Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: kid bow on February 04, 2013, 10:54:02 pm
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i had a question for you guys. for a board bow how would i keep it from exploding on me? do i back it? do i leave it be what because im confused
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If you get hickory with really straight grain, you will get away with skipping the whole backing issue. I've built a few board bows with hickory, some survived with grain run-out I would avoid today. Maybe it was beginner's luck.
Backings can be as simple as brown paper bag cut in strips and glued on with plain old Elmers glue.
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but what about if it wasnt straight grain.
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This an old post but none the less it will give you good insight on building a board bow. Good comments.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,4039.0.html
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thank you that really helped me ill have to do alot of convincing on my parents before i could even get a board to make a bow with
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http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/archer.html
Definitely check out Jawge's site. In fact, have your parents check it out. Better yet, have them check out some of the posts on this site. Sell it as a project you can all do together. I know that is a heavy burden, having to hang with the 'rents, but tough it out and you might end up with a bow out of the deal!
A red oak 1x2 will run you about $8. Not sure what you will have around the house for tools, pawnshops and flea markets and junk stores are a great bet! String making material will be a bigger cost outlay, but play nice and someone here might make you a string *wink*.
You have your assignment. Get to work!
....and as always, post pics of your project as it goes along.
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*military voice* understood sir
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Oo-ra!
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Didnt think you would know that
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As long as you have straight grain you don't need a backing. I have a 45# red oak unbacked, 50# hickory sapwood unbacked. 45# hickory sap/heartwood unbacked with a center shot arrow shelf. straight grain is everything
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I can never find hickory in a board from like lowes where would I find it
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Check your yellow pages for lumberyards. Call and ask if they carry any hickory. If you can't find the hickory, try red oak. There are hundreds of great red oak bows posted on this site.
None of them are mine, though. I have a red oak board bow curse!
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Boarriorbows on youtube has a new video that goes into depth about grain and how to choose it, he literally goes to home depot and goes through all the wood.
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I'm sorry I havnt really made a board bow before so it'll be new for me to try
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What kind of design are you using? Pyramid? Mollegabet? Flatbow?
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And while you're workin on Mom and Dad and workin on your new board, also find out what kind of trees and shrubs grow in your neighborhood and learn to identify them, then keep your eye out for the neighborhood tree pruners and you can find yourself in a goldmine of good branches to make bows from and it wont even cost you a dime. Mom and Dad might let yo take a branch from something in your yard (just has to be the right stuff - that's where the learnin to ID comes in). Course you got to learn how to season them branches (boards are faster) and then.......oh well you got lots of time ...we all know you're going to be addicted so one thing at a time ;)
moral is: it don't have to cost anything for good bow wood. I've gathered piles of it and it didn't cost me a dime.
And if you want hickory from Lowes don't look at the wood section go to the tool handle section and get yourself a wheelbarrow handle - 60" long and almost 2" square. $12 Sometimes it's Ash and it's easy to find perfectly quartersawn straight grain stuff.