Here's a pretty one

[Flatliner]

This has to be one of the prettiest bows I've made. It's for one of the doctors (Rob) I've done a lot of building work for over the last 15 or so years. last year I spent 5-6 months staying at his lakeside acreage on the tablelands in the small existing cottage while I built an opulent, two story, house sized, timber extension. I would go home down to the coast on the weekends and every now and then he and his wife (who is also a doctor) and kids would come up the hill to stay on the lake.
I had a couple of light bows up there with me to shoot bunnies after work and I would leave them there so Rob and his daughter could have a shot when they were there. They both developed quite a liking for flinging arrows around so Debbi his wife ordered him a bow for his birthday.
On the way into the property you drive through some substantial stands of Rose She oak and Ergon had done some clearing under their lines about 12 months before so I scored a few nice logs and milled them up to dry. Been wanting to put some in a bow ever since and now I had the perfect opportunity.
I got Rob around to my place so he could decide what design, draw weight and timbers he wanted in his bow. I had put quite a bit of thought into the timber combo that I recommended to him and showed him the rather extensive timber selection I have available and when he saw the Conkerberry he just had to have some in his bow and I'm glad he did, it really sets it off.

Now these are really good people and have always treated me like one of the family when ever I have done work for them over the years and I reckon good people deserve a bit extra so this is what I made fore him.

The timbers are; Rose She Oak through the center of the riser and the belly of the limbs, Blush Tulip Oak on the back of the limbs with a Bamboo core, Queensland Walnut on the outside of the riser, Silver Ash, Hairy Oak and Conkerberry on the front of the riser with silver Ash wedges and veneers, Silver Ash, Miva Mahogany and Conkerberry for the grip overlays, QLD Walnut and Conkerberry string groove overlays, White phenolic, QLD Walnut, Slvr Ash, hairy Oak and Conkerberry tip overlays.

Put all that together and this is what you get.

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He's not going to hunt with it so has gone with the gloss finish, really makes the feature in the timber leap out at you.

Stats are; 58" NTN Flatline Raptor, 36 # @ 28"

Cheers, Rob.

[longbow steve]

Wow Rob it is nice. There is a lot going on with that one.
Is the Tulip oak dyed or is that its normal colour? I assume it is native? Looks great. Cheers Steve

[hazard]

WOW!! that did come up well!!

No doubt about your art there Rob!

How about a picky of it at full draw?

Hazard

[Stickbow Hunter]

Looks like beautiful craftsmanship in that one once again Rob. I love that Rose She Oak and Hairy Oak.

Jeff

[Flatliner]

Thanks Steve, Graydon and Jeff.


[quote=
Is the Tulip oak dyed or is that its normal colour? I assume it is native?
Cheers Steve[/quote]

That's it's natural colour Steve, one of many colour tones available, it's one of the reasons I love this timber. The timber used in this bow is about as light in tone as it gets but it ranges from there through light and dark browns and light pink through to quite deep reds.
The red variety only grows in a relatively small area from Tully to Cooktown as does the very rare brown variety. Blush tulip Oak grows in small isolated patches in the coastal mountain ranges from northern NSW too Townsville.

It has become very difficult to obtain since the shut-down of all the small timber mills that were scattered around NTH QLD when they put most of the rain forest here on the world heritage list. The only Tulip Oak milled now comes from private land clearing and that is also a rare occurrence.

It's sad to think this timber used to be used for general construction such as timber framing and floors, I remember using it for roof battens about 20 years ago. Some of the best pieces I have now have come from demolishing old buildings in my normal line of work.

It must be milled very carefully to get the most out of the feature in the grain.

I'll give you some when you come up Steve, if you would like a bit.

Cheers, Rob.

[longbow steve]

I'll give you some when you come up Steve, if you would like a bit.

I would love a bit Rob . I am digging out some nice veneers for you as a way of thanks for letting us store our gear there. Would you be interested in a stave to try a selfbow? Cheers Steve

[Flatliner]

Would you be interested in a stave to try a selfbow? Cheers Steve

That would be great Steve, been thinking about having another go at a self bow lately.

Rob.

[bigbob]

Hell Rob my eyes were going around in circles trying to digest all the timbers Man thats nice.

[trash one]

Hay Rob
You'll dam near get the hang of making these bows soon.
Grassy called me told me about the new bow he reckons that it is absolutely beautiful & I have to agree with him.

[UPTHETOP]

Nice work Rob, wood selection is one of a kind. Don't see enough one pieces around I recon.

Cheers Wayno

[slvrslngr]

Nice one! Love that sheoak and the way you did the limb tips.

[Flatliner]

Thanks fella's,

You'll dam near get the hang of making these bows soon.

Hey Butchy, Yeah mate starting to get the hang of it. Grassy reckons I should make a "man weight" Raptor and send it out to you so you can show it off to the blokes out in the Isa so they know what they're missing out on...... Might just do that when I'm finished the job I'm on.

Cheers, Rob.

[flyne]

Very nice mate love the wood combos

[hazard]

Hey Rob
I gotta see this at full draw,got any pickies?

[Flatliner]

Hey Graydon, I'll write myself a note (I tend to keep my memory on bits of paper scattered around the house and car lately) and get the young fella to take a pic tomorrow.

Rob.

[Flatliner]

Well here's a full draw pic. Turns out my draw length is 30 1/2 inches, an inch longer than I thought it was, the arrow in the pic is 33 1/2"s from knock to tip. Any way it draws smooth all the way to my draw and further, my young fella draws 31"s but he's a bit of a snap shooter so none of the picks I took of him were any good.
By the pick you can see the angles are good, no finger pinch at all,,,, not too shabby for a 58" bow .

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Cheers, Rob.

[Goatchaser]

that's some inspiring stuff right there, top job looks great.

[bigbob]

what's that Rob!!!??? Carbons and vanes!! Sure does look good at full draw for such a short bow, well done Mate.

[Gringa Bows]

looks good Rob

[hazard]

Thats a very pretty bow mate and it has a nice shape, great to see it at full draw. You look like you've done this before

[Flatliner]

Thanks blokes.

what's that Rob!!!??? Carbons and vanes!! .

Hey Bob, carbons yes, vanes no, they're feathers mate, I just like the consistency of carbon arrows and if was gonna use woods I'd have to make them myself and just don't have the time to go down that road in this part of my life.

Cheers, Rob.