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Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 7:31 pm
by flyonline
Made up a bow for my 5yo old daughter today from a new timber for me, a local wattle that goes by 'bloodwood'. I can't find any species specific name as yet, which isn't that helpful as there are plenty of other 'bloodwoods' here in Oz. The outer white sapwood comes off easily with a draw knife and the heartwood feels about the same density of cypress - without all those horrible knots! It appears to grow in good lengths of knot free and without major twists etc. that the Eucalypts seem to love. It has a nice reddish/sandy tinge in smaller specimens which darkens as it gets bigger/older.

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Specs:
36"
15lb @ 12"
Venetian Cord String
'Bloodwood' Selfbow

A slight hinge in the right limb and it's taken a bit of set, but that might have been me pulling too hard to see if it would break/perform.

Couldn't stop laughing how quick it shot a kids arrow (poplar dowel with foam point). Just need to make up some nocking points on the string, and work out something for a shelf - she can't quite get the hang of shooting off the knuckle yet. I was seriously impressed with how well it worked, so making a fullsize from this timber has jumped the build queue. I've got a couple of flatish pieces that I might try a Holmegaard/Andaman from.

Steve

Re: Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:17 pm
by Stickbow Hunter
Looks great Steve and I'm sure your daughter will just love shooting it with Dad.

Re: Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 1:40 pm
by greybeard
Well done Steve, it will be interesting to see how the timber holds up in a full size bow. :Bow
Daryl.

Re: Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 9:22 am
by flyonline
Thanks Gents. Actually this is my 3rd attempt at a kids bow, the other two I blew up from rushing so this time I actually slowed down and shaped/tillered it like a full size and it paid off.

Have some leave coming up soon, so hopefully will get a bow or two shaped and shooting at least :Bow

Re: Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 10:00 am
by Outbackdad
Well done.
Waiting to see the next one.

Eddie

Re: Finished up a giant killer....

Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 12:03 pm
by flyonline
Thanks Eddie, me too!

Thanks to a work collegue I've positively ID this tree as a Lightwood/Hickory Wattle (acacia implexa. Herein lies the reason using common names can be so confusing: Mountain Hickory Wattle is the common name for a couple of other species (including a. implexa depending on source), there is more than one Blackwood etc. etc.

Interestingly it has very a similar density and hardness to "true" hickory, (0.08 and 8,300N vs .083 and 9,500N for hickory) according to wood-database.com

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