Ozbow

Thanks for the good wishes fellas, it would be nice to one day put faces to names. Perhaps if I partake in Ben's Sambar camp he offered up recently I will get to meet some of you.

Darcy

Ben, I found a great Sambar spot today about 45min from home - you had better get your butt down here sooner than later as I reckon it is going to be an early summer. Tom Mc, Without divulging your secret spot for Fallow in the sth coast - roughly what region are you talking ie not far from Vic bord...

Sambar, sent you a PM
Darcy

Sambar, you wouldnt be Zorro's young bloke by chance? I will see if I can have a look at similar suit somewhere and then see how much work it would be to run it all in. Alternatively I could increase pie/pot intake until it fits. I will PM you with a yay or nay but if someone gets in first obviously...

Sambar, I am very interested in the bulk buy but not sure if the suit will be too big or not. I'm six foot and about 13.5 stone - and would wear it over fleecy wear of some sort as most of its work will be sitting off wallows in winter months. Dont mind if its a bit big just not waaay too big. What ...

Tim,
Pm sent
Darcy

John,
Do you know what the average weight is of the 70 -75# shafts?

Does anyone have any experience shooting these shafts?

Darcy

I'll take it - PM sent re details.

Darcy

Thanks for getting back on that. You wouldnt happen to have a bow scale to see what she pulls at 28?
Darcy

What are the chances of picking up a set of lighter limbs for the Lynx? (to have target/practice set)

Darcy

Dave, Thanks for spreadsheet! From memory (past reads) the bamboo backing should be about 3mm, is that correct? From my past efforts I am guessing the bow will be a while in the making due to shift work (not real productive during night shifts). I have never posted pictures and I am not exactly a co...

Dave and anyone else who wants to chip in, I have some spotted gum and Bamboo in the workshop and was considering making a bow such as yours above but wasnt sure if the spotted gum would handle it compression wise. Now I have seen your post you have answered it for me with the bows above - although ...

Gents, I am not sure if this was the CHG or not, but at Easter I went to source a property to hunt fallow deer, probably about the only area this side of Melbourne where there appear to be any numbers. One property owner showed me a flyer he had been sent by an organisation wanting properties to hun...

Wal,
PM sent
Darcy

Gents, Before today, due to lack of experience and knowledge I could only ask questions and not be giving the answers. Today I feel qualified to speak on a subject. I have/had an old shakesphere 'wonderbow' my first bow and sound as a bell or at least appeared so. Well I had this fast flite string a...

Ichiban, No I dont really know what I am doing. Only have one bow under my belt so same as you, Have read a lot from here, internet sites, and a couple of books though. I think its good to read up on the basics but important to get into it and find out yourself - the best teacher as I think you can ...

Gents Got my stringybark cut down to 2 staves but have decided to put them aside until I finish a couple more board bows from Spotted gum boards I picked up. Need the tillering practice. Decided to go a bit wider this time then my first hickory bow. Bow at moment is 66 nock to nock 1 3/4 wide at fad...

Kimall, Thanks for reply also. Yes I believe I left the outer limbs a bit stiff for too long, dealt with it but damage may have been done. I am concerned about the cracks. I am going to glue a lamination on the back as mentioned by Dennis. Thought it would be a good practice glue up at least as I ha...

Len, The bows origin - well this a bit different. Comes from horse jinker shaft which was kept shedded. I would be pretty old timber but kept undercover. I was a bit skeptical to start with but when I planed it down it looked that good I thought I would give it a run. The cracks are on the back are ...

Daryl, I havent put a finish on my bow as yet as the problems occured while having my last test shoot session. Thanks for the tip for future reference though. I havent heard of Danish oil, is it a favourite of yours for finishing bows? I wasnt sure what I ws going to use, just some linseed or someth...

Glenn (and anyone else who may be able to offer advice) I have split my post down to bow stave sizes and planed down the backs to a flat surface following the natural reflex it had. Where the sapwood ends I see the grain has a couple dips in places up to about 1/2 inch of the remaining pretty good l...

Daryl, My wife attended spotlight store yesterday and came back with similar report re the silk. Told me the lady at the shop had a variety of things to try. Yet again another thing that seemed simple, but not quite. Thats what keeps it all interesting. I reckon the jockey who rode the last horse I ...

Dennis and Daryl thanks for the replies. Daryl does that mean that the silk is actually a satin as thats what I thought Jockey silks were? Does just one layer suffice? and do you think it may be too late now there has been some obvious stress in the mentioned areas. It does sound like a good prevent...

Matt, Thanks for quick reply. The cracks are within half inch of the sides and yes I had thought about radiusing the edges a bit more but didnt try it after reading Dean Torges book, when explained the problems with radiusing timber with close growth rings on the belly or back of bow. The rings on t...

Gents, Just completed my hickory self bow. Not sure what the exact design name for it would be but I go the specs off 'Ferrets' bow building site- 66" nock to nock pretty straight forward flat bow design. It was a long time building due to being a bit over cautious I think, mostly with fine tun...

Glen,
Thankyou yet again. I will give it a run. What is the downside of leaving a bit more timber on the tips?
Darcy

Thanks Glen, Obviously there are not set thicknesses and widths as timber varies, but what is a good starting point for width and thickness at fades and at tips based on the designs pictured. Also how deep are the handles as it is a bit hard to judge side on. I just noticed that they are not your bo...

Gents, I too wanted to know about stringbark as I have about a 84 inch which I have cut down to 5 x 4 inch wide post in the shed. Been cut for about 5 years and was a fair bit narrow for a fence post and lucky for me I chucked it in he shed. It has even dried with a little reflex in it. It appears n...

Perry, Thanks for reply yet again. I actually posted or attempted to post a reply last night but it got lost in the big black hole somehow. The bow is glue on handle and measures 66" nock to nock. 1 1/2 wide at fades and tapers from 15 " from nock to 1/2" wide at tips. 5/8 thick at fa...

Hello all, Partway through my first self bow. From piece of hickory, flatbow design 66" nock to nock, hope to get about 50# draw weight at end. I have done initial floor tillering and have tillered with long string to about five inches. More to come off as it was already about 42# at this heigh...