Ignoramus (me) needs education

[tombow]

#3301

Fledgling Trad Bowhunter here, thinking about delving into making wood into a bow(s). I have no knowledge, am ignorant of what makes a recurve or longbow work, and need some help to those of you with experience in such things. I would like to make a recurve or R/D longbow for my own use, 50-55# target weight, draw length around 27″. I have experience shooting a 68″ 45#@28 recurve, a 58″ 50+@28 recurve and an old Bear Cub 1953ish straight gripped 60#@28 longbow. I need a locator grip, or at least my difficulty with the longbow indicates so. Here’s my questions:
Book suggestions for building a bow which will give me the background info on basic design elements.
Should I attempt a board bow so that I’m not plunking down serious cash at the risk of making beautifully charactered firewood?
How do I get started, how did you get started, what should my steps be?

Please help.
Thank you,
Tom Brissee
Proctor, MN

[Stephen Graf]

#18994

Tom,

It sounds like you are interested in making all wood bows. If this is the case, I would encourage you to take a class from a bowyer. There are several self bow makers that offer classes. I wish I had done that before spending soooo much time on firewood as you say…

There are different styles of self bows. There are also backed bows. Figure out what you are interested in before committing to a class and talk to the bowyer about what you want.

Dean Torgues made a nice video on bamboo backed bows which is great to watch. He also wrote an enjoyable book on osage self bows. Both are good sources of knowledge.

I think the cost of a class is well worth it. Frustration sucks. And chances are you will make some friends in the process…

Good luck!

[rbbhunt]

#54158

If you want to make all wood bows, get a 4 volumes of “Traditional Bowyers Bible”. A wealth of information and well worth it.

[handirifle]

#55267

+1 on what was said above, in addition, I would recommend you build a “board” bow, as you mentioned. I think it’s an excellent, and cheap way to get the feel of what you need to do. You can practice tillering, shaving the limbs and the best part is it doesn’t cost a fortune when you (and you will) screw it up.

For practice, I’d do to home depot or similar and get a 6ft piece of 1×3 oak, with good straight grain, few or no knots, and have at it.

You can back it with a thin strip of hickory and it becomes a very durable bow. Murray gaskins is a lso a good sorce of info, and supplies, for these types of bows.
Here’s a good article on board bows
http://www.murraygaskins.com/durable.html
http://www.murraygaskins.com/bow-bld.html

Do a search, for Murray. It looks like he’s letting the bow site fall aside a bit, might be the economy. Good luck and start carvin soon. It’s a blast.

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