My First Bow - A Self Bow

[ConorO]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update and ask a question. Firstly, I have finally figured out a safer method for removing the bark from the stave without damaging the wood underneath. I'm removing all the bark save for a very thin layer of the cambium, then I'm just taking a wood rasp and finishing it off. However, I discovered that in one of my staves, there is a bit of a thin split running through the middle of the stave along the grain, does this deem that stave useless?

[Newindian]

Sounds like a check, fill it with superglue, should be fine. In the future sealing the ends will prevent this

[ConorO]

The thing is, I did seal the ends, but I used a mixture of wood glue and water... hmmm. Oh, and Mr. Tsoukalas, I am a big fan of your site!

[paoliguy]

I agree, I now cosider George Tsoukalas a friend that I've yet to meet. There is so much help for a beginner on his site. I bet if you stick with it and follow his advice you'll have a fine bow come December!

[ConorO]

Alrighty, the time is fast approaching! It's been a while since I've been on the website... In such a case, I have a few questions for you guys! Firstly, what sort of width and thickness do you guys like to see in your selfbows? Secondly, if the grain of the wood is "snaky", should I follow the grain along the edge of the bow, resulting in a curvy edge? Or, is it safe to straighten the edge? Thirdly, how do you guys typically arrange the length of your bows to the draw length and poundage you're looking for? Are there any general rules of thumb? Thank you guys for all the help!

[ConorO]

Oh! One more thing: Do you think it's feasible to do a relatively comfortable ambidextrous handle on a selfbow?

[echatham]

this is of no consequence, and i know there are several varieties of each, but that looks like red oak to me, just by the bark.

[wood_bandit 99]

I would choose your first bow out of the one farthest left or the one farthest right. They seem like they would be easier

[PrimitiveTim]

Oh! One more thing: Do you think it's feasible to do a relatively comfortable ambidextrous handle on a selfbow?

Bend in the handle bow could be ambidextrous... and I'm totally bias toward them. lol

When I got into this I started with my worst staves so when I screwed them up I wasn't as disappointed but I don't tend to learn the easy way.

[ConorO]

So would a bend in the handle stave not have a "fade" then around the handle? And I sanded down a nice stave, and chose it in particular due to the lack of checking. I'll post a picture of the sanded stave tomorrow or Saturday afternoon!

[wood_bandit 99]

You NEED to follow any curvature or anything of the grain. If you don't it will fail most likely. I would make a bow out of that something around these dimensions for a 28" draw and 50# or so(never used it before but based off what I know) around 68" long, 1.75"-2" at the fades tapering to 1.25"-1.5" about 8" from tips and then taper down to 3/8" at tips. With an 4" handle and 2" fades. Make the cross section square just for simplicity and thickness doesn't really matter, whatever is the right poundage and good tiller

[Don Case]

If you're going to put in a big arrow shelf, I wouldn't make it ambidextrous

[ConorO]

Here's the thing, though... The bow is for my girlfriend. She is left handed... lol. However, her Dad never had anything left handed for her to shoot, so she grew up shooting rifle and a compound bow right handed. I wanted to give her the opportunity to mix it up if she wanted to try shooting left handed once or twice  . Do you think you could do a double rest? One on each side?

[mwosborn]

No need to cut in a shelf - if you don't, she can then shoot from either side.   You can use a piece of leather for a "floppy-type" shelf on each side if you want. 

[randman]

Doesn't matter whether someone is right or left handed....more important is whether they are left or right EYE dominant. My daughter is right handed but left eye dominant so she has to shoot left handed so her dominant eye is lined up with the arrow for correct aim.