Cape York Woomera 2
This is based on a Cape York woomera I have, but I altered it to make it possible to carve out of a piece of lath. There are a lot of steps involved here, but this one is a breeze to cut out and make. The binding for the peg was on the original.
Material:
Wood, 23 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 3/8"
Dowel, 3/8" x 2 1/4"
Artificial Sinew
Construction:
- Carve out the handle (these dimensions are all approximate, make it fit your own hand). Starting about 2" from the end, carve it down from both sides to 7/8" wide 5" from the handle end. Taper it back out to the edges about 10" from the handle end. Round off the end of the grip.
- Taper off the peg end. Starting about 7" from the end, carve it down from both sides so it's 3/4" high at the peg end.
- Round off all the edges. On the wide part of the body, it should come to a point on the top and bottom sides; on the grip, it should be more rounded. Don't do anything to the peg end.
- Cut a groove in the end of the peg end. It should be about 1/8" wide by 1/8" deep.
- About 1/2" from the peg end, drill (2) 1/8" holes. The sinew will go through these. Try not to come too close to the edges or each other.
- Sand off all the edges.
- Carving the Peg. There are 4 things you need to do to the peg.
- Round off the top and bottom of the peg.
- About 3/8" from the top of the peg, cut a groove for the spur. Don't go too deep.
- On the side opposite the spur, cut out a groove for the sinew wrap to sit in. It only has to be 1/16" deep or so, enough so that the sinew won't slip.
- On the bottom of the peg (the end away from the spur), carve the peg into a "V" shape. This goes into the groove on the board. Make sure everything is lined up properly before you go too deep. The spur should face directly forward.
- Glue the peg in place. One you're sure it's in the right spot, start wrapping it with the sinew. Just keep going through the holes and around the back. This is a VERY secure way of fastening it.
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