Home Forums Bows and Equipment Tips fpr a Beginning Bowyer

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    • DiGi
        Post count: 9

        Does anyone have any tips for a beginning bowyer? Any info will be welcome!

      • DiGi
          Post count: 9

          To be more specific, how did you start your career as a traditional bowyer? If there was anything you wish you would have known when you made you first bow what is it? What should a first time bowyer look out for and/or make sure to do?

        • jodmama
            Post count: 4

            DiGi wrote: To be more specific, how did you start your career as a traditional bowyer? If there was anything you wish you would have known when you made you first bow what is it? What should a first time bowyer look out for and/or make sure to do?

            I too am a beginner. I read a few things including the first few chapters of the Bowyers Bible (vol 1). I also watched some clips from You Tube. Then I bought a 3 by 2 inch piece of western walnut (trimmed two pieces to 1/4 inch each and ordered 1/4 inch hickory backing). Ruddersbow is a good resource. Jim over there can get you started with a book, supplies, and will be there to help you as you build it. It is to be a reflex deflex laminated wood bow design (no fiberglass) with 28 inch limbs. The riser will not be very long. I will epoxy it up when I have all my pieces cut. I am working on an oven idea to cure the epoxy. I will probably get some 8 inch stove pipe and a couple of lights (one for each opening, and a meat thermometer). The form sounds easy and simple with the use of u bolts. Tapering sounds tricky for the end of the limbs. I will probably make a sled and run it through the sander. I think I will try to reduce over all thickness at the ends by 1/16th of an inch for each lamination. This idea may change after I read the instruction book from Rudderbows Archery.

          • DiGi
              Post count: 9

              jodmama wrote: [quote=DiGi]To be more specific, how did you start your career as a traditional bowyer? If there was anything you wish you would have known when you made you first bow what is it? What should a first time bowyer look out for and/or make sure to do?

              I too am a beginner. I read a few things including the first few chapters of the Bowyers Bible (vol 1). I also watched some clips from You Tube. Then I bought a 3 by 2 inch piece of western walnut (trimmed two pieces to 1/4 inch each and ordered 1/4 inch hickory backing). Ruddersbow is a good resource. Jim over there can get you started with a book, supplies, and will be there to help you as you build it. It is to be a reflex deflex laminated wood bow design (no fiberglass) with 28 inch limbs. The riser will not be very long. I will epoxy it up when I have all my pieces cut. I am working on an oven idea to cure the epoxy. I will probably get some 8 inch stove pipe and a couple of lights (one for each opening, and a meat thermometer). The form sounds easy and simple with the use of u bolts. Tapering sounds tricky for the end of the limbs. I will probably make a sled and run it through the sander. I think I will try to reduce over all thickness at the ends by 1/16th of an inch for each lamination. This idea may change after I read the instruction book from Rudderbows Archery.
              I’ve also read the Bowyers Bible (vol. 1). I am looking to make a self bow with no laminating. I just don’t really know where to start and want to get feed back from real people not just a book.

            • Stephen Graf
              Moderator
                Post count: 2427

                The problem is, the question you ask is kind of like “what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?” Unfortunately in this case, the answer isn’t 42.

                Best thing to do is get a piece of wood and start shaving. You have read a book, which is enough. Once you shave up a stave and make a bow, you will be ready to read another book.

                The only general advice I can give you, is be ready for the frustration. Making a self bow can be frustrating. But the more you do it, the more you will like it.

                I always recommend Dean Torgues book “hunting the osage bow” It has a lot of good info, is much more fun to read than the bowyers bibles, and is inspiring.

                Good Luck!

              • Holten101
                  Post count: 66

                  As much as I love this forum and the people frequenting it;-)…it is not the “best” when it comes to bow making (it is THE site for arrow penetration and lethality no doubt and practical bow hunting in general).

                  If you want to endulge in self-bowyery then visit:
                  http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/18/t/Archery-Primitive-Bows.html
                  and/or
                  http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/board,2.0.html

                  If you are into glass bows then http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=125 is the site

                  But please dont forget to come back here and show us your bows;-)

                  Cheers

                • DiGi
                    Post count: 9

                    Thank you!

                  • Chad Sivertsen
                    Member
                      Post count: 84

                      Howdy DiGi,
                      I’ve been bowhunting for a long time, built my first selfbow about 10 years ago and lament the fact that I did not do it sooner. I thought about it, read books, etc but hesitated too long. Circumstances provided an opportunity when an experienced selfbowyer offered to help me build one with his guidance. That experience changed my life and I have changed a few lives since by helping others get started with selfbows. Like bowhunting it is not for everyone but for some of us it adds joy to our lives in many ways.

                      So my number one piece of advise is “Just do it”. There is a wealth of information these days. You may very well live near someone that would be willing to help you get started. DVDs can be very good learning tools, you can watch them over and over. Some dealers offer started staves that are roughed out upping your chances of success.

                      Although it requires some patientce and attention to detail it is not rocket science. Once you have masters the basics it is great fun and will heighten you anticipation of the hunt.

                      BTW, I shared the experience of my first selfbow in a TBM piece a few years ago. It is “Procrastination and Priorities”, don’t remember the issue.

                    • George Tsoukalas
                        Post count: 53
                      • aeronut
                        Member
                          Post count: 391

                          If you are close to Oklahoma plan on attending OJAM VII. This is where you will find lots of answers to your questions and get a lot of hands on experience.

                          http://www.okselfbow.com

                          Dennis

                          Here is a video I made of the fifth annual gathering. It will give you an idea of the event.

                        • DiGi
                            Post count: 9

                            I live in a southern suberb of chicago, so that would be a little far for me. Do you know anyone around here that could help?

                          • aeronut
                            Member
                              Post count: 391

                              Sorry. I can’t help on that one.

                            • goutes2006
                                Post count: 8

                                There is a company out here in Utah that sales dvd’s for bow making and all the materials you will need. It is called Bingham Projects. I only buy arrows from them so I can’t attest to how helpful they actually are, but they do have a very good reputation.

                              • pappy
                                  Post count: 9

                                  I am somewhat of a beginner myself. I have built 2 longbows so far, the first a bamboo backed persimmon bow, and the second, which was just finished yesterday, a bamboo backed hickory bow. I tried an unbacked ash long bow in between these 2, and it splintered just as I got it to brace height. Oh well, it’s bound to happen from time to time! So, the best advice, like everyone says, is read a couple books, start building, and be patient. I got lucky with the first one, and so far it has over 500 arrows through it with no damage. I can’t begin to tell you the immense satisfaction you’ll feel when you complete your first bow, and it actually shoots well. It is simply an awesome feeling.
                                  You are certainly going to experience some frustration along the way, but you will learn from the experience, and when the bow works you’ll be hooked like the rest of us.
                                  Good luck and have fun!

                                • Rudderbows
                                    Post count: 1

                                    Keep trying

                                  • Robin Conrads
                                    Admin
                                      Post count: 916

                                      DiGi wrote: I live in a southern suberb of chicago, so that would be a little far for me. Do you know anyone around here that could help?

                                      Not sure how I missed this, but you might contact Bernard Swank of Mystik Longbows in Cuba IL. Great guy and I think he sets up at a few shows to teach people how to build selfbows. I’ll see if I can find some contact information. His web site is not active so he may be retired.

                                    • William Warren
                                      Member
                                        Post count: 1384

                                        Lacking a mentor, I set about experimenting after studying everything I could find on it. If you could work with someone who can teach, your learning curve will be greatly reduced but if you don’t have that, then what Holten and others posted will help. Primitive Archer is where I got bit by the bug. PA and TBM, my two favorite sources of inspiration.
                                        I had already made 4 bows when I got the Bowyers Bible series.
                                        Cut some bow wood and start shaving. I decided to work on my first one before the wood was completely dry which was not the best idea but my other staves were drying while I was learning. Made all the classic mistakes on the first one. The next thre turned out great and are all still shooting, even the 30# “green” bow

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