Black Palm Raptor

How to make a Bow, a String or a Set of Arrows. Making equipment & tools for use in Traditional Archery and Bowhunting.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Flatliner
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:12 pm
Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Black Palm Raptor

#1 Post by Flatliner » Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:32 pm

Here's one I made for a bloke in Darwin recently. He wanted all Black Palm and I liked the idea 8) . I posted a build-along on the Flatline bows face book page if you want to have a look.

https://www.facebook.com/FlatlineBows?ref=bookmarks

Bow stats; Flatline Raptor, 58" n-n, 58#@28'
Timber; All Black Palm, black phenolic reinforcing in the riser and nock tips.

I like how it came out.
SDC14183.JPG
SDC14183.JPG (155.88 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14184.JPG
SDC14184.JPG (152.39 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14188.JPG
SDC14188.JPG (138.62 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14189.JPG
SDC14189.JPG (181.4 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14193.JPG
SDC14193.JPG (125.83 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14194.JPG
SDC14194.JPG (111.94 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14199.JPG
SDC14199.JPG (136.84 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14200.JPG
SDC14200.JPG (147.15 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
SDC14206.JPG
SDC14206.JPG (188.45 KiB) Viewed 5639 times


The last shot is at 30 inches.

Cheers, Rob.
Attachments
SDC14211.JPG
SDC14211.JPG (135.29 KiB) Viewed 5639 times
Last edited by Flatliner on Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

bstan86
Posts: 116
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:33 pm
Location: west of the gap (Cunninghams)

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#2 Post by bstan86 » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:21 am

bloody hell that's a stunning grain - well done mate - absolutely beautiful.

is the palm hard to work with?

I think I heard somewhere that it splinters easily...

Hamish
Posts: 309
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:42 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#3 Post by Hamish » Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:07 am

Looks awesome!

User avatar
Flatliner
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:12 pm
Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#4 Post by Flatliner » Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:32 am

Thanks guys.

Stan. Yes it is hard to work with and does indeed splinter along the grain easily but is unbelievably strong across the grain. And speaking of splinters, the splinters from this are every bit as nasty as the splinters from the bow tuff glass.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

User avatar
Outbackdad
Site Admin
Posts: 478
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:46 pm
Location: Dalby

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#5 Post by Outbackdad » Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:54 am

Another great looking bow.

bstan86
Posts: 116
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:33 pm
Location: west of the gap (Cunninghams)

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#6 Post by bstan86 » Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:05 pm

Flatliner wrote:Thanks guys.

Stan. Yes it is hard to work with and does indeed splinter along the grain easily but is unbelievably strong across the grain. And speaking of splinters, the splinters from this are every bit as nasty as the splinters from the bow tuff glass.
interesting Rob - I am really surprised we don't see it more often in bows given it's beauty - as you have shown.

User avatar
Flatliner
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:12 pm
Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#7 Post by Flatliner » Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:03 pm

bstan86 wrote:interesting Rob - I am really surprised we don't see it more often in bows given it's beauty - as you have shown.
That's probably due to it being a very rare Timber more than any other reason, it's very hard to come by even here in Far North QLD where it grows.
And once you get hold of a log the recovery is limited cause the usable timber is only a band around the perimeter of the log about 20-25mm thick and is very labour intensive to mill.
But having said that it is a very high performing bow timber, arrow speeds for this bow using a 9 grain per pound of draw weight carbon arrows is 193 FPS.

Rob.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

User avatar
bigbob
Posts: 4098
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:55 pm
Location: sunshine coast

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#8 Post by bigbob » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:38 pm

I agree Rob, have used the red Palm in belly veneers and a bit in riser and it is a great performer speed wise. Not too good around the fade area on longbow risers as it will break away easily[ ask me!] but is used a great deal for high end stuff in Asia. Terrific bow from you as per usual. Your craftsmanship is probably without peer here in Aus and would hold its own against any in the world at large, mate. :clap: :clap:
nil illigitimo in desperandum carborundum
razorbows.com

Stu Ballz
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:37 am

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#9 Post by Stu Ballz » Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:32 pm

Man that looks just awesome! !!!!

User avatar
Gringa Bows
Posts: 6331
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:09 pm
Location: Bundaberg QLD

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#10 Post by Gringa Bows » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:52 pm

very nice

User avatar
rodlonq
Posts: 2096
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 3:02 pm
Location: Ingham NQ

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#11 Post by rodlonq » Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:47 pm

Great looking bow Rob. I'm sure it shoots as good as it looks. Hope the new owner gets to take some quality game with it.

Cheers... Rod

matt61
Posts: 702
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:22 pm
Location: melbourne

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#12 Post by matt61 » Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:56 am

Looks good, but don't put it down in the bush, it will be hard to find.
Matt

User avatar
Muz1970
Posts: 259
Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:41 am
Contact:

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#13 Post by Muz1970 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:13 pm

Got to love the grain combination in the palm timber. Been out ripping into a pole today and made up some veneers. Don't think it will turn out as dark as this beauty though.

User avatar
Flatliner
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:12 pm
Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#14 Post by Flatliner » Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:10 am

Hey Muz, where did you find your palm? and how thick is the usable part of the log?
If it is thin and light in colour it's probably a fairly young tree, I've found they have to be at least 25-30 years old before they are worthwhile milling.
How about a few photos. I'd like to see what you're working with.
It's a bit of fun recovering usable boards out of a log hey mate :roll: .

Cheers, Rob.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

User avatar
Muz1970
Posts: 259
Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:41 am
Contact:

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#15 Post by Muz1970 » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:58 am

G'day Rob, My brother bought 4 palm posts years ago for a Bali type theme gazebo. There about 2.2m x 300mm at a guess. Just got the other 3 last weekend. They've been sitting in the old man's shed for 8 or more years. There pretty hard to handle by yourself and run through the band saw. Will endeavour to get some photos later on.

Glued up bow last week and the palm veneers split while in the form on the back of the bow. They also came out very dark, was hoping for a more grainy look. Will still function OK just has a funky look about it. Guessing I'll be making them a wee bit thicker next time. There very fibrous.

Cheers Muz

User avatar
Flatliner
Posts: 449
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:12 pm
Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#16 Post by Flatliner » Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:47 pm

Wow Muz 300 mm,,, you sure it's black palm? I didn't think they got that big. Lucky you :mrgreen: .
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

User avatar
Muz1970
Posts: 259
Joined: Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:41 am
Contact:

Re: Black Palm Raptor

#17 Post by Muz1970 » Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:24 pm

So I measure them, and there 2250mm x 200mm......I did say at a guess :auto-dirtbike:

Post Reply