[aeronut]

in reply to: Longbow For a Cousin #31005

Here are some pictures of Bob’s first shots with his new bow.

This was taken at Three Trails Archery. We went to a traditional only 3D shoot on Sunday. None of us shot worth a crap but we had a blast. At least Bob had an excuse….he was shooting a new bow he wasn’t familiar with.

I caught the arrow in flight in this picture just before it hit the deer.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Bald Eagles #28314

I see eagles around here quite often, usually around the nearby river and a few times around farm ponds. This sighting made me a little envious.

I got a call from my daughter one afternoon and she said she thought she was looking at an eagle and wanted to ask to be sure. She was sitting in her car at the end of my driveway. The eagle was sitting right across the road and she and her sister took these pictures from my front yard.

Headed toward the river.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Longbow For a Cousin #28308

Hi Steve, I enjoyed your story in the TBM magazine.

I just ‘eyeball’ the curve and shape it with a rasp and a file. There is about 1/8″ drop to the curve front and back. I use a 4-way rasp at first because it has a smooth edge and I won’t dig into the back for removing the bulk and then switch to a fairly coarse file to square up the back corner. After that I use a square cornered piece of Walnut and sandpaper to finish.

On Hickory it takes about 45 minutes to do.

[aeronut]

in reply to: Let's build a selfbow #25462

Good build-along Clay. Looks like it will be a good shooter.

Michael. I don’t know what kind of trees you have up there but I have seen some good bows made from Hackberry, Black Locust, & Hickory.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Bald Eagles #20951

Homer. The ‘geeks’ with guns is what concerns me with where the nest is. It is located right on the edge of a river. On our (company) side it is employee only access but the other side is private ownership and the sons of the owner have been known to shoot at anything and everything. The river is also used in that same area by lots of people who set limb lines and trot lines and run them at all times during the night.

We are thinking that the Ks. DWP may put up a restricted area around it. I kind of hope they do.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Nice Tool #57775

I’ve had one of those for about a year now. Just love it. I use a 36 grit belt for glue removal from a bow right out of the press and then switch belts for other work.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: New issues Editors Note, and a question without an easy answer… #41629

Here in SE Kansas we have always had an abundant supply of coyotes. Being raised around the farms (grandparents and aunts & uncles) I know first hand what a coyote pack is capable of doing to livestock and wildlife. And no, they don’t just kill what they can eat.

Since the fur prices have dropped (10-15 years ago) the coyote population has exploded around here and they show less wariness toward humans. Seeing road killed coyotes used to be a rare event here but with the high population it is now common.

In most circumstances, if I’m not going to eat it I won’t kill it. With coyotes however, it is a different story. I will shot at every coyote I see if I can get a clear shot at it. No guilt feelings at all.

I made a statement on a thread once (I believe it was the LW) that the coyotes were getting brazen and getting too close to my house and I saw them as a threat to my family and pets. I was asked, rather snidely, what I considered too close. On several occasions I have left for work and found coyote crap in my driveway. Too close? Any closer and they will be on my porch.

I like to hear the coyotes during their nightly sing-alongs (at least five packs within earshot) but they will get no pardon from me.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Starting Some New Ones #39701

I’m keeping this one Steve. I will post some more pictures of it after the final finish. I have to be in Topeka all week so it will be a while before I get it done.

This bow is a little ‘different’ in the respect of shooting to the right. I usually shoot left with a bow but I’m still not done adjusting the brace height. Hopefully that and some string silencers will move the impact to the left. If you look close in the last video there are the remains of another plastic bottle hanging there. I do occasionally hit them.:D

I have another clear glass ‘issue’ with this one too. There are milky spots showing up in the belly glass on the upper third of the top limb. I will try to get some pictures of it.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Starting Some New Ones #38911

It was really windy yesterday so I postponed my test firing until this afternoon. Sunny and 54* and still a light wind. I am still playing with the brace height and will put on a set of string silencers from Hairy Beaver. It is shooting good and has no stack or kick to it.

Now I need to put on a few more coats of finish. I am using Minwax Polycrylic semi-gloss and I’ve had good luck with it on my bows.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Starting Some New Ones #36531

Between work and the recent storms I haven’t had a lot of time to work on the bow. I made some time and have it to the point where I am spraying finish.

I got the tips done and started working on the riser. I sanded in some finger grooves and it is a very comfortable fit in my hand.

I sanded everything down starting with 120 grit and finished with 320 because I had run out of 400 grit paper. I then buffed everything with 4/0 steel wool. After wiping the bow down with a rag dampened with alcohol I hung it up and the first coat of Polyurethane is drying now. Hopefully I will get some time tomorrow afternoon to test fire it.

Specs:

64″ N-N
53#@28″
Hickory core
Leopardwood laminations
.050 glass
Riser–Hickory W/Black Walnut accent
Black Walnut overlay front and back of riser.
Tip overlays–Mesquite over Hickory

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Oklahoma Selfbow Jamboree March 17-20 #35350

OJAM is held on the Rutter farm six miles East of Stillwater on 51 hwy to Mehan Road (also called N3400 Rd)and six miles South to 80th street. From that intersection go West 1/4 mile to the gate.

Perkins is South of Stillwater on 33 hwy. From Perkins go five miles East on 33 hwy to Mehan and 3 1/2 miles North to 80th.

Hope to see everyone there.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: OJAM VI Video #35342

Thanks for the ompliments everyone. In two weeks, we’re doing it all again———OJAM VII————.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: A different kind of repellent #28377

I haven’t heard of it either. For ticks and chiggers I use Permanone on my clothes and I haven’t found anything more effective than that. For skeeters I use a Thermacell.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: may I come in? #28375

Howdy Homer. Feel free to jump in and add your two cents worth in the forums.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Starting Some New Ones #27480

I managed to get in a few work sessions the last couple of days so I will update the progress.

I started dressing down the riser overlay and blending it in and then did the laminations on the belly.

Now I have started the fun part:shock: working on the tips.
I first mark out the general shape of them.

Then I do a little sanding with a small (1″) drum sander in the drill press to get it close to the lines.

And then use a small rasp and sandpaper to work it on down.

I work on the string groove to finish it out and sand everything down with 120 grit paper. Here is the final fit with the string loop in place. I will take time to even everything out during the final sanding.

That Mesquite over Hickory is going to look real sharp with the finish on it.

Now comes the really fun part. Making the other tip match this one.:shock::shock:

Initial test has the weight right around 55#. After the final finish it should set in around 50#

Dennis

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