Previous in Forum: Clogged Discharge Pipes for Digest Tank at Biogas Plant   Next in Forum: Solar Power for Small Pinewood Derby Car
Close
Close
Close
Page 2 of 2: « First < Prev 1 2 Last »
Rating: Comments: Nested
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8

Re-Curve Bows

10/08/2008 8:22 AM

I have been into archery from early childhood (as soon as I could bend a stick and get a string tied around the ends). I have recently become interested building a primitive (or maybe not so primitive) bow. I have also made some strings for some bows I already have.

Do any of you guys dabble in creating primitive weapons? Do any of you have any experiences or novel ideas you would like to share?

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru
Engineering Fields - Construction Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Civil Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member Hobbies - Hunting - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United States - Member - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Latitude 38.701979 Longitude -90.439540 Coordinates 38.701979, -90.439540 N38°42.11874, W090°26.3724
Posts: 668
Good Answers: 15
#102
In reply to #101
Find in discussion

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/21/2008 1:13 PM

Check out this site they may have sinew that you can use.

I bought an elk hide and lacing from them when I made a large drum out of a 30" dia piece of oak I got from a wood cutting friend of mine.

Hide And Fur

__________________
scotchdrnkr
Register to Reply
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#103
In reply to #102

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/21/2008 7:03 PM

" ... I made a large drum out of a 30" dia piece of oak ... "

... sounds like a Big Bass Bodhrán. Did/does it work?

I'd like to hear - if you can & are willing, please pm me, & I'll give you my address to which you can send an attachment (mp3, wav etc).

__________________
"Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#114
In reply to #101
Find in discussion

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 8:56 AM
__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#115
In reply to #114

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 9:31 AM
__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#99
In reply to #97
Find in discussion

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/21/2008 8:17 AM

Maybe I didn't read them...

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#104

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 10:19 AM

Hey DAG,
I just found this site in the US. They have pre-prepared sinew and loads of goodies.

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#105
In reply to #104

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 10:24 AM

How 'bout that! This is the outfit that I order my dacron from. I never thought to look there for sinew!

I was going to post a link to these guys, but for some reason I didn't...not too sure why...Oh that's right, I was interrupted by that pesky thing called work!

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#106
In reply to #105

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 10:39 AM

Arrgh Dacron...I know I have a reel of it somewhere in my garage but can I find it? (Answers on a post card...)

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#107
In reply to #106

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 10:48 AM

Are you sure the kittens didn't get ahold of it?

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver (not BC) Washington (not DC) US of A
Posts: 1261
Good Answers: 12
#108

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 11:46 AM

Purely out of curiosity (and since all the experts are here), how does one get from a length of sinew (at one foot long) to a bow string at 4 feet long?

Bill

Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#109
In reply to #108

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/22/2008 12:15 PM

Ha you have to start with that Giraffe neck I was talking about!

No...presumably you spin the fibres...?

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 12362
Good Answers: 115
#110
In reply to #109

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 1:36 AM

Somewhere I read something about sinew from the backs of cattle/similar. I didn't think they had sinew there, but I was always crap at biology. Maybe you could find a Sinew Lizard ; http://www.history.com/genericContent.do?id=59532

__________________
For sale - Signature space. Apply on self addressed postcard..
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#111
In reply to #110

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 2:30 AM

Now you are being silly, it would be much easier to ask Verm for some of his giraffes wot he got for his giraffe cannon. Or did he shoot 'em all to Mars, or was it the Moon?

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 12362
Good Answers: 115
#112
In reply to #111

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 4:18 AM

The Giraffes crossed my mind (probably everyones, if they just ended up in geostationary orbit), but the dinosaur was better named.

I still dunno about this extract ; "The longest sinew is found in the white cords that run along either side of an animal's backbone".

This looks like an interesting place for bow fans ; http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/badminton/docs/chapter03/chapter3_3.html

__________________
For sale - Signature space. Apply on self addressed postcard..
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#113
In reply to #112

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 8:51 AM

Nice link, Kris. I'll have to do some reading on that one when I'm not on CR4 working.

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver (not BC) Washington (not DC) US of A
Posts: 1261
Good Answers: 12
#116
In reply to #110

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 10:55 AM

I tell my wife "I used to SIN, but EW won't let me any more".

music -> {Ceegars and whiskey and wild wild wimmen...}

Bill

Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#117
In reply to #116

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 11:14 AM

"music -> {Ceegars and whiskey and wild wild wimmen...}"

One I sometimes bawl out in folk clubs goes:

{Cigareets and whisky and wild, wild wimmen ...}

I got it from a 78 my folks once had - I think it was Spike Jones & his City Slickers.

__________________
"Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver (not BC) Washington (not DC) US of A
Posts: 1261
Good Answers: 12
#118
In reply to #117

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 11:43 AM

I couldn't remember if it was cigars or cigarettes... but definitely Spike Jones.

And those old 78s... If you dropped them, you had pieces of record. I can remember an early 33 I had which was a collection of "Cowboy Songs". One of them had a line of "If the ocean were whiskey and I were a duck... I'd swim to the bottom and drink my way up".

If you were to give that record to a 5 year old today, they would probably throw you in jail for child abuse.

Ah the political incorrectness of it all.

Bill

Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Kiefer OK
Posts: 1325
Good Answers: 22
#119
In reply to #118

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/23/2008 12:53 PM

Sorry, not Spike Jones,even though he might have done a cover of it. According to several websites found by Google, the song was written by Tim Spencer in 1947, and recorded by Red Nichols and the Natural Seven. This site has the best listing of the lyrics, but doesn't include the "ocean were whiskey" line. That might have come from a similar sounding tune. "Rye Whiskey". I'm off to Google it.

Edit: found it here!

__________________
I wonder..... Would Schrödinger's cat play with a ball of string theory?
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#120
In reply to #119

Re: Cigareets & whiskey

10/24/2008 3:06 AM

My folks must've had the Spike Jones cover - which stuck word-for-word to the original (as per your link), except for the interjection of a slurred "sing Temptation, will ya!". I can't remember exactly where it came in - I've noted it in my transcription, but my folder of words & music has found it's way to Aberdeen, and I'm not likely to see it for a while.

They definitely didn't have any 78s from Red Nichols.

__________________
"Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver (not BC) Washington (not DC) US of A
Posts: 1261
Good Answers: 12
#121
In reply to #119

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/24/2008 10:10 AM

Hey!! I love that site!! It has some others which I remember too like "Big Rock Candy Mountain". And you're right... the ocean line came from "Rye Whiskey".

So much of that music, todays kids have not heard, and probably will never hear. It is such a shame in that alot of it came out of the great depression, and has quite a meaning in American history.

I don't know where Kiefer is, but my #1 daughter lives in Shawnee... about 40 miles east of OK city.

73s de Bill NW7L

Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Kiefer OK
Posts: 1325
Good Answers: 22
#127
In reply to #121

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/26/2008 10:19 PM

Kiefer is southwest of Tulsa. It's now primarily a "bedroom community" where most people work in Tulsa or one of the larger suburbs. Kiefer played a major role in Tulsa's development as the "Oil Capital of the World." When the Glenn Pool oil field came in, the oil was shipped out by train from Kiefer because this is where the closest rail connection was. Tulsa grew and got all the glory because that's where the bankers were.

Many of the songs recorded during the Depression come from earlier periods. America has experienced several depressions and panics, and the one from the 1930's was actually worldwide. Hard times often spawn the most memorable music.

This has got me to thinking if there might be some connection between the development of archery and the development of stringed musical instruments.

__________________
I wonder..... Would Schrödinger's cat play with a ball of string theory?
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Netherlands - Member - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Japan
Posts: 2703
Good Answers: 38
#128
In reply to #127

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/27/2008 12:11 AM

So no new songs yet about the current credit crisis?

I left my credit at indymack bank,left my credit at indymack bank,left my credit at indymack bank!

I got the get to get it, i got got to get it.

__________________
From the Movie "The Big Lebowski" Don't pee on the carpet man!
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#122

Meanwhile back at the bowmaking

10/24/2008 2:13 PM

Trying to find the straight bow in the wobbly stave .

Tools used so far...Axe, string.

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#123
In reply to #122

Re: Meanwhile back at the bowmaking

10/24/2008 4:22 PM

Hey, nice workbench!

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#124
In reply to #123

Re: Meanwhile back at the bowmaking

10/24/2008 4:32 PM

That's the Alfesco facility. Can't beat good ol' daylight....except a night of course.

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Not a New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Going under cover.
Posts: 9684
Good Answers: 468
#125
In reply to #122

Re: Meanwhile back at the bowmaking

10/24/2008 7:33 PM

How d'you manage to do so much clever stuff with a blurred thumb?

(Well, it's been a looong week - sorry ).

__________________
"Love justice, you who rule the world" - Dante Alighieri
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#126
In reply to #125

Re: Meanwhile back at the bowmaking

10/25/2008 4:03 AM

It's not that clever. The secret is buying straight string .
Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#129

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/29/2008 4:32 PM

Hey DAG,
I just found this UK site full of serious hardcore archery nuts some of whom are building composite bows... I've signed up!
Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru
United States - Member - Technical Fields - Education - Hobbies - Hunting - Popular Science - Weaponology -

Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 552
Good Answers: 8
#130
In reply to #129

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 8:18 AM

That's fantastic! I signed up and put you down as the one who referred me.

__________________
David A Goodman
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#131
In reply to #130

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 8:24 AM
__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Holeincanoe Ontario
Posts: 2169
Good Answers: 27
#132
In reply to #131

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 8:51 AM

Makes for a good launcher too

__________________
Prophet Freddy has the answer!
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#133
In reply to #132

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 9:52 AM

whaaaaaaaah................................flump thud

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Holeincanoe Ontario
Posts: 2169
Good Answers: 27
#134
In reply to #133

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 10:17 AM

....."ground control to major Del"....mebbe?

Onna more serious note.......have any of the bows you made showed a tendency to warp?

I ask this because, years ago, I made a longbow out of Yew (yep, soft grain (the darker) onna outside) and after a few months it began to warp. I couldn't get any info how to cure the wood.

The grain pattern of Osage is crossed at 90'...I think it's called cross graining......and the bow is worked while the wood is relatively green. Once dry it exhibits great compressibility and elasticity.

__________________
Prophet Freddy has the answer!
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#135
In reply to #134

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 10:48 AM

The timber needs to be thoroughly seasoned before use (NOT kiln dried) This is fairly tricky, as if its left as a log or even half a log it will be likely to split, and warp.
My Yew was worked into a bow over 2 or 3 years, originally the log was split and the ends painted (to slow down the drying and to help stop splitting) It was gradually worked down with an axe to try and relieve stress from where spits were likely to start, (e.g the ends were slimmed down a bit).

So to answer your question, by the time it became a bow it had been allowed to do all it's warping and moving. You have to work with the timber.
It has a few degrees of twist at the tip of one limb and plenty of knots and bends. You have to find the bow in the timber, you can't just plane it square and expect it to stay that way as it dries. (Although I think some woods might let you get away with this...I see plenty of pictures of nice square billets of Osage Orange and Lemon wood ...but I've never tried 'em)

I'm a bit concerned by your statement
.(yep, soft grain (the darker) onna outside)

The softer wood is the sapwood which is creamy colour and should be on the 'back' that's the side away from the archer (and string). You can see it clearly on the pics I posted earlier.

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Register to Reply
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member

Join Date: May 2008
Location: Holeincanoe Ontario
Posts: 2169
Good Answers: 27
#136
In reply to #135

Re: Re-Curve Bows

10/30/2008 11:12 AM

Thanks. I just learned something.

The trees that grow in my neck of the woods are in highly mineralized soils. This causes cracking during the drying process.

I do paint the ends of the choicer specimens that I harvest and float the best in a small pond for a number of years (5-10) to accomodate the musical instrument makers eg clear spruce, white pine, cherry, ash, maple.

You have to find the bow in the timber

I like that!

And I imagine allow the resins to fuse with the grain while drying slowly.

__________________
Prophet Freddy has the answer!
Register to Reply
Register to Reply Page 2 of 2: « First < Prev 1 2 Last »
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

3Doug (3); Anonymous Poster (1); Bill (1); Billdad (2); Bricktop (3); dadw5boys (4); DAG (32); Duckinthepond (15); electrone (1); Epke (10); erssk (1); jdretired (1); JohnDG (9); Kris (7); QUADRANT (1); Rick@cae (1); Sciesis2 (5); scotchdrnkr (1); Steve Melito (1); user-deleted-1105 (37)

Previous in Forum: Clogged Discharge Pipes for Digest Tank at Biogas Plant   Next in Forum: Solar Power for Small Pinewood Derby Car

Advertisement