Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on September 30, 2017, 08:16:46 pm
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I think the time has come to make my son a bow he can grow into. He's currently shooting one I made from hickory last year as a Christmas present. It's amazing how the little buggers grow. He's 5 now and really getting stronger and more in control of his body. Plus, we recently joined Cub Scouts and of course I want him to have the coolest bow in the den!
I decided to let him make all the decisions on this bow and the first question was, "what kind of wood do you want?" His face lit up and instantly said, "Osage Dad, it's the king of all bow woods!" I guess I've taught the boy well. ;)
I picked out a branch that's been laying around forever, so it's well seasoned.
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As you can see the rings are very thin. I told him it's probably gonna need a backing and he said he wants fish skin. So I plan on backing it with some carp, which is thick enough to add some protection.
I chased down a ring as best I could, but there are a couple violations. I'm shooting for around 20# at his 18". The bow's gonna bend through the handle and it's 40" long. I figure it won't be too overstressed and with the backing should be pretty safe.
I laid out the front profile at about 1" wide and roughed that out on the bandsaw.
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Last thing I did on the bow today was rough out the thickness. It's pretty crowned, so I measured 5/8" thick from the top of the crown at the center, tapering to 3/8" mid-limb with the thickness remaining constant to the tips from there with the width tapering instead.
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Oh well, doesn't seem to be too much interest in this thread, but I figure I started it, so I might as well finish it.
Got it tillered to brace, then out to his full draw. He said he wants whitetail antler tips, so that's next.
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I'm watchin'. I have a 6 year old grandson that I made a Boo backed yew for. It's 44" and 9#@18". It's about all he wants to pull. He may be sandbaggin'. He is small but 20# seems high. Have you tested his pull?
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Hey there DC! Yea, a response! :laugh: lol I didn't expect much interest, but I haven't seen any kids bow build alongs so I figured what the heck.
20# is definitely a lot for him, but I wanted to make him something he can grow into. He still has his 10# hickory that he can pull to full draw no problem. He can only get this one to about 10" but even there it shoots his little arrows quite well. (SH) :)
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I'm looking...:)
It is coming along nicely.
Jawge
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Kids' bow has got to be one of the hardest bows to make. Couple scrapes too many and . . . . . . . .
Bow you're making looking good.
Built several for the grandkids and other family. Always at weights I thought each could easily handle. 24@20 lasted my grandgirl for couple years. Then made another. That pattern has been repeated several times, usually no more than 2-3 years apart.
Look forward to these posts.
Given the bows you been puttin' out, am certain boy WILL have coolest bow in the den.
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I 've made a bunch and i would rather make them a new one ever year than have it to heavy. 1/4" arrows are fast out of a 5lb bow and will keep little ones interested. My daughters was to heavy and once i fixed it her enjoyment and shooting improved drastically.
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Thanks a bunch guys. He's really excited. He wants to watch every step of the build.
You make a very good point Paul. The most important thing is keeping them interested. His mother loves to "baby" him and I'm always trying to "man him up." )P( I think maybe I'll drop the weight down to 13# or so. Your example about your daughter makes total sense. Thank you :)
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Might get him to working on form by pulling rehab type rubber band, or strips of inner tube, to help build his shoulder muscles! He will be able to shoot as soon as the bow is ready. Then all you got to worry about as he grows is girls, cars, football, and girls >:D >:D! Neat bow, by the way!
Hawkdancer
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I only just found this, don't know how I missed it. I really enjoy building kids bows, I found it best to go narrow or they need to be seriously thin to get the weight down. My boy was shooting 18# at 20" til he was 15. He'll be 17 in December and he's shooting 35 at 25 now. You might need to be prepared to put that bow on a diet..
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Good thinking with the training exercises Hawk. I've got plenty of innertubes. :OK
Stuck, the bow definitely needs to loose some weight and narrower may indeed be the way to go. It is osage after all and you know what they say... thicker is quicker!
I laid down a layer of goat hide last night as a precaution. I got the antler glued on the tips as well.
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Looking good already! And nice he has so much interest in the whole thing. Building a hazel bow for my 6 year old daughter at the moment and I am having a hard time to get the bow below 20 lbs.
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I found with hazel you can lose weight really quickly be side tillering
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I made an osage bow for my daughter this summer and was shocked at how hard it was to get it light enough. I do think you will end up needing to narrow it. Looking good though!
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Thanks again gang. Laid down the carp skin today. It's not dry yet and far from cleaned and polished up, but my son and I are quite happy with how the pattern turned out. There are 2 sections on each limb where the separate pieces of skin overlap and lack continuity, but when the bow is finished I plan on doing a "Weylin-style" thread wrap around those sections which should make it look sweet. Here are a few pics...
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Very nice work. Looks like he is proud of it
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Nice work...I dare bet he'll be the only cub scout with a bow like that in his troop.He's probably realizing there's a lot of fun out there.
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Very nice bet he loves it ,I was sand bagging watching this one great job !
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nice work, I bet he is proud of this bow!
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Nice!!
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Very nice Jeff, I thought I replied on this one already but must not have pushed the post tab.
I'm thinking the cub scouts are going to be looking for a new troop leader when they see that one. Pretty sure nobody is going to come anywhere close to as cool as that one. Really cool your son is getting his input in this one. He can tell everyone that was my idea.
I really like making kids bows, but as already said, very easy to still be to heavy. Especially for a kid who hasn't shot a bow at all. Maybe your son has shot enough to handle it. Nice team work.
Bjrogg
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Thank you for the encouragement.
OO, he does look pretty proud. He needs something like that cause his sister, who is only 10 months older is always "outshining" him.
Ed, nothing would make me happier than to see him take interest in all things nature. Especially in this modern-technology-driven 21st century of ours.
Great to know you're looking SB!
Thanks Phillip and Tim :)
BJ, it's been awesome to have him be part of the build. I figure it's the first step in passing on the love of traditional archery. I dig this project cause the bow really has to be made specifically for him as his abilities are limited as a 5 year old. For us grown folk, plus or minus 5 pounds doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but for him it could be the difference between can and cannot. I'm glad Paul suggested I drop the weight.
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Thanks for the great build a long. I'm about due to start building the next series of my grandkid's self bows. They grow way too fast!
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My pleasure portlandfire. It's a lot of fun to see their reaction. :)
The bow's all tillered out, sanded and has it's first coat of finish. It came out at 13# at his 18" of draw, which is appropriate as he was born on Friday the 13th! Took the boy out back shooting with it today and he was ecstatic. Jumpin up and down after each shot. (SH) :laugh: (SH) :laugh:
I'll post finished pics as soon as it's got a few more coats of finish and nice leather handle.
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That is way cool Jeff, really gotta be a fun experience for both of you. It's nice when people give you compliments about the looks of your bows, but way more satisfying watching them enjoy shooting them. Especially your kids. I'm betting your both looking forward to the next Cub Scout meeting.
Bjrogg
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Thanks for posting this build along. Very helpful as I am currently building two osage bows for my grandkids. I'm making both 42" long. Hope they turn out as nice as yours!!
Can you give me your rough handle dimensions?
Thanks.
Will B
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You're right BJ. Looks are one thing but action is the beez kneez.
Will, I'm at work right now but I'll post the dimensions when I get home today.
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Thanks for posting. I bet the little guy is proud of his one of a kind bow.
I followed this with a lot of interest as a fellow dad of a scout who has also tried to make a kid's bow (without nearly as much success).
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Thanks for looking horseapples. Yeah, I never realized how tricky making a kid's bow was until I tried it. As Knoll mentioned, a few too many scrapes in one spot and... craaaaaacckkkkk. What's worked for me has been approaching everything just like I would a big boy bow, only smaller. And I go a lot slower on the tillering. Knowing a good starting thickness at the handle helps. Which reminds me...
Will, the handle is a tad over 5/16" thick tapering to almost exactly 4/16 (1/4) a few inches from the tips where it remains constant. That gives you a good idea of how subtle and challenging the tillering is. Just a little over 1/16" difference from handle to tips!
Putting the handle wrap on now while I watch some tube with wifey. :)
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Congrats on the build, those small bows are sooo hard to make, that draw weight seems perfect. One trick I learned with kids bows is to not heat temper it initially, then, when they get stronger, give it a gentle heat treatment and add a few pounds ;)
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Thanks Jeff. Great job on that bow!
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Funny you should mention that Andrew. My daughter's been getting much more comfortable with her hickory bow so I heat treated it the other day and it definitely picked up a few pounds. :OK
You're most welcome Will. Best of luck!
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I love posts like this. I've made a couple of wood bows for nephews over the years and they are a challenge. I've actually got one that needs to be finished up, now. Good stuff! They are lucky kids.
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Lucky kid - well made bro!
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Great work dad
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Thanks so much to everyone. There's just something so cool about handing a bow to a kid and seeing that magical look in his or her eye. It's priceless. Here are some finished pics... I gave him a bit of help with the FD, but he's getting there. Pulls it about 3/4 of the way all by himself. :)
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4 more...
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And last, but not least...
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You got a bullseye with that stick ... from standpoint of bowyer ... and as a FATHER.
Congrats, sir!
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Thanks Knoll :)
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Hey upstate,
very nice!, wish you lot of funny times together
two years ago I built a kids bow for my grandson, now he ist 4 years old. sometime he came over and say that he wish bowshooting with me, than I alway tell him that he have to go and bring his arrows back. What do you think was his answer?, „ I never saw that Robin Hood or Yakary went to pick up their arrows.............?"
Hans
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Cool little bow, lucky little guy, nice job dad!
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Great full draw picture. Very nice.