A look at FLATLINE

[Flatliner]

Damn I just spent almost 2 hours drafting up a story explaining why so few have heard about my stuff, tried to post it and lost it (Bugger), I'll try again tomorrow, got work early in the morning.
Cheers, Rob.

[Flatliner]

Thanks Ivoricollector, comments like that mean more when come from other bow makers.

As for flying under the radar Troy, that was kind of intentional and I’ll tell you a short tale so you know where my head’s at.

About 25 years ago I had a job supervising a very flash and expensive decking contract on the Cairns casino. When the timber arrived (about 10,000 lineal M) a lot of faults were showing up as it was unpacked, so I went to ask the project manager to come take a look and tell me at what standard I should reject the timber. His response to this was ‘I haven’t got “beeping” time to come and look, you should have your own” beeping” standard, “beep off“ and sort it out yourself’.

Well (after I’d calmed down) I had a bit of a think about what he had said and decided the grumpy old bugger was right, I should have my own standard, so being a bit pedantic and a perfectionist by nature I set my standard high. Which resulted in sending 3,000 M of the timber back (didn’t that upset old grumble bum).But when the job was finished it received acclaim from investors, upper management, architects, the other contractors and the public in general. It also opened doors to a lot of up market select timber work for me.

So from a shouted almost abusive comment from someone I didn’t even like, I was fortunate enough to be able to develop a personal and work philosophy that to this day see’s me mostly, doing beautiful timber work for doctors and lawyers and such.I’ve gotten used to and kind of like dealing with the people who are looking at the ‘top shelf’, so I‘ve kept my head pretty low until I felt confident I had a product that could not just compete with but perhaps improve on what was already available.

I’ve found making bows is the perfect focus for refining and stretching my love of timber craft towards its limits.With the scope and diversity I've found exsists in the creation of the piece of performing art that a bow is, Perhaps in my old old age those limits will apear on the distant horizon.

I definitely prefer to use Aussie timbers (cause they’re the best ) but I will use imported timbers if my arm is twisted. I do use phenolic in my risers if specified; otherwise I use the glass off- cuts from the limbs which is good economy. All of my take down risers have at least one or two strips of phenolic or clear glass through them. If you look closely at the pics you can see them.

The three month turnaround is only at the moment because I just sent the last bow I made down to the Hunter Valley and now I don’t have any orders. I still have to swing the hammer to make the dollars though, as anyone who makes bows will tell you there’s no money in it, just love. At the moment I make them in between jobs and in my spare time (did I say spare time ).
So there’s a little of my story. Sorry about dribbling on so long.

Cheers, Rob.

[Chase N. Nocks]

Great story Rob, thanks you.

Australian trad archers owe the "grumpy old bugger" a debt of gratitude judging the beautiful creations you are producing. You won't be able to hide now with all new enthusiasts for your bows.
I asked about overseas timbers because there are timbers I really like that I don't think have an Australian equivalent such as purple heart and fiddleback.
Good on you mate.
Troy

[muntries]

Hi Rob,

I love that story and your attitude, kinda reminds me of my Dad and he's a timber man making high end timber floors with all the complex inlays for people in posh houses and building timber framed houses in England in his spare time.

I have two questions, do you make deflex/reflex longbows? and, do you have a price list? Also good to hear you're keen on Aussie timbers, they are nice timbers and with so many species of gum tree and wattle out there, there is plenty of room for different timber combos. Have you used She-oak before?

Cheers

Simon

[Flatliner]

Yeah Troy I thank the old bugger occasionally too. No we don't have one like Purple Heart which doesn't bother me personally,(not one of my favorite timbers) we do have purple Gidgee, it's pretty hard to find but the bits I've seen are fairly purple.
I thought fiddle back was a feature of timber, I didn't know there was one called that.

No Simon, I don't make reflex/deflex or long bows sorry, I leave that to me mate Nick Linturn and all the other fellas out there who do an excellent job of it. I just love that recurve shape (womens curves ).

Actually I avoid using the Eucalyptus in my bows, a lot of them aren't stable enough some of them have gluing problems and some have density consist antsy issues. The wattles (Acacias really) are excellent, great range of color and figure available.
The only Sheoak I've used so far is a piece of Lace Sheoak from WA that Paul Mayall the knife maker got for me to make him a bow.

I really don't know what the rules of the forum are but I could post the Flatline Bows info Sheet here if thats cool. It has the pricing, available timbers, model break down and pretty much all the relevant info. Tell me if you know other wise just email me and I'll send it to you.

Cheers, Rob.

[Nephew]

Ask Jeff (Stickbow Hunter) matey, it's his site, but I can't see him minding.

[Flatliner]

Got on to Jeff, asked about the info sheet, he suggested I post it in the bowyers category, (makes sence really) so it's there now.

Rob.

[hardgainer]

Beautiful stylish bows.... great craft.....its amazing to see the skills that are out there in Oz. Nice Rob.
Its a small world Troy.... your mention of Rose Oaks. That man sure has some bow building skill. I also have a job in the pipeline with Brandon for a set of Replica Kodiak takedown limbs. Hes one of the few that does this. Delivery end Jan 2012. He is sure a great communicator which is help.
Tony S.

[Dryfired]

Well, I am extremely fortunate to have a Flatline bow sitting next to me as I type. I received it today from Paul on this site (thanks Paul, you are a gentleman!).

I have shot a few arrows this evening and I can't explain how well this bow shoots. The only bow I have experienced that is faster than this Flatline recurve is not traditional! Fast, quiet and forgiving are understatements. I am really blown away. WOW!

The looks of the bow are astonishing; simple yet elegant. The craftsmanship in the timber, the grain alignment from riser to limb, the sheer beauty of the design and limb curvature have me in awe. Thanks Rob for making what is the most superb recurve bow I have seen, let alone shot, let alone owned. I suppose at this stage you can tell I am happy with my purchase.

To anyone considering a Flatline bow, please do yourself a favour. Stop considering and make an order, else you are missing something really special. Rob is clearly a skilled bowyer and a master craftsman. Coupled with the use of superb Australian timbers, you really have to try these bows to believe how good they are. I hope I can do it justice!

[Chase N. Nocks]

Well, I am extremely fortunate to have a Flatline bow sitting next to me as I type. I received it today from Paul on this site (thanks Paul, you are a gentleman!).

I have shot a few arrows this evening and I can't explain how well this bow shoots. The only bow I have experienced that is faster than this Flatline recurve is not traditional! Fast, quiet and forgiving are understatements. I am really blown away. WOW!

The looks of the bow are astonishing; simple yet elegant. The craftsmanship in the timber, the grain alignment from riser to limb, the sheer beauty of the design and limb curvature have me in awe. Thanks Rob for making what is the most superb recurve bow I have seen, let alone shot, let alone owned. I suppose at this stage you can tell I am happy with my purchase.

To anyone considering a Flatline bow, please do yourself a favour. Stop considering and make an order, else you are missing something really special. Rob is clearly a skilled bowyer and a master craftsman. Coupled with the use of superb Australian timbers, you really have to try these bows to believe how good they are. I hope I can do it justice!

Dryfired, there are these contraptions called cameras. You can take pictures of things, beautiful things, things that make other archers jealous. It is you civic duty and faternal duty to your brother archers to tease us with this new wonder... Did I say please? No? Ok....PPPLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSEEEEE.

Cheers
Troy

[Dryfired]

I promise to take some pics tomorrow afternoon outside in decent light. You guys know the bow I am fawning over - it's the one Paul had listed in the classifieds a few weeks back that won some prize or something last year. For now I'm a happy camper fletching up some new arrows for "my precious"

[Stickbow Hunter]

Congrats on the new bow mate - enjoy!!!

Troy, this might get you through until Dryfired gets some photos up. http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10536

Jeff

[Chase N. Nocks]

Of course, thanks guys.

I'm familiar now. I've looked at those photos many times now...certainly one of the buys of the year there.

cheers fellas
Troy

[Flatliner]

Hey thanks for the plug Dryfired, I'm really glad you're happy with it, and it gives me that "everything is as it should be" feeling when one of my bows finds it's true home with the person that it's really ment for.

Oh yeah, what do you mean "some prize or something" it was the Aust Archery Hall of Fame national bow making championship .

Good groups to Ya!
Rob

[Dryfired]

I think you're right Rob, this bow needs a name, it's that good. Thanks for making it , you are pretty damn good at making bows, I reckon. None of the fancy US-made bows I have used come close to the feel, speed and forgiveness of this MC2 but still, it's not my place to boast of its prizes. I am not qualified to judge! Given a choice between my mates black widow at 50# and this MC2 I'd take the MC2, no hesitation. Thanks again Rob

I've been out shooting it this afternoon but forgot the camera in my need to leave the house to play archery. I am grouping arrows within an 8" circle in the bush from 25 metres or more. I have not been able to do this before.

This MC2 can shoot heavy arrows. I have built some aluminiums up to 550 grains and they are flying straight up to ~25m at the least. The arrows hit really hard. What blows me away is the feel of the bow. The bow is comparatively hard to draw for the first part of the draw and then feels like it lets off up until full draw. It has the reverse of "stacking". Amazing stuff. And it looks good. Really good. I too some pics when I got home to show the character of the limb curves unstrung. I'm going out hunting tomorrow and will take more pics of it in action. I couldn't be happier. The consistency of the groups I am getting is ridiculous. I feel like a cheat

[hazard]

Not only do the Bows look fantastic, the specifics on its performance are outstanding. You must have a very good system in place to get these statistics. Brace yourself you are probably are going to get a rush of enquiries! I look forward to seeing more.
Hazard

[Flatliner]

Given a choice between my mates black widow at 50# and this MC2 I'd take the MC2, no hesitation. Thanks again Rob

This MC2 can shoot heavy arrows. I have built some aluminiums up to 550 grains and they are flying straight up to ~25m at the least. The arrows hit really hard. What blows me away is the feel of the bow. The bow is comparatively hard to draw for the first part of the draw and then feels like it lets off up until full draw. It has the reverse of "stacking". Amazing stuff. And it looks good. Really good. I too some pics when I got home to show the character of the limb curves unstrung. I'm going out hunting tomorrow and will take more pics of it in action. I couldn't be happier. The consistency of the groups I am getting is ridiculous. I feel like a cheat

Here's the draw force curve for your bow Dryfired. It kind of shows why it feels so nice to draw, notice how it keeps dropping away all the way to 30", in fact they keep dropping away to 31" but it's not shown on this one. Looking at the bow unstrung you can tell there is a lot of stored energy at brace as you probably worked out when stringing it
Good luck on your hunt tomorrow, wish I was going with you.
It's funny you should mention the Widow/Flatline choice, the first MC I made for someone (my good mate Graham Foster who "was" a devoted Widow man) hasn't shot his Widow since he got his, in fact he's going to sell it .

And thats not cheating thats just having the best tool for the job (something I've found to be very important)
It's also why I won the recurve devision of the Tully challenge last year (to my great surprise ) because I hadn't shot a bow for about 8 months due to an R/C joint injury, actually made a light bow for my rehab and took out first place. I felt like I had an unfair advantage too .

I wish you one way winds.
Rob.

[Dryfired]

That's really cool Rob, thanks a million! I can actually feel that drawforce curve ease up! I can't imagine a bow I'd rather own than this one of yours And I have a buggered RC joint too, so I can't go over 50#. But with the arrow weight and accuracy of this bow I'm very happy not to

[Flatliner]

Thanks Dryfired glad you're happy, by the way whats that redish looking stuff hanging out from under the limb in the last pic in your previous post, I didn't put that there .

[Dryfired]

Cheers Rob, is this the picture? I can't pick the reddish stuff you mean? Sadly it ain't blood; if it was I would have dutifully washed it off. All I've done is tenderly applied my beeswax timber polish to the bow so far... nothing red yet.

[Dryfired]

Ah, unless you mean the leather shim I put between the limb and riser? I replaced the rubber shims because I was missing one, maybe lost in postage or something. I cut shims out of 1mm leather.

[Flatliner]

Yeah it must be the leather,if your happy with that fine but if you want some ruber ones just PM or email me your address and I'll send you some.

[MUSS]

Well, I am extremely fortunate to have a Flatline bow sitting next to me as I type. I received it today from Paul on this site (thanks Paul, you are a gentleman!).

I have shot a few arrows this evening and I can't explain how well this bow shoots. The only bow I have experienced that is faster than this Flatline recurve is not traditional! Fast, quiet and forgiving are understatements. I am really blown away. WOW!

The looks of the bow are astonishing; simple yet elegant. The craftsmanship in the timber, the grain alignment from riser to limb, the sheer beauty of the design and limb curvature have me in awe. Thanks Rob for making what is the most superb recurve bow I have seen, let alone shot, let alone owned. I suppose at this stage you can tell I am happy with my purchase.

To anyone considering a Flatline bow, please do yourself a favour. Stop considering and make an order, else you are missing something really special. Rob is clearly a skilled bowyer and a master craftsman. Coupled with the use of superb Australian timbers, you really have to try these bows to believe how good they are. I hope I can do it justice!

x2 magnificent bows