Main Discussion Area > Bows
Help for beginners
bjrogg:
Agree with all the advise already given. Even if it might be totally different.
A lot depends on how much the bug bites you.
How determined you are to bring that piece of wood back to life.
How it affects you when it does.
If you become hopelessly addicted to building and shooting Selfbows. Start gathering anything you can for local woods. Reduce a few to closer to bow dimensions. It won’t take as long to dry. Could clamp on form.
Try to give yourself the best chance by using good wood to start with. One successful bow is very encouraging. A bunch of broken ones not so much.
You can learn a lot of skills with a piece of firewood though. Don’t be afraid of it. Play with it. Even scrape wood . Learn to chase rings. Glue handles. Make splices.
You can make a great bow with the few tools mentioned.
A couple more really help though.
A good heat gun
A good form to strengthen and shape bows profile
A good supply of clamps
A way of steaming recurves
A good wall mounted tillering tree.
One of Eric’s tillering gizmos
Also it’s important to learn our vocabulary. We use simple words but if you don’t know what they mean you might get confused.
Welcome to PA
Bjrogg
PS don’t be surprised to get several different suggestions for one question. They’re probably all right depending on your situation and location.
JW_Halverson:
--- Quote from: kyleighterry on January 24, 2025, 12:14:20 am ---Hey everybody, new to the sub and happy to be here. I’ve wanted to build a traditional self bow for around two decades now and finally am in a position to do it, does anybody have any advice on finding wood to use? A little clarification: I watched the Dan Santana video on the board bow and liked it but I really don’t want to have to glue on an extra section of wood for the handle. I would really rather use a more traditional stave and work it from there. However, I am hoping not to have to wait two years from the time I find a good stave. Are there lumber yards that sell seasoned wood in appropriate cuts for bow making? I’m in northern Colorado if that helps anything. Thanks for getting to the end of this long winded question but I am very enthusiastic about this, albeit a bit lost as to where to start. Been watching Correy Hawk’s stuff for a while, making it to one of his courses is definitely bucket list. Thanks everyone!
--- End quote ---
Hey, I am just up north of you in the Black Hills of SD. I've got a couple board bow blanks glued up. I can shape the fadeouts for you, too, since that is really the toughest part of the deal and the part most first timers struggle with. Send me a private message and I'll hook you up. I am not a stave dealer, but I have a stave or two if you wanna talk about those, too.
JW_Halverson:
--- Quote from: Selfbowman on January 24, 2025, 10:14:50 am ---Pearl he’s from Colorado. My experience with Osage is its to dry there for Osage unless you keep it in a room with a humidifier to control the moisture. That being said hickory will do better in my opinion . You know I’m a Osage guy. Mointain juniper also works good there I’m told. I seen sinew on most of them at the flight shoots. You might go with a maple board bow with bamboo glued on the back. Guys tell me if it’s not a good combination. I can hook you up with a bamboo supplier. That’s s the hardest part starting without dry wood. Been there done that. Pearl gave you good information though.
--- End quote ---
Hickory would do just fine, but I can tell you that it's not too dry for osage. The Black Hills is far dryer than Colorado and I make osage bows without a problem.
Selfbowman:
J W I hang out in Colorado some times for a month or so before I go to the flight shoot .im from central Tx . After three years of the Colorado summer thing my record bow blew up. I checked the moisture and it was to dry. It could have been something else it’s wood after all.i also sent one to Salt Lake City and it did not last a month . Could have been me the bowyer. I could not see anything wrong with it though. I’m glad to here of your success with Osage in the black hills though. What are you sealing them with JW?
JW_Halverson:
--- Quote from: Selfbowman on January 24, 2025, 12:58:59 pm ---J W I hang out in Colorado some times for a month or so before I go to the flight shoot .im from central Tx . After three years of the Colorado summer thing my record bow blew up. I checked the moisture and it was to dry. It could have been something else it’s wood after all.i also sent one to Salt Lake City and it did not last a month . Could have been me the bowyer. I could not see anything wrong with it though. I’m glad to here of your success with Osage in the black hills though. What are you sealing them with JW?
--- End quote ---
My finishes are typically shellac, polyurethane, TruOil (been a while since I used it because I am lazy), and 2 part epoxy thinned with acetone. A couple bows of mine went to Noatak Alaska where they were hung outdoors on the cabin in -40F temps and virtually zero relative humidity. But then, I don't build aggressive designs and go for high risk returns. I am content with bows that perform well enough but last a long time. You flight shooters love to lick the razor's edge!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version