Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jacob Parnell on July 26, 2013, 02:37:20 pm
-
Just a post on my first bow.
A 66" red oak board bow that pulls 24# at 27". Backed with Burlap.
Now, I did not intend on making this bow pull 24# - I was actually hoping for 35, but I screwed up in 2 places. If you look at my other posts, you'll notice I didn't know how to raise the brace height, so I assumed that you just keep taking wood off. Because of this, I just kept rasping my bow down, making it weaker. The other problem relates to the tillering tree. If you look at the last picture, you'll notice that the tillering tree I made used a pulley to pull the bowstring. Now that pulley was really cheap I guess, cause it did not roll smoothly. It somehow screwed up the reading on the scale because when I went to measure the poundage WITH the pulley, it read 32#, but without the pulley it read 24# (If that makes any sense).
Any way, I also wanted to ask you guys for advice and constructive criticism. Including my shooting form :) My friend and I are going to be making bows some time in the next week, and I definitely want some improvement.
Thanks so much!
Jacob
-
Congrats on your first. Your farther down the road than others who just read and talk about it. Tiller looks good. At this point I had my 2nd and 3rd close to broken. :)
-
If it shoots you did good. the tiller looks right on. It's better to have a lite bow tillered good then the weight you were after just to see it break.
-
nice work man
-
Thanks so much guys... It means a lot :D
what about my shooting posture? Is it ok?
Jacob
-
my first bow came in at 20# too, the next one was better and now only ten bows later, ive finished my first sinew backed shorty. Point being, put that baby in the closet and move on to the next one and make it even better.
-
great job. wish my first one shot
knapper
-
Good job on that one
-
Congratulations, you got a working bow on your first try! I can tell you, I did not. I've still only built a few but they improve every time! I bet your second one will be even better too! As far as shooting form goes I'm no expert there either but I bet the more you shoot your new creation your form will follow along too. Welcome to the addiction - it's a lot of fun!
Mark
-
Your form ain't half bad! Your arrow arm is in line with the same line as the arrow...good! Looks like you have established an anchor point. Good, stick with it, never change it. And it looks like your bow arm has a little bend in the elbow, good. Now just stick a ruler under your watchband on your left arm. Make the back of your hand continue the line that the back of your forearm has. That turns your wrist in slightly and helps prevent wrist slap from the string.
Good bow. Good job. I'm betting the next one will be even better!
-
To make the first bow a shooter is a win in it self(even if it come in a bit light) and that one looks good.
As of the form,it is very personal..but a good start is feets shoulderwith apart and rear foot perpendicular to target.
Dont lean back,even weight on the feet or slightly more on the forward one and dont lock your knees.
from there you can find your stance. (Take this as guidelines not as an absolut "must do")
And JW is spot on with the anchor too
-
Great job on your 1st bow! If it were me i would shoot the heck out of it and make another :). If draw weight is a big issue to you, you can cut 1" off each end and file new string grooves. In my experience that will raise your draw weight 7-10#'s..... But its way more fun to just make a new one. ;D... Brian
-
Congratulations on your first bow! You have been bitten by the bowyer's bug, I can tell. :) There will be many more in your future, I am willing to bet. Hang on to that one. Nothing beats letting loose an arrow from your first bow. In my opinion, if someone can build a decent bow from a red oak board, there will be some amazing bows in their future, once they get their hands on some of the better bow woods. Good job.
-
Congratulations Jacob! Sounds like you ran into some good learning experiences,along the way and still manged to make a functional bow. Apply this to the next one and the one after that .......
I like your signature, very creative.
Tracy
-
Thanks so much everyone :D I'm so glad it works. My next challenge is a self bow!
I still need to get some bamboo garden stakes to make some arrows.
Jacob
-
Great job on your first bow. It only gets better from here on out. You'll notice significant improvement with each one you make.
As far as form goes, I prefer a wider stance with my knees bent more, but like many others have said, its a personal thing. The key points are to keep a consistent anchor, keep your drawing arm in line with the arrow, and don't lock any of your joints.
"Become the Arrow" by Byron Ferguson is a good book when it comes to addressing form. He breaks it down clearly and concisely, and leaves room for individual preference and different body types. I'd recommend that book any day of the week.
-
Not too shabby! Especially for a first! Josh
-
Looks a lot better than my first. If you hook your scale directly to the bow string and the rope from the pulley to the other end of the scale you will always get a true reading.
-
Good job! You are on your way now. You will learn something from everyone you build!