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nano
01-25-2010, 01:36 PM
So I have finally been bite with the archery bug and was wondering if it would be a good project for someone with intermediate woodworking skill? Also how would I go about building the bow and how would I set this up.

Thanks

nano

OOBuck
01-25-2010, 01:39 PM
Check this out..

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=21585

I haven't tried again but plan on it soon, this time I also plan on adding a fiberglass lamb into the mix.

Bow Walker
01-25-2010, 01:55 PM
What with your "intermediate skills" and the desire to do it - you're well on the way. You may not get a perfect resut the first time but you'll learn a heckova lot along the way.

nano
01-25-2010, 02:00 PM
Looks good, how did you make the handle?

OOBuck
01-25-2010, 02:18 PM
Looks good, how did you make the handle?

Can't really remember, didn't keep track. I think about 40hour total into the bow...

more info,

http://www.stickbow.com/stickbow/bowbuilding/

http://peteward.com/bow.building.htm

http://www.bowstick.com/storefront/

nano
01-25-2010, 02:23 PM
Thanks for the sites

Wild one
01-25-2010, 04:29 PM
check out Bingham projects they have everything you need

Grantmac
01-25-2010, 08:12 PM
You need to ask yourself a few questions before you start:

1) what style of bow do I want?
2) Self-bow or laminated from multiple pieces of wood?
3) what tools do I posses or can borrow?
4) what materials do I have access to?

Nowhere in that list is "how good are my woodworking skills" because they really just don't matter that much to making bows. I have abysmal woodworking skills but I've made dozens of bows, all of which were functional and a couple very pretty.

If you get back to me with the answers to those questions then I could give you a pretty decent idea of where to start.

-Grant

nano
01-25-2010, 08:43 PM
Grantmac for #3 I have access to a whole shop full of tools and for #4 I can probably get access to most hardwoods. And for # 2 I would probably make a laminated bow.

Thanks

nano

M@B
01-25-2010, 09:12 PM
Welcome to the dark side! once you build one, or even get it your head to build one you're going to be hooked!
All the advice I've read here so far has been very good but, if I can offer you a word of advise, Go to home depot or Rona and buy a 1x2 red oak board and start with one(or three or four) of those to get some practice and get a taste for it.
You WILL break your first one. I'm not saying that to be a jerk or anything(it took me 4 bows to get one to survive) I've just seen so many first timers spend a pile of cash on really nice bow building materials only to have the first one fail and then get discouraged. A red oak board cost 8 bux so, you can break a few and not break the bank! and is a really nice wood to start with.
Check this web site out, it's a good read:
http://poorfolkbows.com/oak.htm
hope this helps!

Regards, Matt.

Bow Walker
01-25-2010, 09:56 PM
You need to ask yourself a few questions before you start:

1) what style of bow do I want?
2) Self-bow or laminated from multiple pieces of wood?
3) what tools do I posses or can borrow?
4) what materials do I have access to?

Nowhere in that list is "how good are my woodworking skills" because they really just don't matter that much to making bows. I have abysmal woodworking skills but I've made dozens of bows, all of which were functional and a couple very pretty.

If you get back to me with the answers to those questions then I could give you a pretty decent idea of where to start.

-Grant
After "dozens of bows" I'd venture to suggest that your wood working skills are better than average...

Grantmac
01-26-2010, 04:06 PM
After "dozens of bows" I'd venture to suggest that your wood working skills are better than average...

You haven't seen how horrible I am with anything other than bows.
I couldn't make a spice rack that would pass grade 8 shop I'm sure. I don't do well with fasteners:mrgreen:


Nano:

Well I personally find the English longbow to be the easiest bows to turn out, but then again lots of people think tillering Holmegaards is difficult and I found it pretty easy. Different people approach problems differently I suppose.

Practising with some red-oak is a fine idea, but finding some with good straight grain will drive you mad. Hard maple works nearly as well and it is a lot less grain sensitive. If you are comfortable laminating then the grain is less critical again.

You almost cannot fail to turn out a useable bow if you go for a pyramid design with a glued-on handle.
The only thing you absolutely need is a safe tillering arrangement. Rope and pulley with a scale is what I use.

Building bows is the kind of thing you can learn from reading, but you'll see how it works in no time if you can check it out in person.

-Grant