For anyone that hasn't been involved in the Self Bow Challenge, Twin Oaks will have roughed in hickory bows that have been straightened on forms with some reflex added. There will also be roughed in Osage bows available through Gary Davis and Yazoo with assistance given by them in getting the Osage bows to a shooting stage. Several Twin Oaks members (including Pappy ), and probably some other PA folks will be helping as needed during the tillering process of the hickory bows. We have a good many bench/vises available on a first come first serve basis. We also provide scrappers and will have tillering strings for sale. In the past it can get pretty hectic with a dozen or so making bows at anyone time and just a few folks helping, so be patient please
Like King Ron said, the actual contest starts on Thursday with the bows being at a semi-floor tillered stage without string notches cut in. But for my 2 cents worth, I personally feel the emphasis of this self bow making event is not a contest so much as a introduction to making an all wooden bow and getting new people interested and excited in this great hobby! It's an opportunity to have "hands on" experience with some guidance given by experienced bowyers...not to mention some good camaraderie! It's all in fun, no need to feel stressed but just enjoy yourself. Most folks in past years if they started Thursday or Friday have got their bows to a shooting stage allowing them to shoot the course for score against their fellow students of the Self Bow Challenge. All participants will be asked to enter the Self Bow Challenge which includes help tillering the bow and getting to shoot the course. Typically most of the bows aren't completely finished during the weekend. Usually additional sanding/ finish work, grip, and sometimes sealing the bow is still left to be completed after going home. The entire process to a fine finished bow like displayed in the PA forum bow section is typically to lengthy to be entirely completed by an inexperienced person in such a short time.
I hope this may help answer some questions to any folks new to the Classic that are interested in taking part in the Self Bow Challenge. [From GreB]
This was good and It also helps explane some of the challenge, You are welcome to come watch
or bring your own bench and work on bow but please if you are working in our shop register,it gets crowed with folks that have entered and we hate to see the ones that have registered to do this not have a place to work.Also it is the only way we make any money to be able to keep this going,
We give a lot during the year and without this fundraiser we wouldn't be able to do it. Thanks to all that participate in this event and all that donate to the club,PA and PA folks have been really good to us over the years and I can't tell you how much all of us appreciate it.This event isn't about the money and if you can't afford it ,we will take care of you but it dose take money to keep it going,so we can pass it on.
Plus we really like to keep track of how many bows were built,what they were made of and how they turned out.Weight and draw length.
Pappy
