ivory thumb ring

JJ · Post by JJ » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:48 am

I want to shoot my 70-80 pound turkish bow this summer on several tournaments so I had to make me a comfortable thumbring. Because my korean ring causes some ache on the unprotected skin in the wrinkle of the thumb (for sure a sign of bad technique, but I don?t know better, I?m quite new to thumbring shooting...), I wanted to make one with a little rim to keep the string from sliding directly onto the skin. As I had a very ugly elephant ivory figurine from the flea market I decided to make some luxury thumb ring

Although I was very cautious, I had to learn that even the slightest presssure from a vise can cause a little crack when the sidewalls are already thinned (fortunately it can be glued together very good using superglue...).

The rim turned out to be more of a shallow groove, and I was fearing it?s upper wall would not withstand the pressure, but so far I?m quite happy with the ring. Have shot maybe 50 arrows with it with no problems.

Any remarks/ hints for improvement from the experts?

best regards, J?rgen

Just signed in for the korean WTAF 2009, who?s gonna go, too?

Jos?Dom · Post by **Jos?Dom** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:41 pm

Very nice ring, it?s well designed. I found any ring where the string is placed again the skin very painful.

Jakub · Post by **Jakub** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:47 pm

lovely ring! something beautiful

Perhaps the most beautiful I've ever seen. Ivory, As you can see, is one of the best material for the thumbrings.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:33 am

The base of a large antler, called the crown, will yield a piece of material large enough for a thumb ring. The grain is quite interlocked, good for a thumbring and is similar in look to ivory.

If you can get a caribou antler, it lacks the spongy inner grain of deer and elk antler, is much denser than these antlers and has an ivory look. The entire antler is suitable. Whale bone (not baleen, the actual bone, such as rib) is superior. Walrus tusk is even better than elephant. I know all these are difficult to find. Antique material from Alaska is still available, and from Knife suppliers.

Jakub · Post by **Jakub** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:49 am

jack farrell - interesting, but in Europe these materials are practically unavailable (maybe out of a deer antler), also in knives shop. Maybe in USA easier to buy these excellent materials (Source: Alaska

)

JJ · Post by JJ » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:40 pm

Made a new ivory thumbring yesterday. The first one cracked badly and cannot be used anymore.

The new piece seems to be much more clean and hopefully won?t crack... I also shaped the sidewalls and the lip much thicker this time.

JJ

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:33 am

Nice; but you'll have to have all your competitions in the US, otherwise you risk arrest at the border.

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:58 am

Stephen, I don?t live in the US...

I Think I had the first ring with me in Korea last year. Nobody took notice

It was in France and Spain, too...

The material comes from a belgian (!) flea market and is supposed to be quite old...

Best regards, JJ

M??a · Post by **M??a** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:37 pm

I?m using old ivory billiard balls or other recyklation

You could se that it is bone, antler etc.
I had cracks on my favorite TR when I moved back with car over it. I repaired it using silver insert and it looks well and TR is OK still

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:43 pm

Because my korean ring causes some ache on the unprotected skin in the wrinkle of the thumb

Jurgen, on this problem pls watch one of Stephen's videos at youtube, he explained very well how to avoid problem with ''pinching'' the skin (if i understood your problem). You can find the links here at atarn.

Ivory thumbring looks great. Would love to have one. Do you know where this market in Belgium is situated?
Best regards,

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:39 pm

THanks, Zoran! I still have to watch these videos. But aren?t they about chinese thumbring shooting, which is quite different?

For the raw material try the market in Tongeren (B), each Sunday till noon

JJ

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:40 pm

Mysa, not bad! I?ve got to see the silver inlays. Can you show a picture?

JJ

M??a · Post by **M??a** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:14 pm

Crack is glued,ring is cuted along by gently saw , after that is glued silver plate and filed to shape of ring.

my work isn?t very precise, but works good

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:13 pm

Well, it is good when it holds it together

I glued my first ring several times with superglue, but cracks opened again or appeared on another place...
Guess Horn is better suited for this type of ring.

JJ

M??a · Post by **M??a** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:43 pm

I have simmilar experience. Direction of the pressure goes out from ring and there isn?t glue enough strong to put crack together.
First attempt was to make grove round to ring and to glue wire into it. But it isnt enough firm