[aeronut]

in reply to: Starting Some New Ones #14067

Had some free time today and decided to head for the basement and do some more work on a bow. I decided to go with Leopardwood on this one with a Hickory core.

I already have the riser done so I made a lap joint on the laminations and glued them together.

While the glue was drying I covered the finished side of the fiberglass with painters tape to keep the glue off.

I then put everything in the hot box to warm up for a couple of hours.

After everything was warmed up good I started the lay-up process. I start out mixing the Smooth-On.

Then I get everything out of the hotbox and lay it out in the order it will go on the form. I lay out a strip of wax paper on the table to keep from getting glue all over it.

Then I start smearing glue and adding layers. I don’t wear rubber gloves. I have more trouble with them than I do without. I just keep a couple of rags lightly soaked with alcohol handy and wipe my fingers off after each layer.

Here the riser is in place and held with a clamp and the rest of the laminations are in place and ready to be taped down. I don’t have any pictures of taping the layers down. My daughter helped me with that step and we were pretty busy at the time.

Here the air hose is in place and the form is bolted together. I just slowly add 80#’s of air pressure to the hose as I keep a constant check on everything to make sure nothing moves.

It is now in the hotbox with the timer set to shut off in about six more hours. Tomorrow morning I will see what I have. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Some Old Photos #11600

Those are some great pictures Bear Paw.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Dying Feathers #10555

Larry,

I haven’t noticed them getting much lighter after drying.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Computer Backgrounds….??? #63621

Here is an easier way to make a background withoout any programs to mess with.

If you just want one picture for your wallpaper just load one of your own pictures onto your computer and bring it up on screen. Right click anywhere on the picture and click “Set as Desktop Background” in the pop up box. Presto……..Instant Wallpaper. When you want another picture for a background just repeat the process.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Dying Feathers #63227

I’m not picky, I use all the primary and secondary feathers that are long and wide enough to grind. Some of the secondaries are stiffer and I make sure to use them for the cock feather.

I use the whole feather. I was using 5″ feathers and could get two fletches from the longer wing feathers. I started using 4 1/2″ and get two from almost all of them now. I even use the tail feathers and can get three or four from them.

I use a feather burner so I can adjust the length and shape to anything I want.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Computer Backgrounds….??? #63218

The first picture is on my background today. It is in the Webshots program I use.

I found these two fawns next to one of our pump structures by the Neosho River the day after the 2007 flood here. It is hard to tell, but where they are laying was covered by 12′ of water the morning before and the river stretched almost two miles to the east.

I posted these pictures on some forums back then and had a lot of people ask to use them for wallpaper.

I carry my camera with me 99% of the time because you never know what might show up and want it’s picture taken.

This feller visited me at my booth at McAlester.

OK, that’s enough.

[aeronut]

in reply to: Dying Feathers #62863

Robin, I’d be happy for you to use it as a tip.

Duncan, I have a feather grinder I made that is simnilar to the one Dean Torges has on his web page. I made mine a stand alone unit instead of one used on a drill press. I will post a ‘Grind-along’ someday.

Orange looks good too.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Computer Backgrounds….??? #62158

Go to

http://www.webshots.com/page/apps?app=footer%20&vhost=www

I’ve been using this program for several years. It allows you to load your own photos and it changes your background wallpaper on a schedule you set plus it runs through your pictures in a screensaver mode too.

You can also use Webshots to post pictures on forums too.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #52480

This is a newer version of my lathe. Mine doesn’t have the disk sander.

http://www.harborfreight.com/14-inch-x-40-inch-lathe-with-6-inch-sander-45276.html

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #51536

Here ya go Steve. This is the drill press version.

http://www.newoutdoorcore.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5493

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #51535

Steve, I will do some searching and see if I can find the drill press version and post a link for it.

Duncan, My lathe is a cheapie I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago. It isn’t very big (only about 3′ long) and is light enough that I can set it under the workbench out of the way.

WIcanner, Here is a soundbyte.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #50848

Now for the final assembly. The little raised portion in the pot that is left where the bolt held the pot to the mounting plate serves a purpose. This will be a slate-over-glass call and I glue a small 2.5″ diameter glass disk to it with liquid nails. This gives the call a little more resonance. I bought the glass disks at the same place as the slate.

Now I glue in the slate. After autographing and sealing the bottom of the call with beeswax it is ready for the woods.

These calls are pretty easy to make and are great to give as gifts to family and friends for birthday presents and such.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #50847

Now I set up to make the striker. I make the strikers out of Hickory so I start with a piece of stock 1″X 1″X 8.5″ and mark the center on both ends.

Then I mount it in my lathe and cut down the corners with my Great-Grandpa’s draw knife. This makes the stock removal easier and is easier on my nerves as I don’t worry as much about launching a high speed piece of wood out of the lathe. Been there a couple of times too many. 😯

Now I round out the stock.

I work on the head first and go on through the sanding stage for it. The design is strictly whatever looks good at the time, there is no set pattern for this.

Now I start working the rest of the stem down to size, around 1/4″ in diameter.
Almost there. It is down to about 3/8″ so I make real light cuts from here on out. It would be easy to launch across the shop at this stage.

Down the the finish sanding stage.

I put on a coat of beeswax and cut it free of the head and tail stock, sand down the ends and seal the head with beeswax. I leave the tip bare.
Finished striker.

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #50845

Now we need some sound holes. I mark the inside of the pot in six places with my precision indexing and marking system.

My index marks.

And marker.

Ready for the drill.

I decided to make two different sound holes in this one. Three 3/8″ holes and three 1/2″ holes. I grabbed my forstner bits and headed for the drill press. Use a back up board to drill through so you won’t splinter the bottom of the pot when you pass through the bottom of it.

We are finished with the pot for the time being.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Lets Do a Build-along #50843

The next step is to hollow out the pot. I start out with a 1/2″ gouge to remove most of the wood and then square up everything with a home made tool. I took a piece of 1/8″X1/2″ tool steel and welded it to a 1/2″ diameter steel rod. I then glued this into a 3/4″ dowel rod for a handle. It makes an excellent wood turning tool. I cut the depth to within 1/8″ of the bottom.

Next I cut a small ledge in the rim to hold the slate. I bought these slates from http://www.customsawing.com/ .

Check the fit.

Now I work on the outside of the pot and cut some decorative grooves.

I do the initial sanding of the pot with 120 grit sanding sponges and then finish with 320 grit paper and then steel wool. I then give it a coat of beeswax finish.

Dennis

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