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Requesting Help with First Bow

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CharrDad:
Hey to all,

I'm new to the forum and new to bow building. I'm interested in getting started on my first bow build and have a few questions before I start making sawdust.

I am intersted in making a board bow because it seems like the economical way to begin. I wanted to include my 8 year old son in the process and it seems that going with boards would allow us both to jump right in without too much worry. My question is this, are board bows really something you can hunt with? I ask only because it seems so simple a process.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind making my first couple of bows out of boards, even if ALL they are is something to play around with in the back yard. That would still be time well spent. But IF they can really be used in the field I would like to know going in so I can give a little more care to the process.

Also, I've seen many posts talking about Red Oak and Hickory being good board woods. All my Home Depot and Lowes have are Oak (not specified as red) and Whitewood. Am I better off looking harder for a small independent lumber company, or will the HD variety work just as well?

Thanks in advance for the advice, and I'll start posting some pictures as soon as I begin the process.
CharrDad

snedeker:
My opinion is as follows.  A bow can be made from a board that will perform fine.  Red Oak makes a pretty good bow, and you can find a totally fine board at HD or Lowes. For the speed freak, red oak isn't "typically" the fastest wood in the world.  It would be a good starter wood.  You can keep an eye out on ebay to for a hickory or white oak board.  w. oak has some characteristics thany many consider an improvement over red oak.  there are those that swear by red oak boards though and many animals have been brought down by such implements.

Dave

CharrDad:
Thanks for the reply Dave,

I'll begin looking for a good Red Oak baord right away then. I've also seen several differing opinions concerning the need for backing a board bow. I was thinking I would do so simpy to lessen the chance of *snapping* my first attempt.

Any thoughts?

CharrDad

CharrDad:
Another question:

I want to make a board bow for my so as I build one for myself. How do I best determine the bow height and draw length for someone 8 years old who has never shot a bow before? Is there a simple formula to follow?

Any help would be appreciated.

CharrDad

tom sawyer:
Make it as long as he is tall, and half as wide as your bow.  Like if you make a red oak bow 2" wide to mid-limb, make his 1" wide.

You will find that making a kid's bow is as challenging as making your own.  The key is making it narrow enough to begin with, if it is wide then you need to make it so thin that a tiny amount of taper makes a big difference.  1" or even a little more narrow is a good idea.  As for poundage, it'll be low and I don't know that I'd measure it, just have him try and pull it every so often and keep thinning it until he can pull it back.

I agree that you can hunt with a board bow.

As for backing, its only necessary if you don't have a real good board.  If your grain runs straight on all four sides, with few runoffs, you can make a selfbow with no problem and it will perform a little better than a backed bow.

Have you been to Jawge's or Ferret's site?  They have great instructions on selecting boards and making board bows.

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