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09-15-2005, 05:40 PM

Well I was fortunate to come across some yew at Denton this year, a nice set of billets and this 61" deflexed stave. I really wasn't too interested in the stave but I low-balled an offer and he said sure. So I figured this would give me the opportunity to try out a short sinew backed yew bow. I've made a few bamboo backed yew bows before my yew lumber source dried up but I have yet to work yew in it's stave/billet form. That's why I called this a learn-a-long, you all can learn with me and I welcome any advice from those of you who have done these. This stave had around 2" of deflex so I got to work reducing it for some heat treatment.   <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew1.jpg" align=baseline border=0>

09-15-2005, 05:41 PM

<IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew2.jpg" align=baseline border=0>   I layed out the handle area 1½" wide, 5" on each side of the center line and tapered from there to around ¾" wide at the tips. These dimensions would leave me some material to make adjustments if necessary after heating the deflex out of the blank. Plus I got to employ my new clear Bowyer's Rule, boy those things are handy. I cut the rough blank to shape on the bandsaw.   <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew3.jpg" align=baseline border=0>

09-15-2005, 05:43 PM

Then I reduced the overall thickness of the blank to allow the heat to penetrate easier which would make the limbs more limber under clamp pressure. The sapwood was also reduced to 1/8" thickness along the back. I became a little concerned after seeing this small knot on the edge of the limb going from the belly diagonally out the side. It is very close to the edge and it may be removed when I add facets or later on while rounding off the belly. We'll see.   <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew5.jpg" align=baseline border=0>

09-15-2005, 05:43 PM

I put the caul in the vise upside down for use as a straight edge so you can see how much deflex this blank had.   <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew6.jpg" align=baseline border=0>

09-15-2005, 05:44 PM

I flipped the caul back over and clamped the blank with the back of the bow down and the center lined up with the center of my caul. With my heat gun set on high (around 1000°), I applied heat evenly until the limbs were hot to the touch and bent easily to the pressure from the clamps. I checked my alignment on top of the caul to be sure I didn't clamp the limbs off center or with twist.   <IMG alt="" hspace=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/halbleib/yew7.jpg" align=baseline border=0>

09-15-2005, 05:45 PM

I'm going to leave it clamped for a few days and hopefully it will hold a little reflex. I'll check back in once I remove the blank. Until then, let's hear some ideas on where to go from here. I left the blank 61" since my draw is 28". Should I think about recurving the tips or just sinew it and tiller it with a little reflex? How about the sapwood? It's pretty close to one continuous ring (I know that's not necessary under sinew) and around 1/8" thick. I would appreciate any input.

09-15-2005, 08:30 PM

At 61 inches with a 28 inch draw, you might want to recurve the tips. Are you going to add horn nocks or overlays?   Thanks for this learn along Brian. The only advice I can give is, go slow, I'm a slow learner Smile

Mike

09-15-2005, 09:10 PM

Looking good bro, neat thread..

09-15-2005, 09:21 PM

Spidey, I plan on using the bison sinew I saved from our SD bison and I have some bison horn cut into slats here so I plan on doing some tip and handle overlays as well. Got a whole pile of snake skins too and haven't done one of those in a long time. I might have to break out the copperheads <IMG src="http://www.websitetoolbox.com/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" align=absMiddle border=0>   -Brian

09-15-2005, 09:43 PM

Brian,   A newbie question:  Did you first heat the limbs and THEN set your clamps?  Or, did you set the clamps and then heat the limbs?    Thanks,   Dean