Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badger on December 01, 2013, 01:41:49 pm
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This morning I was working on a character stave, something I have always struggled with asd I have never had that "artist" eye. I decided to try the trick where you draw a heavy black straight line down the side of the limb and look at that instead of the limb. I couldn't believe how much it changed my perspective. I want to give credit to who posted that but I don't rememeber. Steve
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Just about everything I know about making bows. ;D ;D ;D
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Alot of stuff
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Don't think I could list it all but the thing I am most grateful for is Gordon's Hazelnut build-along. When I first started this helped me get going more than anything else. I will always be grateful! THANKS GORDON!
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=3895.0
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I think the biggest things for me was... sinewing, recurving tips, and looking at other people's finish work... like handles, grips and art work, etc. There are some very gifted and artistic folks here.
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I can't say it all but it seems like I have my intuition about what I should do on a bow and I have gotten into the habit of searching on here before I do it. I always come away with some new knowledge. When I first started I did it first and then searched and found out what went wrong afterwards. Doesn't mean I do what I learn though ::) :-\ >:D
I do think the most interesting and overall helpful thing is the info on how different woods need different layouts and dimensions to make bows. I used to just say to myself "well, that oughta work" without really any reasoning to it. I'm still just a toddler at this stuff though. Thanks folks!
Doob
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+1
Don't think I could list it all but the thing I am most grateful for is Gordon's Hazelnut build-along. When I first started this helped me get going more than anything else. I will always be grateful! THANKS GORDON!
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=3895.0
And all kinds of other geeky, old-school knowledge that thankfully time HAS NOT forgotten......stuff that keeps us grounded and in touch with Nature, while we live in this high-tech fast-paced world.
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I learned that pencil line trick from the guy that taught me to make bows and I posted it recently. But I doubt I am the first person to have mentioned it in here.
I think the best thing I learned here is how to correct a limb from twisting as it is pulled. 4estTrekker posted an explanation that made me smack myself in the forehead and go "DUH!"
Secondly, all the posts about design lead me to making bows with narrower and thinner tips. All the discussion helped me understand how extra mass on the tips works AGAINST arrow speed/cast. Thanks everyone for those lessons.
Thirdly, I was giving away bows and offering to teachbowyery to anyone interested. But hanging with this crowd has reinforced what a great thing for the sport that is. Passign on the legacy of learning!
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The coolest thing I have learned on here is hands down the people !
Steve I have tried several times to tell folks how to use the strait line trick but not sure I have ever got them to fully understand it !
Please do a post that will help others out!
I first learned it from Al from Canada and that was many moons ago !
(pre-internet)
Guy
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For me its bubbys easy handle wrap how to. I can now make leather handles for any bow I want and not waste a bunch of leather trying to get them to fit.
Jon
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Heat treating...
coolest.. geddit? Oh never mind ;)
Del
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halfeye's bendy bow build along. I haven't made anything else since I followed it.
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Pitch varnish was a diamond in the rough for me. Absolutely water proofs sinew on my arrows, can hunt in the rain if needed. Learned from the professor Pat B...
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I would probally still be using training wheel :-[s if it wasnt for this site. I see the woods in a whole new light now.
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I could start naming names but my friends would only smile. Pappy, Pat, Greg, Will, Shannon, Anthony, Dan, David, Chuck, Eddie, Dave, ..................
Everyone has shown me a special technique that makes my bows look and perform to the best the wood has to offer. I've been blessed.
I'm a lucky man let me tell ya.
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the coolest thing I learned here is that I'm not alone in the wilderness when it comes to wood bows, cause I definitely am where I live, bub
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the coolest thing I learned here is that I'm not alone in the wilderness when it comes to wood bows, cause I definitely am where I live, bub
That's something that the internet has done. With my other hobbies, bonsai and racing R/C sailboats I would be spinning my wheels if it wasn't for the internet. I sure know how to pick the obscure hobbies!
Don
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the coolest is this,and i KNOW noone can say im wrong...that there is an internet forum that gets along without literal blowups and ragequits every ten seconds..this forum is about the only proof i have seen where people actually LIKE each other..and for this and this alone i applaud all of you.... :'(...ok enough sappiness..on with the show!
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How to make a bow from wood!! :)
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I'm with 4dog. The coolest thing I have learned from here is that the people that build wood bows are about the greatest group of people out there. So many members offer help, send gifts, and do about anything to help out a beginner.
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Theres to much to really mention! I do know that i burnt alot of "BAD" osage before i learned bout heat straightening... Coolest thing ive learned here is that I have one hell of an extended family.. ;)... Brian
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What I've learned is humility. I had some success with bows early and thought I was pretty good. But over time I came to recognize and appreciate the depth of talent, dedication and generosity of the craftsmen that form this community. You all have made me a better bowyer and a person and I am grateful for that.
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Coolest thing that i have learned would have to be that there's so many kind people here. The willingness to teach and my eagerness to learn and someday teach what I have learned . So thanks to all that are willing keep it up. When I first got on this site I was a relative newbie. Now I know enough to get into trouble.
Matt.
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How to make a bow from wood!! :)
Pretty much that.
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Coolest thing that i have learned would have to be that there's so many kind people here. The willingness to teach and my eagerness to learn and someday teach what I have learned . So thanks to all that are willing keep it up. When I first got on this site I was a relative newbie. Now I know enough to get into trouble.
Matt.
I totally agree and have those same feelings.
The trade of primitive materials is one of the coolest things on this site. Studying a little history will confirm that our trading of raw materials like river cane, obsidian, osage, sinew, etc. is truly keeping alive a practice that is thousands of years old (compliments of the postal service, the internet, and the good, honest folks of Primitive Archer, of course!) I think that is one of the coolest things to me.
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the coolest thing I learned here is that I'm not alone in the wilderness when it comes to wood bows, cause I definitely am where I live, bub
+2!
It's nice to know somebody else is in a workshop somewhere making shavings like a madman. ;D ;D
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It's been just under a year since I starters making bows....to date I have finished 13. By Christmas I will be up to 15 for the year. So most all I know of making bows goes to this site and it's helpful people....kilt a deer w one of my bows too :)
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Had to learn how to not be jealouse when I get on and see all these beautiful bows, knives, arrows etc. :D
But seriously, learning there are cool people out there with similar yet different views and how awesome we all can be for each other was one of the coolest things I have found here!
John
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What I've learned is humility. I had some success with bows early and thought I was pretty good. But over time I came to recognize and appreciate the depth of talent, dedication and generosity of the craftsmen that form this community. You all have made me a better bowyer and a person and I am grateful for that.
A big +1 on that!!
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I guess it would really depend when I was asked this question. Like a lot of others I learned a good bit of what I know right here. I wish some of you guys could have been around for the white wood wars with Tim Baker and Dean Torges at the forefront. I had been building bows for a few years I think before I found the internet and could not get a self bow to saty together without FG backing tape. So when I found Jawges site and he showed how to select the right grain on a board I thought that was the coolest thing. Then I learned about staves and chasing rings, that became the new coolest thing. I never did think the Mark St Louis bow style was too cool because no matter how hard I tried I couldn't build one!
But Marks heat treating tecnique had me off and running again.
Little phrases that really sank in like " Don't pull the bow any further than what it takes to expose an area that needs work" by David Mims. That was a very cool thing that was a major mile stone for me. I also think that many of the questions posed on this site that I felt were never answered with what I considered to be a real difinitive answer were thought provoking and challenging. For instance " longer and wider" well how the hell much wider or longer?? Or, how much weight can I get out of this stave?
We have really stood on each others shoulders here and continued to grow.
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Patience and determination to get something finished even when i tries its best to kill itself.
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One thing I've learned is some folks don't want any constructive criticism no matter how naively wrong they are...and some folks are happy,content,and smile when there head hits the pillow when they make a severely mid limb hinged bow with lots of cast robbing string follow :-X ....Yup...I've learnt to shut my mouth(most of the time,and more than I had before I joined the forums) ...sorry I had to say that...its been festering :laugh:
This forum is the best in all the rest in this hobby/category ;D
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What I've learned is humility. I had some success with bows early and thought I was pretty good. But over time I came to recognize and appreciate the depth of talent, dedication and generosity of the craftsmen that form this community. You all have made me a better bowyer and a person and I am grateful for that.
A big +1 on that!!
Same here, you think your doing good until you see how the other half builds!
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One thing I've learned is some folks don't want any constructive criticism no matter how naively wrong they are...and some folks are happy,content,and smile when there head hits the pillow when they make a severely mid limb hinged bow with lots of cast robbing string follow :-X ....Yup...I've learnt to shut my mouth(most of the time,and more than I had before I joined the forums) ...sorry I had to say that...its been festering :laugh:
This forum is the best in all the rest in this hobby/category ;D
Just be thankful you don't have to draw and shoot those bows you speak of. That's the way I see it. Some folks like pretty and some like durability. I like bofe!
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Doh..i learned to build a bow,but seriously that can be learnt from a book (TBB for example)
The coolest thing is all the tricks you guys shown over the years.Thats what makes us rookies look pretty good at times ;D
Thanks for that!
/Mikael
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How to build bows! haha
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For me, it has to be the "dunk your head in a large bucket of ICE WATER" technique that JWHalverson has repeatedly promulgated on these pages. It is SOOOOO DANGED easy to take off more than we should in an over-confident hurry. ...and danged near impossible to put it back no matter how careful you are after the fact.
OneBow
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How smart you guys are period ...amazing
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Humility, how to shut your mouth or you will start a huge fight if you talk too much. :laugh: figured better to be a little too quiet than a little bit too loud ;D I definitely love seeing your bows and I learn some things I don't realize, I just do.
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Humility, how to shut your mouth or you will start a huge fight if you talk too much. :laugh: figured better to be a little too quiet than a little bit too loud ;D I definitely love seeing your bows and I learn some things I don't realize, I just do.
thats a good life lesson as well. learned that one early on lol.
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Very good question Badger. I'm with Gordon in that every aspect of my bows has improved since joining PA. So much talent here it's unbelievable. The interaction with others who share this passion has really added to my enjoyment of the craft, so a big thank you to all!
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What I've learned is humility. I had some success with bows early and thought I was pretty good. But over time I came to recognize and appreciate the depth of talent, dedication and generosity of the craftsmen that form this community. You all have made me a better bowyer and a person and I am grateful for that.
+1 odd that being said from one that I have learned so much from...
Also I have learned to hurry up and slow down....still learning how to make a bow on purpose Every time I am on here ;)
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For me, it has to be the "dunk your head in a large bucket of ICE WATER" technique that JWHalverson has repeatedly promulgated on these pages. It is SOOOOO DANGED easy to take off more than we should in an over-confident hurry. ...and danged near impossible to put it back no matter how careful you are after the fact.
OneBow
Oh brother! Do NOT hang that one on me!!!
I personally lifted that one directly from the first Traditional Bowyer's Bible. When I first read it, a whole Las Vegas Strip of light bulbs came on in my head. I instantly dug out a yellow highlighter and painted it up good and pretty. Wish to heck I could put it into practice more, though.
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Learned that there is more than one way to get the same job done:)
I love making bows, and I love giving them away:) and this is a perfect place for it.
I've met some if the nicest ppl in my area bc of this forum and I've een had the pleasure of making shavings and hunting with these gentleman.
Great community:)
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The coolest thing...well I haven't learned yet. Everything I've learned so far is pretty cool though. The best is by far the people. Neighbors around me freak out when they find out I have friends all over the world who, unconditionally, give away stuff, free advice, support, criticism (cause they know you need to hear it), and most important the "don't give up...go do it again" when your bow explodes! I've learned to go in the woods and pick up a rock, cut a branch, pick a few shoots, go down to the river edge and gather a few goose feathers and...you all know the rest. Your right, you can learn all this in a book but what this site give is confidence to try. I've learned if other people are doing it then I can try.
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On the technical side I would say tips on heat straightening, heat treating, adding reflex, getting tips narrow(although mine are still fat compared to many), tillering techniques, seasoning and drying, finishing tricks like Gordon's method for putting that perfect luster on tru-oil and an endless list of other advice offered by many here.
But like many others have already said its the people here that are the coolest! Everyone is helpful, encouraging, friendly and generous. I've been fortunate to meet quite a few this past 18 months at gatherings and now look forward to meeting up with my new friends again at next years events. Then there are the many others on here that
I consider friends that I haven't even met face to face yet, geographical distance being the only obstacle keeping that from happening other wise we'd be sharing a campfire and trading jokes and stories like we'd known each other since we were kids. My wife even went with me to a couple of these gatherings and said she probably never meet people as
friendly as this before and that she doesn't want to miss next years reunion. Yep, its the people alright.
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How to swallow
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How to swallow
;D ;D ;D
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Me sir me sir...!
I know a good one...
Don't post your latest bow on PA unless you want it to blow up tomorrow :o
I've learned to leave it a week/100 plus arrows :-[
Del
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How to swallow
Funny Marc! Please teach me o' wise one!
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The thing that got me hooked on this site was a thread about tillering. It was like someone turned on the light switch and said, "Hey, what are you doing walking around in the dark?".
My response, "What is dark? And what's that hurt-my-eyes thingy?"
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I'm with JackCrafty, at least regarding the image in general... ::)
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The build-alongs have taught me the most. Its easy to read concepts and not be able to apply them, but when I see how other people approach a problem (working out a kink, tillering an uneven stave, applying a good glue line etc etc...) it imprints much better. I've seen so many good build-alongs over the years, and its been very helpful.
Thanks y'all.
Gabe
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The coolest thing...well I haven't learned yet. Everything I've learned so far is pretty cool though. The best is by far the people. Neighbors around me freak out when they find out I have friends all over the world who, unconditionally, give away stuff, free advice, support, criticism (cause they know you need to hear it), and most important the "don't give up...go do it again" when your bow explodes! I've learned to go in the woods and pick up a rock, cut a branch, pick a few shoots, go down to the river edge and gather a few goose feathers and...you all know the rest. Your right, you can learn all this in a book but what this site give is confidence to try. I've learned if other people are doing it then I can try.
Need to frame this and hang it above the computer !
after the umpteenth time of trying to explain a way or the umpteenth time the same question is ask ,maybe I will be able to remember to answer with all the excitement of the first time !
That is what this forum is about !!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you to all who are a part of it !
Guy
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I didn't read all the replies yet and I'm sure it's already been mentioned but for me personally it all boils down to the people who contribute their time and efforts on helping us new guys. Over the years I've joined several forums and after a couple of months the arguing and name calling shows up and it always left a bad taste in my mouth. I just got to where I wouldn't even go back anymore! PA is the first place I've come too where that kind of thing don't really happen.
For that reason, I have been able to learn more from y'all than I ever could have anywhere else. My hats off to all of y'all. I greatly appreciate everything everybody does for each other on here. The bow making bug bit me about two years ago and I would get on here and read posts from time to time, mostly just seein what all everybody was building. Finally last year I began getting some staves and trying my hand at making my own. Just finished tillering out my first one, and for me that's the most difficult part.
I don't post much but one day when I feel my skills are sufficient enough I'll definately pass it on!!
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What's up Sweeny? ;D
I was clueless about so many things when I first found this site it was pitiful. I owe all my "primitive" knowledge to you guys... for better or for worse. >:D
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The level of knowledge here and the willingness to share is a rare thing. The lack of pretence and "master bowyer" secrecy is also a rare and wonderful thing.
My Grandfather always said there is no magic in the world and he did not mean it in a bad way. Simply if you want to do something read as much as you can and ask for help from those who are willing to give it. Then just get stuck in as anything is possible if you stick at it.
There is no-one here that tries to act the mystical master bowyer and you all come across as a great bunch of gents who freely share everything they know.
I could add the list of tips, tricks, designs and actual hands on knowledge rather than mystical botox that someone once read of heard second hand.
Like others here I have no access to another set of bowyers eyes and you lot are always willing to offer that second opinion even if it just gives you the confidence to go ahead with your gut instinct.
Gonna raise a beer to you lot! Cheers.
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Dwardo, I liked you rpost. I like what you said about magic. I have been making bows for a long time and I still don't always understand exactly why something behaved the way it did. I continue to learn here. Part of the learning process is just recognising when things are happening. Most of the time if something puzzles us we can get to the bottom of it if we have time and apply ourselves. We may not feel like puzzles at that very moment but at some point we will rememeber something and go back to it. As you say no magic in wood or making bows, everything happens for a reason. Magic played a much bigger part in my bow making when I first started making bows!
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What's not cool hear , glad there is a place like this , great people, great information , and great bows . Yes , it is great to have other eyes to look at the bows that I'm working on , especially when I try a new design .
THANK YOU ALL !!!
I know that some don't say enough.
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To listen more and speak less.
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Gotta be the tillering gizmo. Has been a big help.
That said, i echo the sentiments of how hassle free, helpful, and friendly this site is. Hands down better than most of the other places I've been.
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Build-alongs are best done after the bow is completed
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Learned a lot over the years,some I use some I don't but at least It has given me options, but the main reason I can't stay away is like has been said a bunch on this thread,it's the people. Many I have meet over the years and almost all was just what I expected and it was like I had known them all my life.Great bunch for sure. :) :)
Pappy
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My first bow was the dry wall tape red oak job. I then continued breaking about 8-10. My father-in-law asked me in the garage after seeing so many failures, "Why do you want to keep doing this?" My mother was digging weeds in the front yard and responded before me, "Because he wants to build a Stradivarius." I knew what she meant, smiled and said nothing.
The other day my brother-in-law was down for Thanksgiving and asked me, "Why this, you've done this for a long time, why this? I don't have anything like this." I knew what he meant...why bows. It could really be anything. I thought about it for a minute and finally said, "I do it for selfish reasons."
What I've learned on here? The importance of persistance with a craft. I doubt I'd have persevered this long without the community. Also, that the objects I enjoy the most and bring a bit of beauty into the world aren't bought at a store. Bottom line? American culture isn't completely dead. Gotta thank those that "pass it on" for that!