Building a take down long bow.

[bassmatt72]

So, you had to pike the bow (shorten) to pick up bow weight.
What's the finished bow length your going to end up with? Is the future owner a large individual with a long draw length?

Just adding your limb tips will add you about a pound to a pound and a half.

Keep up the good work, it's starting to look like a bow!

The finished bow length will be really close, just a little shy of 60".

The future owner is not great big just an average sized guy.

Glad to hear limb tips will add a little poundage.

Yes, it is finally looking like it will be a shootable bow!

[BlackHogDown]

You, sir, are an artist! Very impressive

[bassmatt72]

You, sir, are an artist! Very impressive

Oh no sir! There are many other way more talented than me!
Thank You for the compliment.

[bassmatt72]

The last thing I had done was cut and prep some laminations for limb tips. Now we have all of our needed supplies and material laid out and ready. Clamps, epoxy, limbs taped to protect from excess epoxy and limb tip area sanded and ready.

Ok, mixed epoxy, spread on limb tips and laminations and carefully clamped trying to make sure they didn't move. I used some scrap plywood to protect limbs from clamps. I wrapped the plywood in plastic wrap to prevent accidently gluing them to the limbs!!

Add a little heat, and at least four hours to cure. Its going to be tough but I'm going to let these sit overnight, turned the lamps off after four hours, to be sure its good and cured.

[bassmatt72]

While the limb tips are curing we'll start shaping the shelf and finish shaping the sight window. I put some foam insulation board on my work bench so I don't scratch and dent the riser any. Several different rasps and files and here we go!

AArrgh!!! Rookie mistake!! When working around edges always be sure to push into the edge(green arrow) with the rasp and never let it drag back or work off the edge(Red arrow). I did and it started to rip out this little piece. Not too bad, I'll use a little super glue on it and more than likely it will get sanded off anyhow.

[bassmatt72]

Shelf and sight window finished.

[bassmatt72]

The coworker I'm making this for wants a riser insert so he can put a light on it to hunt hogs at night. I drilled a slightly smaller hole and used an old stabilizer adapter so I could tap it in with a hammer and not mess up the insert. I also put a little epoxy in the hole before putting the insert in.


And the final sanding before clear coats.

[bassmatt72]

Oh Boy!!! I couldn't wait anymore! I put a couple of quick clear coats on it! Lookin' good! From here on out the only thing I'll need to do to the riser is multiple coats of Spar Urethane and sanding in-between coats with progressively finer grit.

[KenWood]

Very nice! That riser design is really cool! One day I'm gonna get into the laminate bow making. Great job!

[bassmatt72]

Thanks!

[TMiddleton]

What did you seal it with? That Desert Camo wood really comes to life with some finish sprayed on it!

On my longbow project, I'm thinking I'm going to use the VHT Clear Matte Wheel finish in a rattle can, that WTK has been talking about. I have never used the stuff, but it sounds very promising. Supposed to stick to and cure on all wood species, including the Rosewood family.

[bassmatt72]

What did you seal it with? That Desert Camo wood really comes to life with some finish sprayed on it!

On my longbow project, I'm thinking I'm going to use the VHT Clear Matte Wheel finish in a rattle can, that WTK has been talking about. I have never used the stuff, but it sounds very promising. Supposed to stick to and cure on all wood species, including the Rosewood family.

I'm going with what I have used in the past, Minwax Spar urethane, I haven't had any issues with it in the past.
Yes, The dessert camo really popped with a clear coat on it! It almost has an iridescent appearance to it as you turn it in the sun.

[Mesquite Archer]

Just amazing and adding the special touches to tie that bow into his sons bow will mean a lot.

[bassmatt72]

Just amazing and adding the special touches to tie that bow into his sons bow will mean a lot.

Thanks! I think that's one of the things I like about building a bow is the customization of them.

[bassmatt72]

Limb tips cured and ready for shaping.