Building Selfmade Bow

[Partner]

#4595

I am wanting to build a bow. I am looking at the reflex-deflex style. I would like for it to come out at about 45 to 50 lbs with a 29 inch draw. I have been on line looking at precut kits and also at parts sold individually. I want to build this bow for my self and fit to me. I feel the best way is buying the parts and putting the bow together the way I want it and I like the osage wood with a bamboo lam. Since I got my right hand caught in a meat slice and it is all well now I am not in to bulding wood boats and would like to try my hand at a custom bow fit for me. Yes it is all about me and my wife belives it. Any one tried this for their self? Any suggestions as which way to go? I have bult boats with teak and different exotic woods but not osage or bamboo.

[David Petersen]

#32091

Hi Partner and welcome to tradbow.com. There are lots of folks here who can points you in good directions, though most are busy hunting right now so be patient. For starters, definitely buy The Bowyer’s Bible, VI. Best money you will ever spend on the path to bowyerhood. I’ve made quite a few osage board bows backed with bamboo, most of them deflex-reflex. All you need is a 2×6 for a glue-up form. It’s a good combo. Dave

[Partner]

#32180

"David Petersen" wrote: Hi Partner and welcome to tradbow.com. There are lots of folks here who can points you in good directions, though most are busy hunting right now so be patient. For starters, definitely buy The Bowyer’s Bible, VI. Best money you will ever spend on the path to bowyerhood. I’ve made quite a few osage board bows backed with bamboo, most of them deflex-reflex. All you need is a 2×6 for a glue-up form. It’s a good combo. Dave

Just learning about how to use this blog so hope this reply comes out in the right comment block. Thanks for the heads up on that material. I think from what I have read that it is a very stable material for a bow. I will get the #VI Bowyers Bible. I bought a book The Art of Making Selfbows by Stim Wilcox and am reading it now. I have a couple of old Fred Bear bows I have had since I was a 13yr old kid have not worn either one out. I enjoy bow shooting with these type of bows and tried a compound by I was not cut out for compounds. To many strings and gadgets.

[Clay Hayes]

#37149

I don’t know much about kits, but if you’re interested in selfbows (all one piece, no lams, etc.) then a good place to start is the Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol 1.

[Partner]

#42884

This so called kit is just the wood and not fitted or cut to fit. I have a bamboo backing 2′ wide,72"long, and concade on the inside and this will need to be flattened in a way that it will mate to the surface of the Hickory that I have. The Hickory will need to be cut down into strips so I can bend them and then there is wood for the handle. I have ordered a book on the reflex/deflex bows and how they are made. The above is just my guess on how it works. This is my first bow attempt. Do like to read so that will also help.
Thanks for any support and happy hunting.

[Partner]

#49000

I left an 8″ section where your hand will go and I shaved the limbs down to 1/4″. I started at the end of my 8″ section and left a 1/2″ thickness and tapered it out to 1/4″. Hickory is some hard wood as far as I am concerned. I will now start to flatten and smooth out the inside of the bamboo. I did see where I can buy a piece of bamboo from 3 rivers already done. Just scrape the back and glue it on.

[Partner]

#53234

I am going to use a glue called EA-40 to glue up the bow any one used this or have any opions about this glue?

[George Tsoukalas]

#58249

There’s info on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/simplearrow.html

[Partner]

#63349

George Tsoukalas wrote: There’s info on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/simplearrow.html

I did go with the EA-40 and made the jig for the R&D bow. I hope to gule it up and then heat the bow to 180 in a home made oven for about 6 hours.

[Partner]

#63350

Clay Hayes wrote: I don’t know much about kits, but if you’re interested in selfbows (all one piece, no lams, etc.) then a good place to start is the Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol 1.

This kit has a lot to be desired if it is a ready to go kit. I have now tillered the limbs down and planed the bambo down. I made the jig for the R&D bow and will try to glue it up this week end. We have a high of 23degs for Sat. & Sun. Thought I would stay inside and work on the bow.

[Partner]

#63354

David Petersen wrote: Hi Partner and welcome to tradbow.com. There are lots of folks here who can points you in good directions, though most are busy hunting right now so be patient. For starters, definitely buy The Bowyer’s Bible, VI. Best money you will ever spend on the path to bowyerhood. I’ve made quite a few osage board bows backed with bamboo, most of them deflex-reflex. All you need is a 2×6 for a glue-up form. It’s a good combo. Dave

I am going with EA_40 glue for glue. I did make the jig for the R&D bow.

[Partner]

#63358

George Tsoukalas wrote: There’s info on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/simplearrow.html

Thanks George for the info. I hope to glue the bow up this weekend. We are to be at 7 for the low and 23 for the high. Good time to stay inside and do some bow work.

[Partner]

#63363

David Petersen wrote: Hi Partner and welcome to tradbow.com. There are lots of folks here who can points you in good directions, though most are busy hunting right now so be patient. For starters, definitely buy The Bowyer’s Bible, VI. Best money you will ever spend on the path to bowyerhood. I’ve made quite a few osage board bows backed with bamboo, most of them deflex-reflex. All you need is a 2×6 for a glue-up form. It’s a good combo. Dave

Well David I finally figured out how to send a reply back. You were the first person I tried to reply to and the learning curve is now working. I wound up with a hickory stave and bamboo backing. I have tillered the stave and planed the bamboo. I will be gluing up the bow this week end with EA-40 glue. I did build the R&D jig.

[George Tsoukalas]

#8582

Partner, you are welcome. I pretty much make selfbows only or bows backed with natural materials like linen, silk, rawhide, etc. Never did a lam bow, bamboo backed or wooden backed bow. None of that is on my site. Jawge

[ssumner1]

#11534

Not to steal this forum by any means, but I also have a question on self bows. I have a hickory self bow I have been tinkering with, but I have no understanding on why kind of string it should take. I do not want to make the mistake I made last time where the string came apart after stringing the bow. Any guidance would be nice. I would really like trying to shoot this bad bow. 😀

[George Tsoukalas]

#12468

I use B50 for string material. Jawge

[Partner]

#12623

ssumner1 wrote: Not to steal this forum by any means, but I also have a question on self bows. I have a hickory self bow I have been tinkering with, but I have no understanding on why kind of string it should take. I do not want to make the mistake I made last time where the string came apart after stringing the bow. Any guidance would be nice. I would really like trying to shoot this bad bow. 😀

B50 is a good string. Do not use fastflight unless the bow was built for fastflight.

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