Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

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

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
greybeard
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2992
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:11 am
Location: Logan City QLD

Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#1 Post by greybeard » Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:47 pm

Generally I would place Ironbark way down on my list of bow woods because of its physical / mechanical properties. Making a successful bow could be a bit of a challenge.

The debarked billet 8’ long and 3 ½” across the crown used for this project had been sitting in my storage rack for about five years and was harvested two to three years earlier.

Whilst working the billet I was surprised that there were no drying cracks.
*
*
01 Ironbark Billet_End Compilation.jpg
01 Ironbark Billet_End Compilation.jpg (61.19 KiB) Viewed 4069 times
*
*
Because of the nature of this timber I believed that a flat bow offered the best chance of success and I went for a design similar to that of a flat bow found at Vedbaek in Denmark.

The differences in the properties of Danish elm and ironbark dictated that the limb cross section be quite a bit thinner.

The plan view of the bow is not perfectly symmetrical and some tooling marks remain. I was endeavouring to replicate a bow made with primitive tools some 6,000 years ago.
*
*
02 Limb Compilation.jpg
02 Limb Compilation.jpg (239.18 KiB) Viewed 4069 times
*
*
The finished bow is 70” n to n and draws 35# at 26” dlpp. This was the ball park weight that I was after as it suits the re-enactors.
*
*
03 Bow Compilation.jpg
03 Bow Compilation.jpg (77.87 KiB) Viewed 4069 times
*
*
Presently the brace about 5 ¼” and has a Fastflite Flemish twist string. Two coats of hand rubbed carnauba and beeswax was applied to seal the timber.

Daryl.
Last edited by greybeard on Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

User avatar
Roadie
Posts: 1659
Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 9:22 pm
Location: Irymple Vic

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#2 Post by Roadie » Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:02 pm

Looking Good, is it a shooter and what are the specs. Cheers Roadie

Rhino1
Posts: 43
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#3 Post by Rhino1 » Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:21 am

That's some sweet action mate, let us know how it fares with some use. What sort of draw weight is it
"As far as I can tell my place is right here, on the smart end of this rifle" H.Glass-Revenant.

User avatar
greybeard
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2992
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:11 am
Location: Logan City QLD

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#4 Post by greybeard » Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:43 am

Rhino1 wrote: Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:21 am That's some sweet action mate, let us know how it fares with some use. What sort of draw weight is it
Roadie wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:02 pm Looking Good, is it a shooter and what are the specs. Cheers Roadie
greybeard wrote: Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:47 pm The finished bow is 70” n to n and draws 35# at 26” dlpp. This was the ball park weight that I was after as it suits the re-enactors.
I placed some *'s between the text and images to make reading a little easier.

Daryl.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

flyonline
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: NE Vic

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#5 Post by flyonline » Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:16 pm

Nice one Daryl, that "primitive" look, both the finish and the shape is outstanding - though there's nothing primitive about them!

If I remember right, didn't Glenn Newell make similar bows from ironbark staves? I picked up a couple of boards to have a go with one day and it sure is heavy :lol:

User avatar
greybeard
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2992
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:11 am
Location: Logan City QLD

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#6 Post by greybeard » Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:10 pm

I found this old image of bows made from Australian hardwoods.
*
*
Aus Hardwood  Bows.jpg
Aus Hardwood Bows.jpg (81.93 KiB) Viewed 3976 times
*
*
At that time both Glenn Newell and Alan Jones were making these styles of bows but I can’t remember who made these particular bows.

Keith Keddie was making similar bows and I think his main timber was red ash [Alphitonia excelsa].
flyonline wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:16 pm I picked up a couple of boards to have a go with one day and it sure is heavy
I sill have some ironbark from a billet that weighs in at 1,100 kg/cu/m.

Daryl.
"And you must not stick for a groat or twelvepence more than another man would give, if it be a good bow.
For a good bow twice paid for, is better than an ill bow once broken.
[Ascham]

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” [Einstein]

I am old enough to make my own decisions....Just not young enough to remember what I decided!....

flyonline
Posts: 90
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: NE Vic

Re: Not My First Choice of Bow Woods…But

#7 Post by flyonline » Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:43 pm

That's the one I was thinking of, and I think there's another couple floating around on the interwebs (PA/paleoplanet?). Unfortunately I haven't been able to lay my hands on a stave of ironbark/spotted gum/stringybark yet to do a stave version, but I've laid out a board version which I plan on backing with linen at some stage. Them boards are heavy as you say! Haven't measured mine but they'd be up there somewhere I'd guess.

Post Reply