Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Weylin on March 05, 2012, 01:53:45 am
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A couple of friends that live across the street told me that they really want to learn how to make their own bows. I'm certainly no expert but I feel like I know enough to get them started in the right direction. I'd like some advice from you more experienced people about what the best way to start off a new bowyer. My current idea is to cut some easy to find bow wood like hazelnut or vinemaple and start it seasoning and in the meantime help them make a few bendy-handled board bows to get the hang of tillering. By the time their staves are ready they should have a better chance of getting a shootable bow out of them. Good idea, bad idea, any other thoughts or suggestions? Thanks! 8)
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Sounds like a plan. You will be amazed how much you learn when you start teaching someone else. Good luck.
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Not sure I would start someone on vine maple. I broke 6 in a row before I got my first one to hold together. All that reflex is hard to handle for an inexperienced bowyer. Hazelnut is good though.
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Good point Gordon, I'm 0-1 on vine maple myself... :-\
I'm thinking about whittling that broken vine maple stave down to a kids bow for my soon too be 3 year old. We'll see how that works... at least that piece of wood will have a second chance at life. ::)
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Better yet take them out to cut there own wood because for me that is allot of the fun of building bows harvesting wood and searching for that non exsisting perfect stave. ;D I never have had problems with Vine Maple breaking but I have had it fret on me due to bad tiller. I agree the Hazelnut might be a better choice to start as its usually easy too find a straight piece :D Look forward to an update when things get going!
Josh
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I had a new friend over today to try building his first bow too. I have dozens of birch staves all ready to go, and I think I've made all the mistakes possible with birch, so I can help him avoid them. He'll be my 6th student, and all except one of them got shooters their first time. I love getting people started and seeing the look on their faces when they shoot that first arrow. Rob
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sound's like good times, have fun with it, Bub
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I like the idea of starting right out with a stave bow. Boards can be so frustrating. They where to me anyway!
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Josh, I wasn't clear in my first post. I do intend to take them out to cut their own staves. I agree that's all part of the fun.
PD, If I had some staves sitting around for them to use I would just start there but all I have is some yew and, well... that's not gonna happen. >:D So I feel like cutting staves and waiting half a year is just gonna kill their enthusiasm. I'm not all that enamored with board bows either but at least it's cheap and something they can get their hands on immediately. That's my thoughts anyway, I'd love for you to try and talk me out of it. that's why I made this post. ;D
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I started with an oak board but it's still hanging from the rafters not finished (got to finish it someday?) because I started working on a Mullberry stave at the same time.... just something about working with a stave that pulls me in :)
Pretty cool to be able to help someone else get started....
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Weylin, if I didn't have staves already cured, that's exactly what I'd do too. Waiting a year or two before getting started on a project could kill just about anyone's enthusiasm. I think once a stave is dry it's actually easier than a board bow but at least you can start on board NOW. Rob
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I'm with Elktracker get 'em to cut their own.
I got fed up with giving away staves, now if people come to visit I walk 'em over the woods and show them what to look out for and we normally find something suiatble for them either picked up off the floor or they get to cut it.
Del
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I am new to bow making and my mentor is PA's Swamp Monkey. Some of you guys might know of him, he made the Eskimo Cable bow and posted on here. He teaches our local bowmaking workshops with Hickory staves. I am currently in the middle of making mine and am having a blast with it, actually built a bowyers bench this weekend so I can work on more besides this one. The only thing he said about hickory was that the whole time you are working it into a bow, it will tell you its not going to be a bow. So far I haven't had any issues with mine and it is turning out really good. Will be posting pics soon.
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You had the idea right from the beginning. Have 'em hunt down and kill their own stave. While that is seasoning, make a trip to the lumberyard and buy up some oak/hickory boards and get 'em working!
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There are probably a few good ways to go at this. I teach a class each fall and I use hickory staves and have each person do the same design. This makes things easier to instruct. As an added bonus each stave has its own character and problems to solve. So with the same wood and same design they learn tillering and get to see how to handle problems in other people's staves without having too many other variables to deal with.
A good Kindergarten teacher will tell you be consistent when you want someone to learn.
My big deal is start them with one wood and one method. Get comfortable with that - then branch out.
I am glad to hear you are teaching others. It's good fro you and it is good for the art.
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I had cut some oregon ash back in august, and steelslinger just got it his first bow finished out of it. It dryed surprisingly fast without twist or checking, and proved to be a very good bow wood. I know all the arguments for board bows, but they just don't do it for me, and I wouldn't want to start someone on a lumberyard piece. If you can get more yew, you could trade some of what you have for seasoned staves. I think you should still take them out to cut there own staves, but find a source of seasoned staves to get them started now.
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Better yet take them out to cut there own wood because for me that is allot of the fun of building bows harvesting wood and searching for that non exsisting perfect stave. ;D I never have had problems with Vine Maple breaking but I have had it fret on me due to bad tiller. I agree the Hazelnut might be a better choice to start as its usually easy too find a straight piece :D Look forward to an update when things get going!
Josh
Agreed getting to know what your looking for is half the fun.
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Thanks for all the helpful input! I met with the guys last night and we talked over our options. Gordon has graciously offered a couple of seasoned hazelnut staves for them to use, they were pretty stoked to hear that. Thanks Gordon! I tried to encourage them to just get started on the staves but they really like the idea of buying a cheapish board from the wood store and not feeling too much pressure about messing up. So they want to take a stab at a board bow first and then give the hazlenut a shot after a little experience. Because I think that finding trees and cutting staves is an important part of the process I suggested that we hunt down some suitable wood to replace what Gordon contributed.
So all that being said, i dont have alot of experience with board bows. I'm planning on using Jawge's site as a reference. Do any of you have suggestions about what to do/not do with beginners and board bows. I was leaning toward hickory as a wood choice but I'm not married to the idea. I'm thinking a long, bend through the handle bow with no narrowed handle area would be the best and simplest design to start with. Let me know if I'm on the right track...
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I usually start people with a red oak board since it is a cheap way to make mistakes. also makes getting the basics of tillering a little easier. The end results will be a great bow and then you can move them on to a real stave with bumbs and twists.
Jamie