Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

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mikaluger
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Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#1 Post by mikaluger » Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:31 pm

I have made this for a fellow bowyer. We are doing a trade. One for one!! :biggrin:
Pacific yew belly, hickory core, Natural Bamboo back. Glued up with approx 4" Reflex.
66" NtN, 90mm fades, 1 1/4" at fades to mid limb, 3/8" at tips. Sambar rest and tips. Currently 62lb @ 28", will shoot it in, in the next week, and add a grip!
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kimall
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#2 Post by kimall » Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:22 pm

Outstanding...
Cheers KIM

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cmoore
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#3 Post by cmoore » Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:39 pm

Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship! Where did you source your yew and hickory from? And was the yew a stave or did you manage to get a board somehow?
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#4 Post by mikaluger » Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:10 pm

Hi cmoore,
Thanks for your kind words,
I get the yew from Carson @ Echo archery out of Salem, Oregon USA. I get a matching pair of 3ft billets at a time. Last time it was Approx $250AUD to my door. I then have to machine the billets and splice them between the riser. I usually get 2 bows from a pair of billets. I bit of work I know, but it is worth it!
So this bow has a sister.......waiting to happen. (see below) :wink:

The hickory I sourced here in melbourne, I got a fair bit a year or two ago and still have a bit left. Market timbers in west melbourne has it in stock. From memory they have rough sawn planks, 200 x 50 in their wharehouse. You have to make an appointment to go and look at it. I usually use it for backing.

Mick.
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cmoore
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#5 Post by cmoore » Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:47 pm

Cheers for the info....how long you been making bows for? You seem to have it perfected!. May I ask how you reflex your blanks? & what type of glue are you using?, I've just ordered a 70 odd inch air dried yew blank with two 40" bamboo backing strips to make myself a nice yew boo :D ...I've never glued up a bow blank before as I normally make selfbows so if I can get some help from you it would be much appreciated
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#6 Post by Gringa Bows » Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:29 am

Looking good :biggrin:

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#7 Post by Hamish » Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:11 am

lovely!

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#8 Post by mikaluger » Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:46 pm

cmoore wrote:Cheers for the info....how long you been making bows for? You seem to have it perfected!. May I ask how you reflex your blanks? & what type of glue are you using?, I've just ordered a 70 odd inch air dried yew blank with two 40" bamboo backing strips to make myself a nice yew boo :D ...I've never glued up a bow blank before as I normally make selfbows so if I can get some help from you it would be much appreciated
Hi cmoore,

If you have ordered a single 70" full yew stave from Carson, with sapwood, make a selfbow!!!!!!!! Maybe try a laminated bow with malas and Hickory or bamboo before you start on the Yew. I have a piece machined malas belly here you can have, it makes a great bow and will take some reflex.
I back my bows because I have to splice join them. Billets are cheaper to buy and post!! Tri lams are nice and quick too.........
The glue I use is Techni Glue, I dont use a hot box but let it cure in a warm environment. My garage/workshop with a small heater in the cooler months.
I wrap my blanks together with a strip of tyre inner-tube, then clamp them down to my bench at intervals with blocks to get the desired reflex and leave for 24hrs. Then I glue on the riser strips the next day. I will see if I can find a pic.
I will be happy to help you where I can.

Mick.

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#9 Post by flyne » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:30 pm

Wow mate that is awesome I think that is one of the best looking bows I have ever seen do you ever sell them
Jim
good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement
Nothing is easy. That's why it's called hunting, and not killing

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#10 Post by mikaluger » Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:14 pm

Thanks Flyne,

I do sell them from time to time. I make them when I can, which I enjoy. Just a little thing on the side, I'm not a pro by any stretch!!!!
It has taken me awhile to get the things going the right way, if you know what I mean. :wink:
I am just starting to get them how I like them. It has taken me nearly three years to work things out!

I have to say this bow is real quick, first time I have backed with bamboo. It wont be the last.

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#11 Post by DrAK DaRippa » Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:37 pm

wow those horn tips look really smooth great work!

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#12 Post by indie » Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm

Very nice Mick. Pretty heavy at 62lb. The other bowyer must be a muscly dude hey?

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#13 Post by mikaluger » Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:37 pm

It will probably back off once it is shot in Indie, I dont know if he is muscle bound or not. I know he will hunt with this bow, hence the higher poundage and a design with some speed!!! :biggrin:

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#14 Post by cmoore » Tue Apr 22, 2014 3:43 pm

Yea cheers mick, I'll definatly take up your generous offer of the malas :biggrin: I've never heard of malas before, is it similar to merbau?, I'd be more than happy to give you a bit of dosh for it...PM me and let me know what you want for it

Cheers
Cameron
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#15 Post by rodlonq » Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:25 pm

Very nice trilam Mick, well done.

Cheers.... Rod

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#16 Post by mikaluger » Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:30 pm

cmoore wrote:Yea cheers mick, I'll definatly take up your generous offer of the malas :biggrin: I've never heard of malas before, is it similar to merbau?, I'd be more than happy to give you a bit of dosh for it...PM me and let me know what you want for it

Cheers
Cameron
If you have a look at some of my other posts Cameron, I have done a malas flatbow and Elb/warbow.

PM sent

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#17 Post by mikaluger » Fri May 16, 2014 9:42 pm

Did the grip today. Off to SA on Monday.
Sad to see it go, very quick smooth shooter...............luckily I have another blank!!!!! :biggrin:
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#18 Post by cmoore » Fri May 16, 2014 11:56 pm

Mate I've never shot a bow that was as quiet, astoundingly fast and smooth as that one!. Grip looks ace and I'd be hearted broken if I ever made a bow so beautifull & had to part with it :cry:
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#19 Post by Dennis La Varenne » Sat May 17, 2014 12:09 am

Mick,

That is one good bit of tillering there. At least you have gotten some decent bend in the outer half of your limbs which very few manage to do these days. I have drawn a few lines on your pic to illustrate. When you run your eye up and down the limbs, there just aren't any angles anywhere. It is as close to a circular tiller and full working limbs as one can get I reckon. I hope some of the ELB blokes are looking. If you can, let us know how the Yew belly stands up to the Bamboo backing.
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Dennis La Varénne

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#20 Post by flyne » Sat May 17, 2014 12:30 am

The grip looks awesome mate well done on the top build
good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement
Nothing is easy. That's why it's called hunting, and not killing

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#21 Post by bigbob » Sat May 17, 2014 8:16 am

agree with all the previous comments, excellent result and a very attractive bow, well done!
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#22 Post by greybeard » Sat May 17, 2014 8:49 am

Nicely finished bow, I quite like the way you have done the tip overlays.

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#23 Post by Hamish » Sat May 17, 2014 1:29 pm

Sweet!

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#24 Post by longbowinfected » Sat May 17, 2014 6:15 pm

my three most favourite bow materials with great nocks and a fantastic riser........magic

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........

#25 Post by mikaluger » Sat May 17, 2014 7:57 pm

Dennis La Varenne wrote:Mick,

That is one good bit of tillering there. At least you have gotten some decent bend in the outer half of your limbs which very few manage to do these days. I have drawn a few lines on your pic to illustrate. When you run your eye up and down the limbs, there just aren't any angles anywhere. It is as close to a circular tiller and full working limbs as one can get I reckon. I hope some of the ELB blokes are looking. If you can, let us know how the Yew belly stands up to the Bamboo backing.
file2.jpg
Thanks for that Dennis, I really took my time with this one as it is for another bowyer.
The Yew in these two blanks is wonderfully clear, it is showing no signs of stress. The billets came from Echo archery in Salem Oregon, USA. The bow is going to Goatchaser in Port Augusta. Im sure he will let us know how she performs down the track. :smile:

Mick.

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#26 Post by mikaluger » Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:51 pm

I have just finished off the sister stave this evening, same specs as above............this bow too, will be going to port Augusta, as the original popped a splinter on the bamboo. Hopefully I can resurect her. :oops:
I will take some better pics Tomoz, I will be shooting her in at Lilydale this weekend........ bit heavy for me tho. At 60 @ 28" i wont be able to shoot her all day. I will be taking a couple of lower weight bows as well me thinks! :lol:
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#27 Post by mikaluger » Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:24 pm

Some better pics......
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#28 Post by Stickbow Hunter » Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:26 pm

Looks good!!!

Jeff

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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#29 Post by mikaluger » Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:26 pm

last ones....
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Re: Yew, Hickory and Bamboo........now with a Sister!

#30 Post by mikaluger » Thu Oct 23, 2014 4:51 pm

A video of this bow at lilydale....
http://youtu.be/xWSyjV2zLVs

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