Finished a new bow

[WhistlingBadger]

This was the most complicated bow I’ve ever made, and the most pleasing to my eye. Locally harvested Rocky Mountain juniper, backed with elk sinew, covered in a bull snake skin. All done with hand tools.
Steam bent tips.
Elk hoof tip overlays.
Home-tanned elk leather handle wrap, sewn with sinew.
Decorated with mineral pigment egg tempera.
Finished with lard/beeswax/pine pitch varnish.
Pulls 40 lb at 27”.
I’m not completely thrilled with the handle wrap, and disappointed with the low draw weight (I was going for 55 lb), but she’s fun to shoot and rather easy on the eyes, if I may say so.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ignore the goofy lookin guy. This is about the bow.

 

[connorlindeman]

Snakeskin is

 

[WhistlingBadger]

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Ordered myself a cheapo ballistic chronometer because I'm curious to know how fast this thing will shoot. It feels pretty fast.

 

[MaloK]

A great part comes from the swiftness it works... You're going to love the ballistic chronometer as long as you don't shoot it

I loved Playing with trebuchet when I was younger, and this is a remain from one I made a long time ago the rest of the mov didn't make it and the complete thing has been lost. but that was the works of it... With the sling, wheels, excellent diy trigger and adjustable release angle... It ended extending at 4.5 feet tall, shooting marbles a little over 100 mph. Further, I doubled the weight and it reached around 140... It really makes me mad to have lost the finished "product".

 

[WhistlingBadger]

A great part comes from the swiftness it works... You're going to love the ballistic chronometer as long as you don't shoot it

I loved Playing with trebuchet when I was younger, and this is a remain from one I made a long time ago the rest of the mov didn't make it and the complete thing has been lost. but that was the works of it... With the sling, wheels, excellent diy trigger and adjustable release angle... It ended extending at 4.5 feet tall, shooting marbles a little over 100 mph. Further, I doubled the weight and it reached around 140... It really makes me mad to have lost the finished "product".

View attachment 366751

I did a "decktop catapults" activity with my sixth graders one time, where I designed a bunch of working catapults that can be made with popsicle sticks and hot glue. We built them then had contests with Skittles as ammo. I'll send you the plans if you're interested.

 

[MaloK]

I'd love that !!!

We where also making rubber band guns, I loved to make them from plexiglass so your could see trough them. I kept a couple, If I find them, I'll post pics. I still have the plan, loll. I made more than one of these.

It can shoot a fly on the wall at a good distance. It uses the "tiny" Rubber bands, stretched near breaking point. You can get bags of 1000's of these for a few bucks.

I see I made that plan in 2011... It confirms that I'm an eternal kid.

 

[Fishmanic]

I'd love that !!!

We where also making rubber band guns, I loved to make them from plexiglass so your could see trough them. I kept a couple, If I find them, I'll post pics. I still have the plan, loll. I made more than one of these.

It can shoot a fly on the wall at a good distance. It uses the "tiny" Rubber bands, stretched near breaking point. You can get bags of 1000's of these for a few bucks.

View attachment 366767
I see I made that plan in 2011... It confirms that I'm an eternal kid.

I has a store bought elastic band “gun” that held 6 elastic bands that could be “chambered” one at a time.

 

[Back in the fold]

Wow Man , you’re really into this aren’t you ? I love guys that are out of control .

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Wow Man , you’re really into this aren’t you ? I love guys that are out of control .

I don't know; I average about one successful bow per year or two...does that qualify as out of control?

@MaloK check this out. (hope the link works)

 

[MaloK]

@MaloK check this out. (hope the link works)

All in...

This reminded me... I need some sort of office file editor installed in my new rig soon.

I found the prototypes... Subsequent builds where made with pop rivets. (top corked, bottom released)

 

[Back in the fold]

I don't know; I average about one successful bow per year or two...does that qualify as out of control?

Well , yes and no , yes because I figure you must have two dozen by now and no because two a year is just staying busy .

 

[lottabubbles]

It can shoot a fly on the wall at a good distance. It uses the "tiny" Rubber bands, stretched near breaking point. You can get bags of 1000's of these for a few bucks.

if you wanted to make that a Magum model, get some of those dental braces rubber bands.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Well , yes and no , yes because I figure you must have two dozen by now and no because two a year is just staying busy .

I have...let me see...four bows, three of which are home-made. My daughter has one, and I've given away two or three that I didn't need anymore. I'm always on the quest for the perfect bow, and each one I make is a little better than the ones before. That's what makes it fun. Bows are kind of like life that way--everything is a trade-off, so there is really no such thing as perfection, but it sure is interesting messing around with the variables to try to get the best one possible.