New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

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hunterguy1991
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New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#1 Post by hunterguy1991 » Sun Sep 27, 2015 8:44 am

Morning all,

Just thought I'd put up a photo of a bow I'm currently working on. Still a work in progress and a bit of a way to go before it shoots but so far its coming along well.

Few little details that could be better but they're purely aesthetic and so far have not affected the function of the bow.

Here it is at a 4 inch brace height.
4 inch brace 60@24.jpg
4 inch brace 60@24.jpg (50.98 KiB) Viewed 10028 times
The bow is a pacific jarrah/massaranduba main limb with kerfed recurves using silky oak as the infill, a natural bamboo back and a silky oak handle block. 68" nock to nock and currently pulling 60lbs @ 24"... that equates to 74lbs @ 28" under the current load curve. Currently it has no permanent set after resting.

Need to sink the bow to about 60@28 with at least a 6 inch brace height.

Will try to get some drawn shots of it when I do some more work on it.

Cheers,

Colin

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bigbob
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#2 Post by bigbob » Sun Sep 27, 2015 8:51 am

looks like a good one Colin! Like to see more shots as you develop it. :clap:
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Gringa Bows
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#3 Post by Gringa Bows » Sun Sep 27, 2015 3:58 pm

looks good

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#4 Post by greybeard » Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:29 pm

Hi Colin, you appear to be making good progress with the bow.

Having tried both wet and dry heat I believe kerfing is a better alternative.

Looking forward to seeing the completed project. :Bow

Daryl.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

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hunterguy1991
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#5 Post by hunterguy1991 » Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:36 pm

Thanks for the kind words guys! :smile:

Daryl, I'm sold on kerfing as an effective method for making this style of recurve as once they are glued and dry they cannot pull out like a heated recurve may...

I will hopefully have the bow at a point it can be shot tomorrow or Tuesday so will grab some photos for you all to look at. Going very slow and steady with this one.

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#6 Post by Alex » Sun Sep 27, 2015 6:51 pm

Fantastic.
Good on ya...
Alex.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#7 Post by hunterguy1991 » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:20 pm

Thanks Alex!


Have come up with a small issue in one of the recurves... A small gap was left dry into the curve as I didn't do the form fit well enough... as a result the gap opens a little when the bow is strung.

Glad I caught it now as its pretty easily remedied with a cut and re glue. I will fix that tomorrow then continue tillering on Tuesday to get it down to weight I want and out to 28".

Colin

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perry
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#8 Post by perry » Mon Sep 28, 2015 6:52 am

G/Day Colin, watching with great interest.

regards Perry
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Nezwin
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#9 Post by Nezwin » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:17 am

I like the curves, looking good. With the Mass/Bamboo combination it should be a pretty fast shooter. I'm tinkering with a similar styled Cypress bow at the moment, the kerfing really does make life easier!

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#10 Post by hunterguy1991 » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:00 am

Thanks Neil!

Yep she really wants to go when you pull it on the tiller stand... Should throw an arrow like a rocket, which is what I'm after as its hopefully going to be a hunting bow.

Had to do double kerfs in this one to get the mass around the form without splintering. In hindsight I could have gone a mm thinner though the kerfed section and needed to take out less to get the weight right.

Look forward to seeing your Cypress version!

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#11 Post by hunterguy1991 » Mon Sep 28, 2015 4:21 pm

I got the little issue sorted out today and she'll be back on the tiller tomorrow and with any luck will be "shoot-able" sometime tomorrow arvo :biggrin: Slow and steady tho, don't want to bugger this one up.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#12 Post by Alex » Mon Sep 28, 2015 6:57 pm

pictures mate...
This one is coming out all right...
Alex.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#13 Post by bigbob » Mon Sep 28, 2015 7:23 pm

yup steady as she goes.We can wait! :Sleep
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#14 Post by hunterguy1991 » Mon Sep 28, 2015 7:55 pm

Alex i'll get some photos tomorrow when its right to string and draw again and I can keep working on it.

That's it Bob :biggrin:

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#15 Post by hunterguy1991 » Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:17 am

Couple more photos for you lads...

I pushed the draw down to 28" with a 4 inch brace and the weight held to 65lbs.
65@ 28....jpg
65@ 28....jpg (43.08 KiB) Viewed 9889 times
Then I upped the brace to a tad over 6 inches and had some much around shots... (I can only pull about 10 inches with my shoulder and almost like shooting from the hip :x )
6 and a bit inch brace.jpg
6 and a bit inch brace.jpg (51.09 KiB) Viewed 9889 times
This is it just prior to my muck around shots, the top limb is on the right... tad too much positive tiller but I have wood to play around with (probly crooked on the stand as well). Also need to have it test shot to watch the limb timing with the top limb soft since hand placement can mess with the timing and tiller.

Still 65@28 inches according to the scales tho so I've got 5 lbs to muck around with. It will lose a little more with scraping and sanding tho.

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#16 Post by greybeard » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:11 pm

Looking good, the curves seem to be holding up judging by the tip to string angle.

Daryl.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#17 Post by Nezwin » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:25 pm

hunterguy1991 wrote:
65@ 28....jpg
Might need to take a look at that left limb, mate? I had a similar problem with my cypress one and couldn't for the life of me get it right by eye. I ended up making marks in one inch increments along the working limb, then measured the thickness with calipers and marked this in mm on the belly. It sounds laborious but only took about 15 minutes + a little sanding to even the limbs and I immediately had the tiller sorted. Might work for you too, perhaps.
Last edited by Nezwin on Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#18 Post by hunterguy1991 » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:25 pm

Curves haven't pulled out at all as far as I can tell Daryl... they're fairly thick and double kerfed so there's a heap of glue in them. Slight propeller twist in it but doesn't throw the string so I'm happy with that. I had a friend shoot it since I cant and it looked like a nice shooter. Very quiet.

I need to work on a new better form to try and negate the twist in it.

We need to work out a weekend to hit up your local range again Daryl. That way I can bring a few things down for you to look at and play with :biggrin:

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#19 Post by hunterguy1991 » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:29 pm

Neil I thought it might need some work as well but when you actually shoot it they look to even out due to hand placement... I will most likely do a little work on it when I scrape the belly ready for sanding to even it a little bit at brace. I do want a little softer top limb but maybe not quite that much :D

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#20 Post by yeoman » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:15 pm

On the matter of the propeller twist: did you cut and glue the kerfs before or after cutting the width profile?

I think kerfing is the way to go. Can be done at room temperature, doesn't over stress the wood within the curve, and the aesthetic can be made very striking or very subdued.
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#21 Post by hunterguy1991 » Fri Oct 02, 2015 8:52 am

Dave on this particular bow I cut the width first then did the kerfs, but I have done the kerfs first then the width on another bow and had the same issue so I'm fairly certain its my form that's doing it.

I think the combination of red timber from the Massaranduba with pink and a striking grain from the silky oak inserts I used gives a pretty tasteful look on this bow. When I get the horn and silky oak overlays on it will set the tips off well I think.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#22 Post by yeoman » Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:43 pm

You cut me off at the pass. It does indeed sound like your form may be off.
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#23 Post by yeoman » Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:38 pm

Have you finished this one yet? It'd be good to get a gander at the double-kerfed tips.
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#24 Post by hunterguy1991 » Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:22 pm

Not yet :(

Been side tracked with a 130lb warbow that's headed to the states and my primitive, minimal tools flatbow (spur of the moment I just couldn't stop once I started it :biggrin: )

I intend on getting the tip overlays on it tomorrow and giving it a good scrape and sand. The Double Kerf will look pretty good in this one with the pink silk oak contrasting the red Massaranduba, plus a black horn and silky oak overlay.

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#25 Post by hunterguy1991 » Wed Oct 14, 2015 9:55 am

Finally got my act together and got the tips done on this one and some finish on it to bring out the grain. Just one coat of wipe on satin at the moment but I will probably do 2 gloss coats to really set it off. May also stick a buff horn arrow pass in to stop the arrow scratching the nice timber.

The Massaranduba held up really well on this bow even with the high amount of bend in the limbs at a decent draw weight. Comes up glass smooth when its sanded as well.

Some photos for you Dave :biggrin:

The double kerf cut recurve from the side.
Recruve side on finished.jpg
Recruve side on finished.jpg (56.82 KiB) Viewed 9714 times
The Buff horn and silky oak tip overlay.
Tip overlay quartering on  finished.jpg
Tip overlay quartering on finished.jpg (114.37 KiB) Viewed 9714 times
The silky oak handle side on.
Handle side on finished.jpg
Handle side on finished.jpg (116.63 KiB) Viewed 9714 times
Specs and handle from the back.
Handle and specs finished.jpg
Handle and specs finished.jpg (115.51 KiB) Viewed 9714 times
Its marked at 60lb@28" true but its a tad heavier than that.

When I can actually shoot it properly I will get some photos of groups and brace with finish coats on it.

Will definitely be making a few more of these! :biggrin:

Hope you all like it,

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#26 Post by greybeard » Wed Oct 14, 2015 6:25 pm

Colin, you have achieved an excellent result with the bow.
hunterguy1991 wrote:......Will definitely be making a few more of these! :biggrin:....
I believe it is a simple design that works well with a little fore thought before building. :Bow

Daryl
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#27 Post by rodlonq » Wed Oct 14, 2015 6:38 pm

Nice work Colin, great looking bow there mate.

Cheers... Rod

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#28 Post by bigbob » Wed Oct 14, 2015 6:39 pm

sweet work Colin! How do you find the masseranduba in terms of elasticity. My impression from the couple of self bows i made a while back were that it is quite forgiving but seemed a little 'doughy' to me in terms of 'springyness' for want of a better word.
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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#29 Post by hunterguy1991 » Wed Oct 14, 2015 7:15 pm

Cheers guys! :biggrin:

Bob I like the massaranduba as a bow wood. Seems to hold up well to what I put it through in this bow and I have seen it in some pretty hefty warbows in online shops over seas so its got potential. My advice would be stick some bamboo on the front of it and some reflex then see what you think :smile:

Yet to play around with the different colours of it (I have a caramel brown piece here at the moment waiting to be turned into a bendy stick) so I don't know if there is variation in properties like you get with dark vs light spotty.

Colin

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Re: New "Greybeard" inspired recurve

#30 Post by yeoman » Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:50 am

The choice of timbers and the overlays make for a lovely looking bow. Well done!
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