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The Art of Handcrafting Custom Game Calls => Handcrafting Other Items, Pens, Bowls, Forms => Topic started by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 13, 2016, 11:55:41 PM

Title: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 13, 2016, 11:55:41 PM
I guess this is the right place to post....

Here recently, I have been getting into building traditional wooden bows. I figured I would share the process I go through when making one.

This bow is going to be for my Uncle. Going for 31"draw at 50ish pounds. It is Red Oak. Red Oak is a tough wood to get bows from, especially if is not backed.

 (Backing a bow = gluing a different types of material onto the back of the bow to keep splinters from starting)

This piece came from Home Depot. RO is about the only good bow wood you can get at Home Depot. The grain is extremely important when making these. I went through 50 + boards and came back with 3.

This piece was cut to 2" wide and 72" long. Red oak likes a wide bow, and with such a long draw length the wood needs to be long.

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l62/krzyjon123/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151300_zpsopgicfaq.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/krzyjon123/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151300_zpsopgicfaq.jpg.html)

I will post more and more pics as progress goes on. Hopefully this will turn into a complete bow, and not a broken one. Lol
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 13, 2016, 11:57:27 PM
Here I have the handle area laid out. The grip portion is 5" and the fades (angled parts) are 2 " long.

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l62/krzyjon123/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151324_zpswg6yegjg.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/krzyjon123/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151324_zpswg6yegjg.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 13, 2016, 11:59:33 PM
I also have the limbs laid out. This is a pyramid style. It tapers straight from the ends of the fades to the tips. 2" (fades) to 1/2" (tips)

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l62/krzyjon123/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151353_zpspvnbxalk.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/krzyjon123/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_151353_zpspvnbxalk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 14, 2016, 12:01:47 AM
I also glued another piece of Red Oak on to thicken the handle portion.

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l62/krzyjon123/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_153246_zpsmodwvnkm.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/krzyjon123/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160213_153246_zpsmodwvnkm.jpg.html)

This is as far as I have gotten so far. I am waiting for the glue to dry...
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: B Hoover on February 14, 2016, 11:17:27 AM
Out of curiosity, David, are you making a laminated or selfbow?
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 14, 2016, 11:49:36 AM
"A selfbow is one that is whittled out of a single piece of wood, generally a stave split out of a tree trunk or large limb. A board bow is also a selfbow, but made from a board instead of a stave."
That's a quote I found.
I guess this is considered a selfbow. Most times when people are talking about  "laminated bows", they are talking about multiple thin strips of wood glued together.
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: B Hoover on February 14, 2016, 02:13:28 PM
 :bigup:  Hope you'll post the final results.  If you haven't built one already, build a tillering jig!  Two of my bows went flying during the tillering process.  A jig keeps you out of harms way.
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 14, 2016, 03:22:37 PM
I will be posting pics as I go along.

I built a tillering jig when I first started. Lol. They are a must have! :D
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 22, 2016, 09:19:52 PM
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l62/krzyjon123/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_175822_zps9jzxdrrr.jpg) (http://s93.photobucket.com/user/krzyjon123/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160214_175822_zps9jzxdrrr.jpg.html)

I got the profile cut out. It's a little rough, but nothing a rasp won't fix.
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: HaMeR on February 23, 2016, 07:00:56 AM
Looks good David!! You sure found a piece of VERY straight grain Red Oak!!
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on February 23, 2016, 10:10:26 AM
Hahaha. It isn't perfect, but I'm hoping it will work. You can see some of the run off in that last picture.
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: jcz on March 21, 2016, 09:13:21 PM
Any progress on the bow build?
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on March 21, 2016, 09:37:23 PM
Nope, been busy doing work on our yard. Hopeing to get back to work on it soon!
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: lazyMlazyK on August 09, 2016, 11:55:11 AM
Awesome topic and build!  How's it coming along?
Title: Re: Red Oak Longbow Build-A-Long
Post by: David @ Mad Duck Game Calls on August 09, 2016, 12:41:07 PM
Haven't done anything with it... I'm building a different one and lost interest in this one. I should probably finish it.