Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

How long did it take you guys to become completely self-sufficient in regards to archery? I'm not talking about not getting advice, still.......but how long to be able to completely handle all your setup needs.....from arrows to bows?

My goal is to have everything I need to do this, this year. I've been shooting a bow for 2.5yrs.

I also know this isn't for everyone....and I can appreciate that fact, too. My shop owner is NOW only 2 mi away.....but his shop is moving and he will no longer have a range. I don't want to "need" him if he doesn't have that to offer me.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Depends on how many bows you setup a year. If you try and setup 2 bows a year, I would say guy can get self sufficient in a year. Always somethign to learn. Only way to do it, is dig in and set one up and make a bunch of mistakes in the process.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I'm in that 2-3 bow a year category. At least one for me.....and one for my son (that I'll be working on).

I just see no need in paying out $$ for this.....AND the idea of being self-sufficient is appealing to me. Seems like a HUGE advantage if something goes awry. I'm sure my friends who bowhunt would benefit from this, as well.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I think time and a persons learning curve also have have roles to play. I'm not anywhere near able to do everything myself, but with more spare time and cash to tinker/shoot/tinker some more, I probably could be in a matter of 6 months or so. You'll probably be surprised how fast you pick everything up once you have the tools.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Im with ya GMATT, I wish I could learn or had the understanding of archery to do it myself. I wouldn't have to deal with jerks!!

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RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I was pretty self efficient already at the age of 5 years old. Both of my parents have been bow hunting for years so It was something I grew up with. I was always in the Archery shop with dad helping and learning while tinkering with bows and with arrows, broad heads, fletching, etc! I haven't done my own fletching for 10 years or so but I plan on doing my own again being every time I get a dozen new arrows the fletching is coming off with in 3 to 4 months if I'm lucky.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Well, start by reading a few books, going to a few siminars, and downloading the easton tuning guide. Build yourself a paper tuning rig, tear off your fletch a few arrows to learn bare shaft tuning, and then try broadhead tuning, maybe some walk back tuning.

Move your rest and see the effects of all tuning methods, Move you nock point and see the effects of all tuning methods. If you think your good enough, (we,know thats not an issue for ya:D), work on group tuning.

Order you a set of strings and cables and change out a few, practice serving, and tieing D-loops as Greg outlined in the technical section.

Take some mismatched spined arrows and see the effects bare shaft tuning along with broadhead tuning, etc.

Take your bow completely apart and put it back to together. Just dig in.

What I did was use my old PSE to learn alot of stuff.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I was going to remodel my basement with a completed room......but I figure I can get out cheaper building a shop, myself.....and get some added bonus use out of the space.

The equipment to become suffiecient isn't that expensive (in the grand scheme)....and I think I'd get a lot of satisfaction out of being able to do it myself.

Couple of weeks.....and I'll get started.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I started shooting a bow at the age of 10 and by the time I was 12-13 I had figured out how to install sights and rests and basic bolt on accessories. When I started working at the archery shop when I was 16, it probably took me a couple weeks of getting shown what to do and different techniques. After the initial learning phase, and I started working on customers bows constantly, I became pretty proficient and quick after about a week. I worked in the shop for about 2 years and am able to do almost any task possible with a bow. From basic initial setup (rest, sight, peep, nockpoint, silencers, d-loop, sts, papertune, walkback tune, etc) to setting to specs and cam timing, replacement of cams, limbs, to complete tear down to parts and reassemble. It really isn't all that difficult to do, just takes being shown the right ways and getting comfortable doing it.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Arrows aren't that hard. Poeple let other people build them for them because I believe they think they are hard to make. In reality a few tools and the right supplies you can make any number of variations of arrows. Wood, aluminium, carbon... All fletch pretty much the same...
Arrows shouldn't be much.

As for setting up bows. I think there is a bit more to it... but not alot. If your fairly mechanicaly inclined even the newest compounds shouldn't be to hard to learn. Setup is always going to be pretty much the same too. Or at least your end result is. Again a few tools and some want too and I think you'll be good.

Heck just tear down a bow setup and change everything and then put it back together and try to get back to a setup you like. You'll figure it out.

As for me. I never had a pro shop setup anything. My compounds were all setup by me. My current is old by todays standards but shoots great. It took me setting up 3 -4 before learning what I was doing wrong though. All those shot ok just not as well as I would have liked.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

To put a specific time on it, as I'm sure you realize, would just be impossible. There are way too many variables. I will tell you this though....I would suspect that YOU should be able to do it in a few months. Nothing about it is really rocket science. If you have the right equipment, it's really a piece of cake.

Now, it also depends on how good you want to be. I was at the point I didn't need my shop guy to work on my stuff in about a month, but I work there, so I have much more exposure than you would. But, having said that, there are still little tricks and nuances I am still learning. Just like anything else, you'll never know it all....


If you're talking just the basics, the how to's.....it shouldn't take you long at all. Setting nock sets, centershot, leveling the arrow....installing accessories......It's really basic stuff, and as I said, if you have the equipment it's just not difficult.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Thanks, Mobo......I appreciate that;)

I'm looking forward to it.....really.

I'm gonna tell ya what put me over the edge.....

I paid TWELVE dollars, Saturday.....to have 4 of my trad arrows re-fletched. AND.....I already had paid for the feathers (they were mine).

A fletching jig is about $70. It doesn't take a mathemetician to figure out how long this piece of equip. would take to pay for itself. Factor in the 2 dozen or so more i re-fletch every year (likely more).....and the numbers work out. This doesn't even factor in my son's stuff.

A nice TV in this room and I can do a dozen or so during a ballgame. Throw in my bowhunting friends gear.....and it's a social event.

Plus....I need somewhere to hang a few mounts.:)

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

$12...my gosh. My guy charges .50 cents an arrow

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

These are (in his defense) 5" feathers with a hard right helical.

Now.....how difficult and time-consuming that is.....I'll let ya know;)

But....the materials alone WOULD BE well over $.50 for this service.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

It's no harder to fletch a hard-right helical than it is a straight offset; the clamp itself determines the nature of alighment.

Yep, you really need to start getting your own stuff. ;):)

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Oh yeah man.....arrows are an absolute snap. You could do that w/ your eyes closed. If I may......if you'll be doing feathers, use fletching tape, not glue.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I see what you're saying Greg (just use a different Jig clamp)....but why is it they (my shop) seem to RUN when I want some trad arrows worked on?

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I hear tht, TOO, Don....but don't understand how the tape could be as strong. Didn't say it wasn't.....just hard for me to imagine.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

For me it was about 6 months of trial and error.

But for you Jeff I would roughly say10 years:):D

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Not hard or time consuming! My 12 year old fletches arrows!:) Its rather fun, I also like to crest my own arrows now, even more fun! Next thing for me will be building some wooden arrows, maybe even have a go at building a Longbow in the future, we'll see!! I'm leaning to a different style of Bowhunting! My Bowtechs days are numbered!;) :)

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

It is dude...I promise. AND....it's 100% easier and faster. That tape is some serious stuff. You have to use a stripping tool to remove them, and if you didn't know any better you wouldn't know it wasn't glue.....Good stuff for feathers, not so much for vanes. The tape doesn't stick to the plastic well at all.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Only reason I could see Jeff is that I could see Trad guys beeing pickier as a group? But I guarantee you I'm as picky as any of them they'd ever see. ;)

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I'm sold. I'll order a Bitz in the coming days.

Thanks guys....(even you Aussie and BHF!):D

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

this is really cool Jeff, i hope you can get it how you want it. Let me know if you need any help with anything, I d be glad too.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Youcan build your own workshop,yet you pay someone to fletch your arrows? Sorry-but that kinda struck me as funny:D

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Jim.....I can drive my own car, too.....but I pay Jiffy-Lube to change my oil.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

:D:D:D:D


True Jeff but know one wants to change their own oil!!!:D

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Yet neither one is that hard to do

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Jeff, other than making my own strings I think I'm there. I got the Marquis all set up. Having a press was high priority for me. There are other tools I'd like that I don't have yet, laser centershot tool is high on the list, that I can get by without. Set-up would be easier with them but I can get by. I have an arrow saw, a Bitz, and a cresting machine. I have a grain scale available to me at the U. All in all I'd say I'm in good shape. i've been shooting a bow for 3.5 years and hunting with one for 3. I really enjoy doing my own work. Some day I may even get a string jig!
BTW: I make all my arrows, carbon, aluminum, and cedar. I buy the parts I need and get them made. I find it relaxing. ( Except when Lily wants to help)

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I learned to do my own work in about a year....I am like a lot of guys/gals here,Ive been shooting bow for 25 yrs now but with the new bows Iam still learning,when you live in the middle of no-where you need to learn to be self saficaint(spl)and its cheeper all the way around in the end.....I still need to go to my sport shop and use thier press,I dontreally need onebut nowI will be getting my own...23 mile round trip to put a peep in just dosnt cut it at todays gas price's.....Ive seen some on here and other forums for around 50-70 bucks,I just half to call them or pm them.....Procrastination is what I say....

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Jeff,


Check ebay for Bitx jigs. You can sometimes find a deal on them. I ended up with 3 of them with all the clamps and nock sets for around 100. Just look close. I ended up finding one auction with 2 bitz and 3 of brand (work great too) got that for 60 if I remember right. Then another bitz jig. I ended up pickeing up the other nock reciever so I can do left right or straight. Plus If I ever need to I can sell them and get my money back.Hard to tear up a bitz. If your going trad you'll want to be able to make any arrows you want.

But let me warn you about making stuff like arrows. Its addictive. I make everything: Bows, arrows (Cedar and Rivercane), obsidian heads, trade points, strings, quivers, knives....I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

Cosider yourself warned. Sounds like you may be headed down the path I did. But its Fun!

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Tuning a bow isn't rocket science. I used to think it was magic and difficult. Then I had someone show me, and I realized it wasn't that bad at all. For the most part I am completely self sufficient now. All ittook was amassing the gadgets and gizmos and tools to be so. When I get into something weird I have lots of help here.

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

{"Completely"}self sufficient? Took me about 5 years. From learning what kind of tree to cut the wood from for bows, another kind for arrows, gathering feathers and learning how to make bowstrings from nettle fibers, then making broadheads from whatever steel banding I could find. And then learning how to make everything work.... Had it all figured out by the time I was 10 and got my Boy Scout archery merit badge. :)

Then I started buying store bought stuff when a couple of stores in my town started carrying ready made arrows, and even bows! Thought it was pretty cool for a long time, but I've never been quite that self sufficient everagain. ;)

RE: How long to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I became self sufficient whenI saw some poor bow tech trying to work on my bow.I also got tired of going to an archery shop and explaining what I wanted. Attitudes in some of those places too. I am pretty self sufficient in everything I do not just archery, I change my own oil usually.

RE: How long to become completely self-sufficient?
 

Jeff, sounds alot like what I am thinking as well. I plan to start by learning how to fletch my own arrows. I think that Mr. Lester is most def right though, gonna be pretty hard to figure how much is too much.

RE: How long to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I know what you mean, but the wording isnt quite accurate. I think everyone can agree there is no one point in time that you become self reliant with your equipment. I did all my own basic stuff w/o help from my mentor after about 2 years, but I know a whole lot more now than I did when I first became self reliant on the basics like fletching, tuning, general maintenance etc. And....there is a ton I still do not know. Besides that there is always new stuff to learn and tinker with. Always.

My only advice is drink up all the info you can from as many sources as possible and never decide that you know enough;)

RE: How long to become completely self-sufficient?
 

There are a number of DVD's that are extremely helpful in learning a lot of this stuff too.

RE: How long to become completely self-sufficient?
 

My Dad doesn't shoot a bow much less post on here. LOL Don't call me MR. Makes me feel older than I am. Which isn't very old (at leastin my book.) :D

RE: Ho wlong to become completely self-sufficient?
 

I want to get to the point that I can tie everything on my bow,(string loop, peep...........) so that I can open my own shop. I also need to learn to tune bows with all the high speed arrow rests coming out these days. Its just all those little things that I want to know so that I can help other archers like you all have helped me so far.