Glenns Fault!!!!!!!

[Kimall]

They say a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.Glenn has given me just enough info to get me started on this and now look what I am into. :shock: I am sure this thing will never shoot an arrow but we will see.It is a type of gum I harvested when I took my girl on her first hunt so it will be for her if I ever get a string on it.I have spent about 3 hours on it using only a machette and will get a heat gun tomorrow to teach the limbs a few manners. :D Talk about snakey this stick has more curves than a bikini contest.I will post more pic as I go along.Stand by your phone Glenn this is going to get hairy.............
Cheers KIM
PS I think I might make it upside down.... :wink:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/stick1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/stick2.jpg

[Glenn]

She looks like a bit of a challenge Kim to say the least, if you can't get enough heat into the length of the limb with the gun to straighten it you can try steaming it in a pvc tube, it drys out quickly with steam as well, you could then use the heat gun to work on small defects in the limb or if you want to reflex the tips a bit.
If I were you Kim I would just learn to shoot standing on you head :D I have been trying that after some good advice on another site, if I could just keep my balance it would work :lol: ...Glenn...

[Kimall]

Hey Glenn when I want to take wood off to lighten the weight should keep taking it off the belly or the back?On Tradgang a guy said he puts a bit of oil on and heats the oil when twisting the limb have you heard of this.?
It may still be a bit green yet as it was only cut about 8 weeks ago and it was about 50mm in dia.
Cheers KIM

[Glenn]

Most likely Kim the wood is still green, you can weigh the stave and see when the moisture has stabilised because it wont loose any more weight. Normally you only remove wood off the belly. I have heard of the oil treatment for taking out twist but haven't done it myself.
It is addictive building selfbows, I'm always looking for a likely candidate to chop down and turn into bows...Glenn...

[Paul R]

And here I was worried about the bit of propeller twist my next project has. :D

Keep us informed on how you are going mate, I'm very interested in seeing the process as you go along.

[Poppy]

Hey Kim what are you going to call the bow Cessna or Kittyhawk :wink:
Paul

[Kimall]

Thanks Paul the fact you called it a BOW is a real compliment I am only thinking of it as the first step in learning how to make one out of a branch instead of the board I used last time.It actually bends now and I will get it onto the tillering tree today I think.The problem is for every 5mins I am working on it I come up with more questions so I may have to move into Glenns place until finished. :D Anyway I am off to the shed to make some sworf.
Cheers KIM

[HOOD]

Sweet, I like the look of the natural curves of a self bow.
Good luck with it Kim.

[XTfreak]

Good luck with it Kim.
Bill

[jdelia]

keep going with that kim, im interested to see how it comes along step by step :D good luck mate

D'Elia

[newbie]

all i can say is good luck
looks like fun :D :D

[Kimall]

Here is the next step I got a lot of the twist out of it and have the ends in line with the handle so not to bad.I have only floor tillered it so far but it has come up better than expected.It is still way to heavy so as I lighten its weight I can work on the tiller.
Cheers KIM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfst21.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfst22.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfst23.jpg[/

[Glenn]

She's looking good Kim sighting down the bow, plenty of character there. Looks as though you are going to have a bit of fun getting those limbs to bend, will be a nice bow when you have it finished...Glenn...

[Kimall]

This is the next step from tonight.Just a little one but need to go REAAAAL
SLOW now.
Cheers KIM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfst24.jpg

[NormGunston]

So far so good! You'll be flint-knapping some stone heads I presume? :wink:
Ant

[Kimall]

Yer here are some I prepaired some time ago. :wink:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/P1010335.jpg

[Kimall]

I got a bit further with Maggies bow today with the horn tips put on and nock grooves cut in so I have gone to the short string.This showed up a huge hinge in one limb which I have almost got out and it is at about the draw length it needs to be.The poundage is still a bit high for her but I think it needs to dry a bit more anyway so in time she will be right with the poundage.I have a little bit of tillering left to do and I will be staining it tomorrow.I will post more pics then.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfst25.jpg
Cheers KIM

[Kimall]

Well what a fathers day it could not have been better.I finished Maggies bow and she is wrapped with it.It turned out at 30 pounds at 20 inches which is abit heavy for her a least she wont break it. :wink:She shot it this afternoon and only stopped cause the skin was coming off her fingers(she couldnt find her tab).It has all turned out like a bit of a dream as we collected the branch together on our first bow hunt together and to now have made a bow out of it after many said I was wasting my time with THAT stick.I also shot it and it shoots great with no hand shock or noise so I will make some nice woods for it and hopfully she will have it for a long time.Thanks to those that have taken the time to follow along on this and for all the kind words.A special thansk to Glenn also for the info that he has given me over the last year or so to get me started with the bowmaking.
Cheers KIM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selffintiller.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selffinishedmag.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/kimall/selfshooting.jpg

[interceptor]

Great work Kim,

Looks like Maggie has got down pat.

Cheers Noel

[Paul R]

Good stuff Kim. :D

That bow has great character, I like it a lot and it looks like your daughter does too.

[Glenn]

That's fantastic Kim, good to see it all turned out well, your daughter looks pleased with her bow....Glenn...

[Poppy]

Thanks for sharing with us. Great job.
Whats next :wink:
Paul