birch works then I got a few trees around I can use then....
Nice one. :You_Rock_
I haven't made a bow out of Birch before. I will keep an eye open for a suitable candidate.
I made this birch bow a while ago but it was put to oneside whilst i made others. The tiller was a bit dodgy and whilst i love to work with birch there are a lot of other bow woods that are not as fussy :o
I decided to try and recover the tiller and add a little bling at the same time. The handle is birch bark from the same tree as the bow wrapped with jute. I stained the bow and knocked up some arrows for it. She shoots well and will be written up as "lady of the woods" temperamental like the missus. :o
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Picture012-1.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/Picture001-1.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/dwardo/HPIM0363.jpg
bushcrafty1
10-08-2009, 18:53
Thats a smashing looking bow ! well done :)
welshwhit
10-08-2009, 19:01
Cracking that!
Always wanted to have a go at making a bow, whats a good place to start?
Drew
These bows are just superb! Well done mate. Do you ever make bows to sell, I can't afford one at the moment anyway, I'm just asking. Very cool!
caliban - Not at the minute but i would like to one day. At the moment i trade them for wood and other things or recently archery tuition :D
welshwhit - The only way to start is to get some wood and give it a go. The bowyers bibles are fantasic as are lots of other books. Give it a go you wont look back.
Survival Bill
11-08-2009, 00:30
what a great looking bow I got to try and make one soon...
badgeringtim
11-08-2009, 10:14
Like many people here id love to have a go at making a bow, it seems that there are a good few people who are the same, and quite a few who have made quite a lot.
So.. the thought occurs would people be interested in a workshop? I know there are bow making courses out there but for my palat they can be expensive and i would far prefer to meet and have a go with some people that know a bit - but need not be experts? Of course it needn't be limited to just bows...
Just a thought, i know finding a venue etc can be tricky but if enough people were interested i could be persuaded to try to arrange.
As another thought - how long can wood stay in the round before being used for bows - im thinking ash from a plantation - i may be able to get hold of some. Or would it be better to halve it immediately?
Cheers
Like many people here id love to have a go at making a bow, it seems that there are a good few people who are the same, and quite a few who have made quite a lot.
So.. the thought occurs would people be interested in a workshop? I know there are bow making courses out there but for my palat they can be expensive and i would far prefer to meet and have a go with some people that know a bit - but need not be experts? Of course it needn't be limited to just bows...
Just a thought, i know finding a venue etc can be tricky but if enough people were interested i could be persuaded to try to arrange.
As another thought - how long can wood stay in the round before being used for bows - im thinking ash from a plantation - i may be able to get hold of some. Or would it be better to halve it immediately?
Cheers
I have thought about doing something similar in regards to a kind of "bow meet" as you say bow making courses can be very expensive. In regards to the wood ash has a very low MC to start so is a good choice for drying quickly and knocking out bows.
When i use ash for bows i cut it, split it, de-bark it and leave it for a week or so indoors. After about a week i rough out the bow shape leaving plent of room for error then its left for about anopther week indoors. So i guess after about 2 weeks from cutting i start to tiller if the wood says its ok.
I think the problem with a bow making meet would be tools. Sharpes are not too tricky as we all seem to have enough hatchets and blades :o etc, not so sure about spoke shaves and draw knives though. I think the problem would be tiller trees/vice or shave horse.
The wood would have to be split into pretty close stave dimensions and de-barked. At this stage i think ash should dry out enough inside a month stored indoors. The rule of thumb is the mroe wood you have the longer it takes to season.
badgeringtim
11-08-2009, 14:35
Unfortunately i would need the wood to be kept at least partially in the round - i dont have the luxury of space to be able to do part of the work nor is it likely to be stored close to my pad it - hence that question. The (perhapse wishfull) idea was to use some ash that has been felled recently (30 year 8", any good?) and take the log to a meet and go from there. If in the round it doesnt last more than a couple of weeks for byering purposes then its a non starter. Id like to make a bow from something that resembles a tree not a board. But i guesse that would be up for discussion should enough interested parties appear? Also i dont supose i know what to look for in a tree to make it a good bow i suppose around 6 ft and no knots? Am presuming the flar is along a grain and not across (ie not perpendicular to the bark?)
As for tools - good point, I have a shave horse i would happily bring, and a draw knife which might be loaned out (as long as people dont mind me watching them like a hawk with my favorite thing). Id happily buy a spoke shave or two as long as the reasonably priced cast ones are decent (advice here would be appreciated). Id also be quite happy to make up some bits and pieces if required - and someone could make sure i know what i was making!
Thinking now it sounds like a two stage process - splitting roughing shaping and allowing to dry then a significant gap (1 month?) untill shaping and tillering (forgive the terminology im sure its not 100%). That being the case would there need to be 2 meets or which 'end' of the process is most beneficial to do in a group.
Does any of the process require power tools - as i am thinking of locations without power.
Any more for any more?
:-)
Ash that is 8 diameter should be good for quaters being on the safe side. The problem with any wood is once its felled the bugs and fungi start eyeing it up pretty quickly. White woods especially. It is possible to "chase a ring" if the wood is a little iffy but for beginners its tough, frustraiting and boring. The usual idea is once the bark is removed you use the wood right under the bark as the "back" of the bow. (the back of the bow is the side that faces the target whilst in a shooting position)
I think that for most people the dedication to two meets could be a problem but i am unsure.
I could possibly arrange the staves and the location but it would be a hell of a lot of work to split and de-bark all of the staves then put them in a dry place to season, the cost of the site and materials would have to be factored in.
Its very kind of you to offer your tools but like your self i would also be hovering hawk like as it took me a year to find this draw old knife :o
I think it may be possible if the people interested have atleast a draw knife and some very rough wood working skills i.e. not going to chop of their thumb on the first day. Also be able to turn up and look after them selves in regards to food and sleeping.
thoughts...
badgeringtim
11-08-2009, 18:24
I think I agree whole heartedley re the sharp things and sorting selves out,
But Id willingly do some of the background work too, especially if you were interesting in being one of the more knowlagable people present. It hardly seems fair to expect you to do it, plus then it all starts to become a bit like a course and not to mention that its all important stuff to know how to do in my book - but ok that might not be practical.
Having said that unless someone else pipes up it could well be you and me and we have our own tools!
:-)
But to return to my original question - if i get my hands on stuff a rule of thumb would be to quater it immediately and then come back and pester you lots more to work out whats next, right, right...?
;-)
Being serious i do sometimes get the chance to salvage trees that are being taken down anyhow, but ony have a limited space etc and small car so for me perhapse knowing the roughing first stages are important 'cos if i can salvage them and people can use them id be happy!
I might be comming across a Yew sometime soon about 4inch (btw with dimensions i am talking x section not DBH).
it would be nice to be able to do something with that, theres always knife handles i suppose...
In regards to the wood its best to fell, debark and split at least into halves depending on size. This is for a few reasons, if the wood is left felled then bugs and fungi get in, if you dont de-bark early it can be a bugger to get off later without damaging the back, the larger the splits the more chance there is of them pulliing them selves apart whilst drying.
Once split its best to get them indoors, if you have left some of the split a lot larger such as big halves then put them somewhere less dry like a garage. Its also good to tie the splits back together to stop them warping or strap them to a straight bit of wood. The loft is a good place as you can strap them to the rafters.
A few weeks back i managed to fit an eight foot long 11inch round log in my works little cleo :o where there is a will :rolleyes:
The yew would make a lovely bow or possibly two ELB`s at that size . I have made a working longbow from an awful branch that looked like a twiglet.
badgeringtim
12-08-2009, 14:38
ELB?
English long bow?
my main problem with storage is living in a flat with no garage (rafters or loft)
:-(
yeah i know a tiny fiddle to play at me. But it is a bit of a pain - if i got something good i might have to find someplace to store it short term, neighbours garage, friends garden...
hmm
Night Phoenix
12-08-2009, 20:09
That is beautifull :)