Black Palm Raptor

How to make a Bow, a String or a Set of Arrows. Making equipment & tools for use in Traditional Archery and Bowhunting.

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Flatliner
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Location: Gordonvale NTH QLD

Black Palm Raptor

#1 Post by Flatliner » Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:32 pm

Here's one I made for a bloke in Darwin recently. He wanted all Black Palm and I liked the idea 8) . I posted a build-along on the Flatline bows face book page if you want to have a look.

https://www.facebook.com/FlatlineBows?ref=bookmarks

Bow stats; Flatline Raptor, 58" n-n, 58#@28'
Timber; All Black Palm, black phenolic reinforcing in the riser and nock tips.

I like how it came out.
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The last shot is at 30 inches.

Cheers, Rob.
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Last edited by Flatliner on Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

bstan86
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#2 Post by bstan86 » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:21 am

bloody hell that's a stunning grain - well done mate - absolutely beautiful.

is the palm hard to work with?

I think I heard somewhere that it splinters easily...

Hamish
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#3 Post by Hamish » Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:07 am

Looks awesome!

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Flatliner
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#4 Post by Flatliner » Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:32 am

Thanks guys.

Stan. Yes it is hard to work with and does indeed splinter along the grain easily but is unbelievably strong across the grain. And speaking of splinters, the splinters from this are every bit as nasty as the splinters from the bow tuff glass.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

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Outbackdad
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#5 Post by Outbackdad » Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:54 am

Another great looking bow.

bstan86
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#6 Post by bstan86 » Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:05 pm

Flatliner wrote:Thanks guys.

Stan. Yes it is hard to work with and does indeed splinter along the grain easily but is unbelievably strong across the grain. And speaking of splinters, the splinters from this are every bit as nasty as the splinters from the bow tuff glass.
interesting Rob - I am really surprised we don't see it more often in bows given it's beauty - as you have shown.

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Flatliner
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#7 Post by Flatliner » Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:03 pm

bstan86 wrote:interesting Rob - I am really surprised we don't see it more often in bows given it's beauty - as you have shown.
That's probably due to it being a very rare Timber more than any other reason, it's very hard to come by even here in Far North QLD where it grows.
And once you get hold of a log the recovery is limited cause the usable timber is only a band around the perimeter of the log about 20-25mm thick and is very labour intensive to mill.
But having said that it is a very high performing bow timber, arrow speeds for this bow using a 9 grain per pound of draw weight carbon arrows is 193 FPS.

Rob.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

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bigbob
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#8 Post by bigbob » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:38 pm

I agree Rob, have used the red Palm in belly veneers and a bit in riser and it is a great performer speed wise. Not too good around the fade area on longbow risers as it will break away easily[ ask me!] but is used a great deal for high end stuff in Asia. Terrific bow from you as per usual. Your craftsmanship is probably without peer here in Aus and would hold its own against any in the world at large, mate. :clap: :clap:
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Stu Ballz
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#9 Post by Stu Ballz » Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:32 pm

Man that looks just awesome! !!!!

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Gringa Bows
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#10 Post by Gringa Bows » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:52 pm

very nice

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rodlonq
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#11 Post by rodlonq » Thu Oct 22, 2015 12:47 pm

Great looking bow Rob. I'm sure it shoots as good as it looks. Hope the new owner gets to take some quality game with it.

Cheers... Rod

matt61
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#12 Post by matt61 » Fri Oct 23, 2015 9:56 am

Looks good, but don't put it down in the bush, it will be hard to find.
Matt

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Muz1970
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#13 Post by Muz1970 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:13 pm

Got to love the grain combination in the palm timber. Been out ripping into a pole today and made up some veneers. Don't think it will turn out as dark as this beauty though.

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Flatliner
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#14 Post by Flatliner » Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:10 am

Hey Muz, where did you find your palm? and how thick is the usable part of the log?
If it is thin and light in colour it's probably a fairly young tree, I've found they have to be at least 25-30 years old before they are worthwhile milling.
How about a few photos. I'd like to see what you're working with.
It's a bit of fun recovering usable boards out of a log hey mate :roll: .

Cheers, Rob.
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

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Muz1970
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#15 Post by Muz1970 » Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:58 am

G'day Rob, My brother bought 4 palm posts years ago for a Bali type theme gazebo. There about 2.2m x 300mm at a guess. Just got the other 3 last weekend. They've been sitting in the old man's shed for 8 or more years. There pretty hard to handle by yourself and run through the band saw. Will endeavour to get some photos later on.

Glued up bow last week and the palm veneers split while in the form on the back of the bow. They also came out very dark, was hoping for a more grainy look. Will still function OK just has a funky look about it. Guessing I'll be making them a wee bit thicker next time. There very fibrous.

Cheers Muz

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Flatliner
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#16 Post by Flatliner » Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:47 pm

Wow Muz 300 mm,,, you sure it's black palm? I didn't think they got that big. Lucky you :mrgreen: .
The shortest distance between two points is a FLATLINE
ImageEmail; robnicoll(at)bigpond(dot)com
www.flatlinebows.com.au

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Muz1970
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Re: Black Palm Raptor

#17 Post by Muz1970 » Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:24 pm

So I measure them, and there 2250mm x 200mm......I did say at a guess :auto-dirtbike:

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