Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stonebender on September 12, 2009, 07:35:28 pm
-
Hey guys. I've been reading this forum and other sites as a guest for a few months now. I have always wanted to make my own bow but never got around to it until a few weeks ago. Reading this forum really gave me a can do attitude about it all. As this was my first attempt I decided to keep it as simple as possible, red oak 1x2 from HD and I backed it with a thin strip of white oak from a hardwood store. The string is B50 flemish. Wrapped the handle with some suede, tied with goat leather thread. It is 70" nock to nock. About 40# at 28". I wanted to keep the draw weight light because I am very new to bows in general, in fact this is the first one I own! Now my problem is that I want to build more bows. Next I want to do one more oak board bow to hone my tillering skills, then I want to move on to some true wood staves, longbows, warbows... Jason
(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/2060/bow1a.jpg)
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1636/bow2z.jpg)
(http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/9127/bow3.jpg)
-
Hey that's a great start...ha, ha ...you are ours now...you can never go back... >:D
So many bows to build...
<exit screen left cackling wildly>
Del
-
First of all, welcome to PA Jason, and to the wonderful world of archery! 8)
I commend you on your first bow and your attitude towards learning to tiller properly first!
Your limbs are bending nicely and overall you did an excellent job on your first bow. You will fit right in around here. ;)
Only criticism I have is your handle area is larger than it need to be, even with a cut out shelf. When I lay out a handle I mark the center of the bow and go up 2" and down 2" for the actual 4" handle(some go up 1 1/4" and down 3 3/4") and add 1 1/2" to 2" for the fade into the limbs. This will get you more working limb and thus a more durable bow. The way you built yours won't hurt anything but I prefer a smoother transition from handle to limb.
Your choice of woods was a good idea too. The white oak should make a good backing for red oak.
Pat
-
i think its wonderful!!...nice job...snake
-
First four arrows out of your first bow are something else. Really cool. Good job on the bow. Keep at it and have some more fun.
-
Good job on your first bow and welcome to PA!
-
very nice job, be warned this is a drug at first a little will do but now alittle wont do no more. you are a junkie. have fun with it.
-
You are hooked now. Nice job on your first one.
-
Like all the others said, great job on your first bow! Feels good dont it? 8)
-
Good 'on ya,
Looks like you had fun:)
-
Cool - Do pay attention to PatB's advice on the handle. Got your bow bookmarked under Laminate Bow of the Month Fun.
-
much better than anything i have made. ;D
-
good one man, now get busy!
-
bender - Excellent first bow. Just wait until you realize that you can cut your wood from a tree and make an even better bow!
Tom
-
great job on your first bow,
glad to see that you had success and looks like your on your way to becoming a bow making junkie :o... i pesonaly have blown up more than i have ever completed and thats probably becuase of not starting out proper like you did... i tried to make em short with heavy draw and no backing... guess i should have done some study and research like yourself befor jumping in... but we all live and learn... well, i commend you on your bow great job... look foward to seeing more bows from you. ;)
-
Welcome aboard and nice job on your first,Congrats. :)
Pappy
-
Welcome. To add to what Pat said, I'd get the inner limbs doing a little more of the work on the next one. The tiller looks nice and even on this one but it is what we call sightly "Whip tillered" Which means its doing the majority of it work in the outer limbs near the tips. Its better in most cases to have the wider near the handle part of the limb doing the majority of the work and to leave the outer limbs sort of stiff. All and all you did a great job though on your first atempt. You should be very proud. I only wish my first ten bows could have been that nice.
-
Welcome! I totally agree with what Pat and Ryan said as a friendly critique of your very good first bow! There is a lot of bow making knowledge here, and folks very willing to help! :)
-
If you did that good with a board, you ought not have any trouble with a stave. Great job.
-
Thanks everybody. Bow number 2 is in the works right now. Does maple make a good backing on red oak? There is some really nice and cheap maple base molding down at the Habitat Restore that I have been eyeing. Pat, I understand what you mean about the handle. I wasn't sure how far I could take it with the arrow rest cut in it. But after I had the tiller even and the draw weight in the neighborhood, I didn't want to go any father. Lesson learned. Ryano, I see what you mean. I guess my bulky handle made the whole center stiff. Next one I'll reduce the handle a bit and see what I get. The experiment continues....I guess my other hobbies will be getting the backburner :P
-
I guess my other hobbies will be getting the backburner
This hobby will consume you my friend! ;D Maple is a good backing wood, but white oak and hickory is better. lf they dont have those two woods, the maple will do just fine. :)
-
Ryano, I see what you mean. I guess my bulky handle made the whole center stiff. Next one I'll reduce the handle a bit and see what I get. :P
I think what Ryano meant was that your inner limbs are a bit stiff. With this design, the handle itself is meant to be stiff. You shouldn't have to reduce your handle if it's comfortable the way it is. But, like Pat said, it's a little long. It looks like you put your upper fade above your arrow rest cutout. That is not necessary. You can cut your arrow rest out of your upper fade. You just have to make sure that there is enough wood left for it to stay stiff. On your next one, just get it bending a bit more just out from the fades, and you should be fine. Your next one will be better with what you've learned from this one. Good luck.
-
OK, Stand up and face the group and say, "My name is Stonebender, and I am an addict". No turning back now. These wooden springs will consume you. Great bow. Keep making!! piper
-
... Bow number 2 is in the works right now. ...
....I guess my other hobbies will be getting the backburner :P
I remember when I made my 1st I was already thinking of how I will make my 2nd...
Don't get this wrong, these guys are not kidding: bowbuilding is addictive!
Welcome on PA!
-
i cant build yet, but i shoot jist about every spare second i have, then go home and watch hunting shows and drool till hunting season gets here. then i go sit in a stand and freeze half to death, thinking of how i cant wait for summer to bowfish, then when im bowfishin im thinkin bout when i should pick the other stick up and start practiceing for deer.......ah, the never ending cycle. ;D