Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

I have done some reading and priced kits and materials now I want the honest truth. Is it very hard to make your own bow? I am a fair hand with tools (I know not to put my fingers in the saw blade)but not a master carpenter. Though I lack great talent I would like to build my own bow.

Vern Pratt
shoot straight, aim well,
and tell tall tales to
good friends.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

Towerrat, I hope to let you know sometime this winter. Heck, its only glue right? <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

But seriously, I have talked to some guys that made their own, and they all said it is what you make of it. If you want it to be simple, it will be, and so will the bow. Just like anything, you get out what you put in.

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

Are you talking selfbows or laminated bows? I make both and they both have their own difficulties. I enjoy making each type. I won't say it's hard to make just any bow, but to make a true piece of art is difficult and will take some time. Learn from your mistakes and don't get discouraged.

If your talking laminated bows do you want to make recurves or longbows? Longbows are easier to make than recurves. At least from my experiences.

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

I, too, am interested in making bows, DF/RF laminated longbows. Any suggestions on how/where to get a good set of drawings/plans/templates?

Thanks!

Bill

[email protected]

Praise the Lord, He is worthy

Edited by - lamb1647 on 01/03/2003 10:29:04

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

A friend of mine has gotten me started on my own laminated r/d longbow and it's been a hoot! He's got the equipment at his place and the hardest part so far has been getting our schedules worked out to find time to work on it. It's all glued up and I still have to profile and tiller the limbs and glue down the overlays.

I spent 20 years as an aerospace machinist so I'm very familiar with power tools. For someone that doesn't have that kind of experience it might be a little tougher, but the key is planning out just the bow you want, taking one step at a time, paying attention to details and not rushing things.

My friend started making bows a couple of years ago with a kit from Bingham.

Edited by - Arthur P on 01/03/2003 11:58:10

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RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

PB,

I have the heatbox built, except for installing the lights. I have a bandsaw, which I haven't assemmbled yet. I have a garage which I'm going to section off to give me a 10'x18' shop.

I still have to get a spindle sander and a disk/belt sander. I will be using c-clamps with the form as opposed to the air hose system.

Any suggestions as to where to get some drawings/plans for a good DF/RF bow. I'm thinking about just drawing something up myself, cutting out some templates, building the form, and getting started in a few months.

Bill

Praise the Lord, He is worthy

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

Binghams Projects and 3-rivers both sell plans for a R/D longbow. I believe Bingham's is 68&quot; and 3-Rivers is a 64&quot; bow. Not positive though. I got my plans off of a friend who also makes bows and he made these.

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

Okay guys, as a person overcome with the Viruses, I volunteer to shoot them for you. I know how tired you'll be from all that work. So as a gesture of kindness I'll lend a hand<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Anything to help out.

RE: Building your own bow. Is it hard?
 

My advice would be to find a bow you like and copy the D&R profile. The rest is pretty easy. Take it slow and done rush the shaping and tillering. Remember one thing, even the worst looking bow will still shoot an arrow. Dick