Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: duffontap on April 27, 2007, 11:19:07 pm
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Hello Everyone.
I just finished a class with a couple college-aged guys who have been asking me to teach them how to build a bow for a while now. Every time I show anyone part of the bow-building process I'm reminded of how long it took me to produce my first good bow. After breaking and hacking enough board staves to build a barn I scheduled a class with John Strunk and changed everything.
With an experienced bowyer looking over your shoulder, you are kept from the dozens of little mistakes that can ruin a bow in short order. Parker, Tyler and I had a great time in the shop and they love their new bows. They both built finely-tillered Maple character bows (60# and 70#!) on their first attempts. One is going caribou hunting in Alaska and the other is going wild boar hunting in California.
If you're new at this, I'd seriously recommend taking a class where you can try out some good tools, get tillering instruction, look at different staves and billets, ask questions, swap hunting stories, and leave at the end of a couple days with a finely-crafted self bow. It's a big head start. I wouldn't be here without John's class. It felt good to pass the help on.
J. D. Duff
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/P1010008.jpg)
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/P1010006-1.jpg)
I even got to pry these bows out of their hands long enough to shoot a few arrows--nice! (Me in the black shirt shooting a 70# 'first bow').
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q35/duffontap/P1010009.jpg)
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Very cool J.D.! Nice of you to show these lads the ropes to bow building. looks like they had alot of fun and you too. They both have them tillered out nicely and that quite a weight for maple. (70#)
-Alex
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Good for you Josh, and Parker and Tyler too. I agree with you about taking a class. I spent 2 days with Vinson Minor a few years ago and it tough me more than just how to build a BBO. Seeing someone that was in command of the wood opened my eyes for sure. It built confidence in my ability just watching Vinson working a stave. After reading every book out there ??? about wood bow building and years of wasting lots of good bow wood, something snapped! ;D Oh! if I only had some of that wasted wood back again! :'( Pat
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The guy in the 2nd pic looks like he's going to shoot the arrow through the window! ;D :D
Great job, keep passing it on.
Sean
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Dang, maybe I better sign up for JD's next bow class. I know I should take one, but breaking wood is so fun. :'( Justin
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Cool! Also neat work shop.
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Looks like you got some nice bows out, I have a couple of groups I help out usually 4 or 5 guys sometimes 2. I try to wean them as quickly as possible, amazing how some guys just have such a natural nack for it once they are shown a few basic steps. Steve
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Well done, JD. You helped these young men produce some great bows. Congratulations to them for being good learners. Jawge
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Nice bows guys, I would love to take a class from someone but living where I do there is no one around
to do so with. I can't afford to travel somewhere else either so I just go it alone and depend on this forum for advice.
DanaM
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Congradulations on becoming a teacher, JD. It is a shame you live 3,000 miles away. Those are both handsome weapons.
Oh, if you could, I'd love to see you give us some shots and progress on the Viking bow if you can.
Dane
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JD, when you said they are made of maple. Is that vine maple or another species?
Those are terriric bows for a first try (or any try for that matter). You are obviously a first rate teacher.
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jd, those bows came out nice. you're a talented teacher.
when I attended such a class, i walked away with a mediocre bow. not the teachers fault, but there were too many students in the class for adequate time per student. but what the class did accomplish, was to take my fear of screwing up beyond recovery. i learned that if i go slowly and concentrate on what i'm doing i can turn out a bow that shoots. maybe not the fastest and maybe no perfect tiller, but that, i think comes with experience. the rest is devouring every written word i could find about bowyery, be it in books or on the web and talking to generous people who don't mind sharing their experience on forums like this. so, what i'm trying to say is: do the class, loose the fear, learn the basics and then start cranking them out, because every bow you make will be better than the previous one.
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Does anyone know of any classes or are there any experienced bowyers in the Ky area? David
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very cool
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Tarsus, Are you coming to the Classic. Gary Davis will be there and he can teach you lots about bow building. As a matter of fact, Lots of us can and will. ;D Pat
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That's neat stuff JD, they both look like they came out with well tillered bows.
VB
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Pat, I wish I could. :( But it is the weekend of the Ky Derby, and we are entertaining guests. I want to make the next one close to Ky for sure!! David
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The Kentucky Classic, in Nancy Co. is a good one and Gary will probably be there too. Its sometime soon if it hasn't already happened. Pat
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Pat, you can teach me how to build bows while I am down. I promise to behave. Justin
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I too would like to take a class, hope I can learn from you guys here on PA, just wish I could soak up the knowledge like good beer.(and as easily) Auggie.
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Justin ya better bring an apple fer the teacher or ya will be sitting in the corner. ;D
Dana
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Thanks for all the kind comments guys. Parker and Tyler love their bows and they're getting some great shots off with them. I really wish that I had taken a class first thing to help me understand the tillering process better. Plus, it's a huge benefit to see how a good shop it set up, try different kinds of tools and vises, etc. Incidentally, I set this bench up with the intention of teaching some classes since people from the school keep asking me to teach them. These guys got to break it in.
Gordon, I think it's Big Leaf Maple. Both bows are made from a 4" diameter branch cut down the center. They have a nice snake to them too. Very nice.
Dane, I'm working on that bow and I will post pics soon.
J. D. Duff
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Justin, If you promise to behave, I won't teach you anything! ;) And don't listen to Dana. You better bring more than apples. ::)
I thing the thing that tought me the most from taking a class is watching a bowyer work and having someone close to not only to tell you but show you what you don't understand. To watch someone that knows what they are doing with regard to bow building is an eye opener. Seeing is believing. ;) Pat
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Good use of some quality time, J. D. Take a few more pics of each when done, handle, tips, braced, unbraced, etc and post them with each bowyer's name for May Self Bow of the Month.