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in reply to: Call it what you will #19453

I don’t really know what got me interested in archery. All my family hunted and fished but nobody shot bows. I asked for a bow and arrow set one Christmas and actually got it. I was the happiest kid in Kansas. I set up a hay bale and started practicing and a week later shot my first rabbit. That was 43 years ago and I still have that bow.

Since then I’ve had three nephews get into bow hunting and a couple of cousins and I try to pass along anything that I have learned through the years. I mainly learned the hard way, on my own.

Dennis

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in reply to: Hello to all–just signed up #19436

Welcome Nick!:!:

[aeronut]

in reply to: Mountain lion vs deer #19216

Cool picture. I am not one to say real or fake on it.

Not trying to steal your thread but, as for the feeder…. Not everyone who sets up a feeder hunts near one. My nephew sets one up every year just so his parents can watch the deer from their deck. And I set up a mineral lick and trail camera to see what is in the area but never hunt by it. What irritates me is people who trash the use of a feeder and then plant a food plot to hunt around.

Just my .02.

Dennis

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in reply to: Like Blind Man Chop Wood! Field Dressing Advise #19212

Looking forward to all the input on this thread, especially a video from Lance (go kill sumthin’ already).

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Grip Inspiration #19205

I decided to try a straight grip on the last bow I made and really like it.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Curly Hickory Longbow #19198

UPDATE

My nephew stopped by a couple of weeks ago to get some arrows for his BBO I had made for him. While we were doing some shooting in the back yard I noticed a small crack in the belly glass on the top limb. I unstrung the bow and planned on getting some pictures of it. A week later I got the bow out to take some pictures of the crack and this is what I found.:shock:

Top limb

Bottom limb

Everyone seems to think the laminations drew moisture and swelled some causing the breaks. Maybe so. I don’t know how it could draw moisture through 5 coats of True-Oil though. There are several more cracks starting to form on both limbs and just on the belly so far.

I had planned on starting another bow after the first of the year but this event set that into motion a little earlier than planned. My nephew wants to help on this one. I think I may have created another bow junkie.

A little preview of the ingredients.
Hickory core. Black Walnut Lams. Osage riser.

Riser dry run. There will be one more Walnut accent strip.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Help with Overlays on nocks and risers #57563

I usually start by tapering the overlay as much as possible before gluing it on and make sure to wipe off the glue at the end of the taper before it dries. It just takes a lot of patience. A light sanding on the glass isn’t going to hurt it, just try not to get too deep.

I tapered the Walnut on this one and left the antler untapered because I could work it down without getting into the glass.

Dennis

My riser overlays start out no more than .040″ and usually .030 or less. It doesn’t take much sanding to blend them in. Use a flat piece of wood to back your sandpaper.

[aeronut]

in reply to: Hickory Hedge #35542

Thanks for the compliments. When I got interested in learning how to build a bow there wasn’t anything like the internet for information. It took a lot of reading and trial and error. I’m glad that someone will see this and learn a little bit from it. Compared to a lot of bowyers, I consider myself a rank amateur.

I’m already thinking about the next build.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Hickory Hedge #33761

Finally finished. I put four coats of True Oil on it on 8/23 and let it dry last week while I was in Wichita on company business. I got three arrows made last Saturday and shot it Sunday. It shoots great and I really like that style of grip. I think I’m going to use this one for 3D shooting.

Specs:

62″ 30#@28″
Hickory Core
Osage lams
.050 glass
Riser: Black Walnut with Hickory and Osage accent strips. Black Walnut front and back riser overlays.

Profile shots

Full draw (well, as full as I can get it):oops:

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Bow Making #32414

Third week of March is the Oklahoma Selfbow Jamboree by Stillwater. Great place to spend four days building and shooting bows. If you attend the Expo look for the Oklahoma Selfbow Society. I think they are going to have a booth there. Tell them I sent ya.

Not all laminated bows use glass. You can glue a bamboo or Hickory backing onto a slat and put it into a form to cure. You can use a flat, reflex, or deflex/reflex form.

I’ll look for some links.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Need to choose a wooden arrow #61839

I like to shoot a heavier arrow when hunting because I feel the greater kinetic energy behind a sharp broadhead is best.

I shoot Hickory shafts and have never broken one yet. They are a little harder to straighten than other wood shafts but not that much.

A 29″ Hickory shaft owould probably be around 600 grains or a little more.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Limb Material Resources #49116

You might give Kenny McKenzie a call and see what he can do.

http://kennyscustomarchery.com/index.html

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Hickory Hedge #47604

Sanded the finger grooves in this morning and did a little more rounding on the riser. Buffed all the Walnut down with 4/0 steel wool.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Hickory Hedge #46817

Haven’t done much the last couple of days, back’s been hurtin’ a lot.

Here is the initial contouring of the handle. The three pencil lines you can see are where I am going to sand shallow grooves for my fingers.

It’s starting to ‘feel’ like a bow now.
After I get the initial handle/riser section work done I’ll be down to the nit-pickin’ stage getting it ready for a finish.

Dennis

[aeronut]

in reply to: Hickory Hedge #44503

Here is the progress so far….

I’m still working on the tips, sloooowly trying to get them both to somewhat match.

I marked and cut out the sight window. The riser is 1.35″ wide and I cut the shelf in .50″, not quite to center.

I’ve done some feathering on the riser overlay too.

I made a string a few days ago and did some checking on the tiller. Everything is looking good but I am low on the weight I was hoping for. I was hoping for 40-45# but the initial scaling is around 30#’s. I’m going to finish it at this weight and shoot it for a while.

I Started rounding off all the edges and shaping the handle. Don’t have any pictures of that yet but I’ll try to get some tomorrow.

To be continued……

Dennis

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