Building a bow press
 

I've almost always worked on my own bows, but had to do it as a wrestler on the carpet, and the newer bows are just getting too hard to take the weight off, take clear down and put back together without taking a chance of screwing something up. Besides, the next bow I own may not even have a dealer/shop in the area, I like to do it myself, and I've always liked adjusting everything myself........getting it the way I want. Any suggestions that will help me in the process? I want to build my press in order to work on parallel limb bows as well as any bow in general.

RE: Building a bow press
 

I've got welding and fabrication expeirence (Tech Ed teacher), I'd like to build a press also. Does anyone have plans?

RE: Building a bow press
 

Can't help with the plans, but I can offer perspective on what it's like to have a bow press explode in your lap. Let's just say that I'm lucky to have all my fingers and not be singing alto......

That being said, for the 40 bucks a Bowmaster costs, I don't think you can go wrong. I've broken down short ATA bows with up to 70lb limbs without problems. It's not the fastest press, but for "do-it-your-selfers" a few extra moments usually isn't an issue.

Just me two cents......

Fritz

RE: Building a bow press
 

The little portable BowMaster press works awesome. you should check it out and save the cash of a full size press. Took me 3 minutes to pop in some string leeches today.

Best

RE: Building a bow press
 

Here is a link from over at AT of some of the plans for bow presses and some that just had pictures of ones they had built. One looked a lot like the X Press.
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=226965

RE: Building a bow press
 

I'm planning on building a bow press as well. Once I come up with some feasible plans.
That said, I was researching some sites about a week ago on the subject and most people replied to the threads author that its dangerous, easy way to break an expensive bow, etc.. Now I've never used a bow press so correct me if I'm wrong. You only put enough pressure on the bow to put slack in the string? This can't be a whole lot of pressure.


Thanks
Dan

RE: Building a bow press
 

If a person doesn't press the bow the right way...sure he can screw it up! A very experienced pro shop screwed up a cam for me once.[:@] I want to make mine adjustable for axle to axle length, varying riser length and limb configuration.

RE: Building a bow press
 

Greg,

I, too, am about to procure my own press. However, after many endeavors to build things myelf, I've just about come to the conclusion I can have something made professionally -- because of scale of economies -- cheaper and probably better than I can make it myself.

Here's the press I'm going to be ordering in a month or so:

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=262693&highlight=toad+press

RE: Building a bow press
 

I too have the bowmaster and have to say it was a great purchase. Its great for field repairs too.

RE: Building a bow press
 

Since WWAG doesnt make his press anymore, I'd go with the Ratchet-Lok In cabelas.

RE: Building a bow press
 

i just ordered one and a stand from toad400. wwag's is going to field use.

RE: Building a bow press
 

Thats a great looking press he sells Greg. Might be better off investing in that. Have to make out a material list and see what the cost is of doing it myself.

RE: Building a bow press
 

Well, I have a little experience in this department because I just built my own press this weekend. For a great set of plans follow this link -
http://www.theoxfordgroup.com/bow-press.pdf

The plans tell you how to do everything and how you can customize it to get an x-press fit if you like. I customized mine for my Tribute and it works like a charm. Have pressed 4 different bows and it performed flawlessly. An x-press will set you back about $500. Total cost for materials was $70 for my press. I would do it again in a heartbeat. However, if you do not have all the tools and equipment to do the work and/or you do not enjoy this type of project you will be better off buying one. It took me almost 12 hours from start to finish and that did not include the time involved in getting the materials. If you fall into this catergory then I recommend buying a hydrapress from this website -
http://www.hydra-press.com/index.html

Cost is $170 delivered. I don't know how he sells it for this price. I wouldn't build and sell them for that. The plans above are for the hydrapress. Buy it or build it - a great press!

RE: Building a bow press
 

I'm not arguing with you a bit, viper...

But here's my reasoning: You say it took 12 hours to build this; let's just be on the low side and say someone's time is only worth $10/hr. That's $120 right there, plus the $70... now we're up to $190...

I know some people love to spend their time on projectslike this, and -- like I started off by saying -- I wouldn't argue that at all. I've just learned that by the time I do it myself I could have just bought the darn thing.

RE: Building a bow press
 

werd. (it's cool slang talk for 'word', i just learned it)

plus he's an entrepeneur small business guy, trying to make it by offering a well made product at a good price, and i'm all for that. ;)

RE: Building a bow press
 

And I thought you'd mis-spelled "weird" at first... ;)

RE: Building a bow press
 

nah, its cool slang for 'that's what i'm saying'.that'swhat i thought at first to.werd.

RE: Building a bow press
 

But you also have to factor in what you might be doing if you didn't do it yourself some weekend. Sitting on the couch, not doing anything, wasting the time away...If that is the case, you are money ahead. But if you are working on other projects, then it may be worth buying elsewhere.

RE: Building a bow press
 

Wow! Apparently some folks don't read the whole post or don't understand the english language. Go back and read the post and you will find that I was praising the hydrapress and called it a bargain at $170. However, I wanted to build my own and modify the design to my bow's specifications. I have the tools and ability to undertake a project like this and I enjoy these type of projects. Last time I checked, there were at least 3 different websites selling this type of press, so I'm pretty sure that there are no patent issues.

RE: Building a bow press
 

I don't think anyone mis-understood you, viper...

The tangent we went off on had more to do with the fact several of us (at least I have) have undertaken projects like this and ended up investing more time and energy than was worth it considering factoring in an hourly labor rate for our time -- when it was all said and done, we could have just bought a manufactured model cheaper.

And I was trying to make it clear; perhaps the message didn't come through: Some people absolutely love tinkering around on their own projects and happily investing their time on something of this sort of scope... and I do too sometimes. But from strictly a cost perspective, it's often times cheaper just to buy it -- and I think that's kinda what Coug (the original poster) was trying to figure out.

And we agree -- either the Hydrapress at $170 or the Toad press at $185 (I think that's what he gets for those nowadays) is worthy of praise and should be considered bargains. That's because some of us have tried to replicate things like that and seen how much time and energy go into them... ;)

RE: Building a bow press
 

is it me or does toad's look a lot better than the hydra.

RE: Building a bow press
 

It's not you... that's why I'm going to be ordering one right after I get moved into my new house. Especially since he's added that new little device to help press the XT and Tributes properly, I don't think it can be touched for the money.

RE: Building a bow press
 

yeah, i had one like the hydra, a cougar jim or something. it didn't ever want to put even pressure on the limbs, or fit my parallel limbs. i finally just sold it and got a wwag. mine should be here in a few days, maybe early next week.

RE: Building a bow press
 

If I could ever convince Russ to take an afternoon off from the boards, I'd be the proud owner of a "wwag" as well! ;)I'd even be willing to throw in an extra buck or two over his original asking price!

Then, like you, I'd own the Toad for my permanent home "shop-style" press...

RE: Building a bow press
 

I probably got a little defensive in my last post. I thought I had made it clear that a person should just buy the thing unless they really enjoy this type of project. That's why I included the amount of time it took me to build it. It took a lot longer than I imagined when I looked at the plans. I didn't mind because it was a stress reliever for me - to others it could be a stress inducer.

I agree that the Toad press looks a little better than the hydra, but it is also a lot larger and is not very portable. I built mine as a take-down model and it will fit in a small duffel bag. 2 minute take-down without tools.

I modified the main beam length and made the cable adjustable. It fits my Tribute like an x-press and the limb load is dead even.