Ozbow

Started on my recently aquired Yew billets today. Going for a couple of nice traditional Yew self bows. Taking my time with these.

Congratulations, I will be watching, and waiting like a loyal kelpie on the pub steps. Just a quick question, what glue did you use to join the two matched halves.

Techni glue, Bill....

thanks for that, I thought it looked alot like araldite, thanks for setting he straight. I have a couple lengths of hickory and an 8" diameter bamboo pole and intend building something soon.

Hi Mika,

The short billets appear to have matched up quite well, do you know if they were cut as 'twins' side by side or long lengths cut in half for postage.

Did you pin the holes or were they for the glue to key in?

Daryl.

How heavy are these puppies going to be?
Hamish.

greybeard wrote:Hi Mika,

The short billets appear to have matched up quite well, do you know if they were cut as 'twins' side by side or long lengths cut in half for postage.

Did you pin the holes or were they for the glue to key in?

Daryl.

Hi Daryl,
The billet on the left of the bottom picture is one of Carson's Premium billets hand split side by side, and the right billet is one i made up from an extra wide piece he sent me. I marked it up the centre, ripped it on the band saw and then joined it. I think this yew is much older, it is alot lighter in colour.
I pinned the holes with 6mm bamboo knitting needles for strength and insurance.

Hamish wrote:How heavy are these puppies going to be?
Hamish.

I dont know Hamish! I will let you know when i've finished!!!!!1

Gonna keep these down to a nice shootable draw weight, hopefully around 50lb@28". 72"-73" NtN.
With the spliced handles I would not feel comfortable pulling much more, we will see how they stand up I guess!
First time splicing an ELB, so learning as I go here.
Mick.

Hey Mick,

Looking forward to seeing these ones progress mate!!

Eventually I will splurge and get myself a full length yew stave for a warbow...

Colin

Just out of interest, why'd you go with a V splice instead of, say, a fishtail or something that would give a larger surface area to glue?

You're certainly doing your bit for the wood importation industry. It's great to see someone working with 'exotic' woods. Exotic for us, anyway!

yeoman wrote:Just out of interest, why'd you go with a V splice instead of, say, a fishtail or something that would give a larger surface area to glue?

You're certainly doing your bit for the wood importation industry. It's great to see someone working with 'exotic' woods. Exotic for us, anyway!

Hi Yeoman,
If i was using thinner material for a belly wood, as I have had to use before, I would of done a "W" splice to increase the gluing surface area.
In this case the belly is full width in the handle so using a "V" splice is all that is needed as the surface area along with the bamboo pins will give sufficient strength. Thats my thinking anyway!
We will see how it stands up very soon........

As for the exotic woods............. what can I say, I love exotic things!!!!

Mick.

So I did bit of work yesterday. I have started with the Stave on the right of the above photos, I am leaving the premium stave with the bark on till later.

First thing I did was flatten out the back in relation to the belly wood, leaving a nice layer of Sapwood. No need to chase a ring with Yew, as long as you leave some sapwood, I left a good 1/4". After I was happy with the back, I marked the back profile and cut it out. I then carefully marked the belly tapers and cut them out. I then Hand planed all the tapers to finished dimensions, and crowned the back and rounded the belly.
I am very lucky, this stave is very old and the ring count is very high about 37 per inch and is near perfect. There is no significant knots and the sap line is very straight, so I have got away with nice straight belly tapers. Stave is currently 76" long, Handle section is 30mm wide and 30mm thick. I am starting to tiller tomorrow. It is not as Dark as my premium stave, I am hoping the colours pop when I finish the bow.

Interesting note:- I spliced joined the billets dead straight, careful to line up the sapwood. As soon as I cut the belly tapers, the stave pulled in to an inch of reflex. I am not sure how this has happened! I'm not really worried tho!!!!

Some more....

That's a pretty nice looking stick mate!!

Hope it all works out. I will be following this thread with much interest!

You were aiming for around 50lbs or so correct? What thickness is the stave at the handle?


Colin

hunterguy1991 wrote:That's a pretty nice looking stick mate!!

Hope it all works out. I will be following this thread with much interest!

You were aiming for around 50lbs or so correct? What thickness is the stave at the handle?


Colin

30mm wide x 30 mm thick. Thats all I could keep on this stave Col.

Mick,

That should go around 50 id reckon. My 55lb Red Ironbark one is 30 wide and 23 thick but its a bit more dense than Yew.

Keep us posted on how its going.

Colin

Hi guys,
Did a bit more today. I tillered my first stave and it is a cracker I will post pics when I have finished the nocks and final tillered.

Below are pics of the second and premium stave I worked on this afternoon. This stave had the bark still on and a nice undulating even sapwood at about 6-8mm. The bark and cambium came off quite easily. I used a sharp chisel, the dull edge of the chisel and a cabinet scraper. Took me all of 30mins. Result is an undulating pristine back, so I will be going for a "character bow" with this stave. Marked the profiles and cut her out and then carefully cut the belly tapers following the undulations. This bow is a lot stiffer in the limbs than the first stave, the handle dimensions are the same tho. I have a nasty knot to contend with on the bottom limb, but I think I can work around it. I will see as I round off the belly and back tomorrow. I am just going to pencil round the edges of the back on this stave as i want to keep the pristine back. we will see as i go!!!!

and some more....

That stave is so perfect, I'd be scared to do anything with it for fear of ruining it!

Beautiful piece so far mate!!

Cant wait to see some bend in it now. What weight are you aiming for with the premium stave? 50 or so again or something heavier?

Colin


PS, I WANT ONE!! haha

looking good

hunterguy1991 wrote:Beautiful piece so far mate!!

Cant wait to see some bend in it now. What weight are you aiming for with the premium stave? 50 or so again or something heavier?

Colin


PS, I WANT ONE!! haha

The first stave has come in at 47lb @ 28" and it is a sweet shooter, as smooth you like. Bends through the handle a little, but the splice is fine so far.

This stave is a different animal, even tho I have cut the tapers it is still resisting to go round on the floor and has the same handle dimensions and is longer! I want it around 50. Once I start to shape the back and belly it will change.
Just having a stop and think, on this knot.

Hi Guy's,
I was dubious of this knot, and once I got it to low brace, the knot cracked. The black line shows where the crack is.
I had a look at Del's blog and decided to do a similar repair as I have no other choice really, it had to go! I have a nice piece of leftover sapwood and heart wood off the same billet that matches really well with where the patch will go. I hope it works, this is such a beautiful stave to waste.........
I will finish the patch peice and glue it up tomorrow, it's late here now. I'm a bit miffed really, Oh well..... onwards and upwards as my old man used to say!!!!!!

yeoman wrote:That stave is so perfect, I'd be scared to do anything with it for fear of ruining it!

It is perfect yeo,................. all except for one little mind numbing knot!!!!!!!!

Ok, little bit done today......... patch piece glued in, cut of same billet.

And back to the first stave...........

We have my first successful Yew self bow!............... all be it with a spliced handle!
I have left this bow a little stiff in the handle, with good reason and tillered accordingly. It looks a little Victorian I think!
The bow is 74" NtN and has come in at 40lb @ 28" a little lower than I wanted but it is a beatiful bow to shoot! It is so smooth to shoot and has some great cast, the bow has even draw wieght right from the get go. I am more than happy, as this came from a billet that was supposed to be belly laminations! I am quite chuffed with myself. Bow has a fully crowned back, which I think is the key in my ELB's.
Mick.

Looks nice! I hope the repair goes well on the other stave.

Jeff

Beaut work mick ... jeez that's a thick, stocky bow for only pulling 40#. Don't you just love the sweet smell of yew when you're working it....if they ever made an aftershave that smelled like that I'd be all over it...imagine, "Yew..for men" ...cant wait to see how your other bow turns out

Beautiful work there Mick!!

Bend on that one is spot on I reckon.

Now I REALLY want a Yew stave!!!

Colin

A tricky knot indeed. I try and get a good bead on any potentially troublesome knot during roughing out on the bandsaw. I leave a big lump in both width and depth and then work the rest of the stave down to just before floor tillering. All the while I remove some of the lump but still checking too make sure that there is plenty of healthy wood to take the strains.
By doing the slow approach you get a better idea of how to tackle the problem, and leaves you with potentially more options. You may have had the options to have a hole going through the bow, or plugged it with a yew dowel. That being said you have done a really nice repair, and I like the orientation you have used as it gives a lot of surface area, especially around its edges on the belly. It might have been the best option anyway.

End result... a sweet bow.
Hamish.