How to make a bow - DATASHEET
- Thread starter sterling_archer
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sterling_archer
Hummingbird
BONUS - no trees to cut problem
Maybe someone thinks "Archer, all this sounds good but I still don't have access to any of the tree species you listed!". I would say to them to not despair, as solution is easy and very cheap.
This is a short post, but a bit overdue, I keep forgetting to write it.
So if you don't have access to property where you could cut tree or you don't know someone who could give you one, you can attempt to make "board bow". This is an ultimate beginner bowyer project and many bowyers started with a board (including me).
One should go to these stores where they sell processed lumbers and look for ash, red oak, maple or hickory boards (for american bowyers). Boards are cut from trunks in couple of ways:
1. Plank selection
Boards already come dried and seasoned so you can start to make bow as soon as you get home from the shop.
You should look for the board that has its grain as parallel as it can. Look for example at the quarter sawn and rift sawn boards. They are a pretty good choice. Also, the tighter the grain, the better.
What this means is that you would come to shop and carefully sort out plank on the side and at the end select best from these you sorted out. At the end, you may come home with just 2 boards. Sometimes more. Really depends. Don't rush yourself with buying if you are not satisfied with grain.
2. Proceeding further
Go to the point in datasheet where I put the drawing of bow layout. Select side with best looking grain to be back of the bow. Trace the layout on the board and follow the rest of the datasheet.
Conclusion
This is a much easier thing to do for a first timer and maybe I even recommend doing that instead of starting with a tree. But it depends on you. Maybe you want to get your hands on the harder process as you like challenge and that is fine.
In any case you will get a fine shooter. It may look a bit "perfect" at the end, opposed to the one from the tree which has knots and imperfections. Some people despise board bows and at some time they were greatly underestimated for no reason. People started to appreciate the more when big faces among the bowyers started doing them.
Here are some examples I saw on internet:
Maybe someone thinks "Archer, all this sounds good but I still don't have access to any of the tree species you listed!". I would say to them to not despair, as solution is easy and very cheap.
This is a short post, but a bit overdue, I keep forgetting to write it.
So if you don't have access to property where you could cut tree or you don't know someone who could give you one, you can attempt to make "board bow". This is an ultimate beginner bowyer project and many bowyers started with a board (including me).
One should go to these stores where they sell processed lumbers and look for ash, red oak, maple or hickory boards (for american bowyers). Boards are cut from trunks in couple of ways:
1. Plank selection
Boards already come dried and seasoned so you can start to make bow as soon as you get home from the shop.
You should look for the board that has its grain as parallel as it can. Look for example at the quarter sawn and rift sawn boards. They are a pretty good choice. Also, the tighter the grain, the better.
What this means is that you would come to shop and carefully sort out plank on the side and at the end select best from these you sorted out. At the end, you may come home with just 2 boards. Sometimes more. Really depends. Don't rush yourself with buying if you are not satisfied with grain.
2. Proceeding further
Go to the point in datasheet where I put the drawing of bow layout. Select side with best looking grain to be back of the bow. Trace the layout on the board and follow the rest of the datasheet.
Conclusion
This is a much easier thing to do for a first timer and maybe I even recommend doing that instead of starting with a tree. But it depends on you. Maybe you want to get your hands on the harder process as you like challenge and that is fine.
In any case you will get a fine shooter. It may look a bit "perfect" at the end, opposed to the one from the tree which has knots and imperfections. Some people despise board bows and at some time they were greatly underestimated for no reason. People started to appreciate the more when big faces among the bowyers started doing them.
Here are some examples I saw on internet:
Okay, thanks for this very useful datasheet man! Can't wait to make my first bow
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Hope it helps you!
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
Sterling Archer,
Do you hunt with your bows? I am a bowhunter with compounds. I have interest in learning about this ancient art of making bows and arrows.
Just this last wekend I was in Finland bowhunting ROe Deer on an ancient viking island . Made a Kill at 30 Meters on a nice buck. Very satisfying . There is something to be said of the deep satisfaction of the hunt with bow and arrow when everything comes togethor.
Do you hunt with your bows? I am a bowhunter with compounds. I have interest in learning about this ancient art of making bows and arrows.
Just this last wekend I was in Finland bowhunting ROe Deer on an ancient viking island . Made a Kill at 30 Meters on a nice buck. Very satisfying . There is something to be said of the deep satisfaction of the hunt with bow and arrow when everything comes togethor.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Unfortunately no. Bow hunting is illegal in Croatia, but there were some attempts to make it legal. No one really knows why is that so, but I think it has to do with combination of preserving really rich wildlife and getting rid of those who would only wound animals. Bows require lot of practice, as you know, but rifles don't so much and rifle will kill animal instantly in most times, whereas bad shot with arrow will make animal die in agony. Our hunters are probably not yet ready for that and there are not many people interested in bow hunting.
Its really cool that you are a bow hunter. Have you ever tried to hunt with self bow (like I made here) or with fiberglass one? Its supposed to be different than compound and I heard from some bow hunters abroad that you must be much closer than 30 meters to make accurate kill. What is your take on it?
Its really cool that you are a bow hunter. Have you ever tried to hunt with self bow (like I made here) or with fiberglass one? Its supposed to be different than compound and I heard from some bow hunters abroad that you must be much closer than 30 meters to make accurate kill. What is your take on it?
Tex Cruise
Pelican
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
Tex , Thanks for the welcome to the forum. It seems to be quite a wealth of knowledge among-st like-minded men . John Galt is a character in one of my favorite books "Atlas Shrugged" , in the novel he dissapears from a society that doesnt appreciate his value, I identify with that having left the USSA for similar reasons and now live as an expat. I assume you are from TX . I also will always have a place in my heart for TX!
Sterling Archer- I reside in Estonia but am an expat "refugee" originally from Texas. I have never hunted with a self-bow or long bow but have interest in beginning. I compete in 3D Tournaments and enjoy it as practice for the hunt. As far as bowhunting in Europe, Hungary, Spain, Finland, Estonia are good options. From what I understand you can bowhunt Croatia behind high fences. I would have to respectfully disagree with your statements about bowhunting and wounded animals. It is my experience that bowhunters tend to be more serious, practice more and respect animals better than Rifle hunters on average. There is no difference between a bad rifle shot wounding an animal and a bad bow shot, the difference is the range it occurred at .
Things are changing fast in Europe for bowhunters. Just this year they made it legal to hunt WHitetail deer in Finland with a bow (there is a large population hat was transplanted from the USA).
I would be interested in networking with other bowhunters on the forum especially ones that reside in Europe and take the sport seriously.
Sterling Archer- I reside in Estonia but am an expat "refugee" originally from Texas. I have never hunted with a self-bow or long bow but have interest in beginning. I compete in 3D Tournaments and enjoy it as practice for the hunt. As far as bowhunting in Europe, Hungary, Spain, Finland, Estonia are good options. From what I understand you can bowhunt Croatia behind high fences. I would have to respectfully disagree with your statements about bowhunting and wounded animals. It is my experience that bowhunters tend to be more serious, practice more and respect animals better than Rifle hunters on average. There is no difference between a bad rifle shot wounding an animal and a bad bow shot, the difference is the range it occurred at .
Things are changing fast in Europe for bowhunters. Just this year they made it legal to hunt WHitetail deer in Finland with a bow (there is a large population hat was transplanted from the USA).
I would be interested in networking with other bowhunters on the forum especially ones that reside in Europe and take the sport seriously.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
JohnGalt007 said:
I know what you mean, but my comment was more concerning our Croatian hunters and their mentality and that is why I doubt there is place in near future for bowhunting here.
Bowhunting is legal only in some private areas, which I don't know where they are because I am not in these "circles."
I would also like to try 3D archery, but I am not aware of clubs or competitions here.
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
sterling_archer said:
3d Archery is a great way to hone your skills and meet other men interested in the sport.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Fast drying - brief post
Just to explain one technique I personally always use. Even though I recommend here in datasheet for beginners to take their time with seasoning the wood, there is a way to get bow from fresh tree till finished bow in 3 to 4 weeks.
I am generally pretty impatient so I like this method the best. In 20th century, months and years of seasoning the bow woods were popular, maybe mainstream idea, until more and more bowyers got to use fast drying technique. They got enough evidence to show that it is completely equal to long seasoning. Some say though that long seasoning removes stress from wood and that fast drying does not.
Technique
After you cut fresh tree, remove the bark and do usual marking of your intended bow design. You will probably need to use sharpie because pencil will not leave marks on slightly wet wood.
Now go the usual route of shaping but don't go fully to the drawn lines. Leave the bow slightly oversized in profile. Also, limb thickness should also be oversized.
Now, clamp that bow to some steel or aluminum bar or clamp it to a desk in warm, but not too hot place with good air flow.
After 2 weeks, remove the clamps and weigh the bow on digital scale. Proceed to writing down weight and measuring it for couple of days. When the weight stops dropping, bow will be dry enough for further work. This here is same principle I described in datasheet.
Proceed to shaping the bow, i.e. removing the excess of wood like in datasheet, tillering it and finishing it.
Just to explain one technique I personally always use. Even though I recommend here in datasheet for beginners to take their time with seasoning the wood, there is a way to get bow from fresh tree till finished bow in 3 to 4 weeks.
I am generally pretty impatient so I like this method the best. In 20th century, months and years of seasoning the bow woods were popular, maybe mainstream idea, until more and more bowyers got to use fast drying technique. They got enough evidence to show that it is completely equal to long seasoning. Some say though that long seasoning removes stress from wood and that fast drying does not.
Technique
After you cut fresh tree, remove the bark and do usual marking of your intended bow design. You will probably need to use sharpie because pencil will not leave marks on slightly wet wood.
Now go the usual route of shaping but don't go fully to the drawn lines. Leave the bow slightly oversized in profile. Also, limb thickness should also be oversized.
Now, clamp that bow to some steel or aluminum bar or clamp it to a desk in warm, but not too hot place with good air flow.
After 2 weeks, remove the clamps and weigh the bow on digital scale. Proceed to writing down weight and measuring it for couple of days. When the weight stops dropping, bow will be dry enough for further work. This here is same principle I described in datasheet.
Proceed to shaping the bow, i.e. removing the excess of wood like in datasheet, tillering it and finishing it.
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
Sterling Archer.
Is this a business for you? Do you sell your bows for profit or is this only a hobie? DO you make your own arrows?
Is this a business for you? Do you sell your bows for profit or is this only a hobie? DO you make your own arrows?
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Currently its my hobby and passion, like I work around with steel and other things. I plan to make it a side business in near future. I still have to get more experience and what is also important, good quantity and quality of wood. For example I should have entire stack of wood laying around so I could just pick something up and make for client as opposed to go to the woods each time someone wants a bow.
Also, shit is that there is almost no market for bows I would make here in Croatia. Even local archery clubs that do reenactment use fiberglass bows that they bought from internet. Ridiculous, don't you think? If I were to come to them they would probably ignore me as they know that they could easily buy from certified maker that uses machines and has his own workers instead of some unknown guy. I mean, I should try to show them my work but I am not really optimistic, especially what other things I saw with them, which I will not discuss here.
I don't make arrows just because I don't have access to feathers and good quality timber from which I could turn shafts.
Also, shit is that there is almost no market for bows I would make here in Croatia. Even local archery clubs that do reenactment use fiberglass bows that they bought from internet. Ridiculous, don't you think? If I were to come to them they would probably ignore me as they know that they could easily buy from certified maker that uses machines and has his own workers instead of some unknown guy. I mean, I should try to show them my work but I am not really optimistic, especially what other things I saw with them, which I will not discuss here.
I don't make arrows just because I don't have access to feathers and good quality timber from which I could turn shafts.
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
sterling_archer said:
I think if a guy were to produce a hand made bow with hand made arrows and forged arrow heads, leather bowmounted quiver. There would be quite a market for that at a nice price point, especially if it was high quality.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Yeah, that is probably true. But again, I have to have all resources available at hand to say "hey, I will make you this and that, just say". Currently its more of "maybe, I'll try to see what I got". That is a big difference.
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
sterling_archer said:
I am interested in building a bow and hunting with it. I am preparing for the beginning of ELk season in Idaho now but will have the time this winter to start. Ill post some pics in this thread of my progress.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
Try it. What trees in Idaho you have access to?
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
sterling_archer said:
In Idaho We have mostly pine and cedar varieties.
I also live part of the year in Estonia and we have Oaks here.
sterling_archer
Hummingbird
If one of the cedar species is eastern red cedar, than you have good bow wood that behaves sometimes behaves unexpectedly on tiller from what I hear, but if you succeed in making a bow from it, you will enjoy it.
What about these oaks? What species are they? Have you access to ash maybe?
In any case, maybe you are best with making a board bow, which I described on previous page. You can buy for cheap red oak boards from one of these lumber stores which you have all across USA (sadly we don't have these) and try to pick up as best board as you can.
What about these oaks? What species are they? Have you access to ash maybe?
In any case, maybe you are best with making a board bow, which I described on previous page. You can buy for cheap red oak boards from one of these lumber stores which you have all across USA (sadly we don't have these) and try to pick up as best board as you can.
JohnGalt007
Pigeon
sterling_archer said:
My thaught is to make the bow from some sort of Oak, and Ash arrows and Forged broadheads. Ill take my elk skin this year and make a quiver . Turkey Feathers for fletching. Ill be beginning this project after hunting season this winter. Hopefully to hunt with the bow next year for Deer/Elk.