Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Eric Krewson on March 22, 2015, 09:31:21 am
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I have noticed over the past few couple of years that guys first time bows are really good, maybe a little tillering glitch but great workmanship.
I remember the newbie bows posted 5 years ago as being pretty rough affairs, cockeyed tillering, poorly shaped limbs and handles that looked like they didn't fit the bow.
I wonder what has changed, is it better information available, better mentoring from a broader base of experienced bow makers, or what?
What ever it is; I l like it and love to see what the new guys are turning out.
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I agree, Eric. Some of these first time bows are just incredible. 8)
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I agree, Eric. Newcomers are making excellent bows. Jawge
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I think it has to do with the quality of bowyers here to help people along the way
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Its probably due to the almost overwhelming stock of info we have now. But it may be too that a lot of these new first time bowyers appear to be older and maybe retired, baby boomers that maybe had jobs that required craftmanship and skill but they just didn't have time to build one. Now that they are retired it fee's up time to do it and they bring their honed skills to the front.
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I look back at the first bow I built a couple of years ago, and although it turned out to be a shooter, it sure looks clunky. I was fortunate to have two very experienced bowyers at the club to tutor me in addition to doing a lot of reading and watching YouTube videos. My years of woodworking most definitely helped too.
Many of these resources would not likely have been available 10 years ago, so I feel very fortunate to have gotten off to a good start. And thank many of you here for continuing my education. This is also an extremely valuable resource for learning and making new friends.
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Tons of how-to videos on youtube helped a lot for me. My first successful bow was a sinew backed osage with carp. Not the best looking bow, but it wasn't half bad either. Definite thanks to all the info on here and other places online. I always use this as an argument for people who bash the internet.
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It's more information, better information, and lot's of support. There was already some good information out there when I started, but I did not know this until several years later. Internet has changed everything. It's no longer tribal knowledge, it's just all out there. Speaking of which, considering that bows were highly used in previous centuries and then almost forgotten, do you guys think this will fizzle out and that this knowledge will be almost lost again, or is it here to stay? At any rate, new guys have good info. but are also just very talented. Mission accomplished I guess.
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I think the interest is here to stay,,, :)
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As one of the "younger" bowyers here I'd say it's due to the vast amount of info online. I know I've learned a lot online before even reading TBB.
I live in Israel, where the bow making hobby is not common at all (some people still think I'm a weirdo...), and I can still ask and consulate a lot of experience bowyers from all over the world. I can tiller a bow, take pictures and get fresh opinions on it LIVE. It's like taking a bow making class with dozens of great teachers.
It's a good opportunity to say a big "thank you" to the great PA comunity.
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There so much for inspiration as well. Just go through all the bows posted and you'll find stuff that makes you wanna do thaton your next bow. Handle styles, nocks styles, different grip materials, etc.
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I just started on my second bow, and you guys are right - it is the vast wealth of info available. Almost any question I have had has been asked before (several times, usually) and thoroughly answered. And that's just the info from this forum. There are at least a couple more out there that are also fantastic (you know which ones I'm talking about). The buildalongs here and elsewhere, like Sam Harper's Poor Folk Bows, offer huge insight and help remove the apprehension of starting up on this awesome
hobby way of life.
I think the best thing a beginner can do, other than buying the Bowyer's Bibles, is to open up the "Bows" subforum here at PA and just start plowing through every thread that looks interesting to you. I'm going to go through all ~1000 pages. I don't read every thread, just the ones that are interesting to me now. Once my skill level increases, I will no doubt go through them all again. I bookmark stuff, take notes annotated with hyperlinks and who said what, and I save interesting images. Basically, I am flooded with information. It's like sticking my head under a waterfall of knowledge.
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My 2 cents are the vast amount of information available online. Tools are easier to obtain. This page has kept my interest with the great sense of community and awesome work.
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I agree, Eric. I'm thinking it's the info they get on forums like this, you tube, etc... But they are amazing compared to my first bow..
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Is it better in the long run for someone to make a great bow first time....or to take ten to learn how to?
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How many "first bows" are really actual first attempts? I don't s'pose many newbies will post their failures/
@Mike... I'm sure they'll have some failures lurking round the corner waiting to pounce on 'em and go 'tick' then BANG >:D
Del
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Agree Eric, the learning curve has certainly been shortened a bit it seems over the years. :)
A lot of the beginners amaze me. :)
Pappy
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Primitive Archer has played a big roll in this. Archery is kind of a strange hobby in that it was virtually lost for a few generations save a handful of holdouts that kept it going. I guess about 30 years ago it started comming back to life and it was a little rough going for a while.
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I'm in the same boat as arachnid. Learned a massive amount of info from forums, videos, and search engines and completed a good dozen bows before ever buying any of the popular bowyers' literature. The Internet is a beautiful tool. I feel like it's progressed the overall knowledge and information accessibility of mankind more than any other time in history.
I feel like another factor is the cheap and available tools. I don't know how it was back in the day, but you can walk into almost any department store, home improvement store, or tool store and leave with a bag of everything you need to whip out presentable bows for well under a hundred bucks. It's essentially a one time investment that opens up this art to many who are financially pressed and might not otherwise be able to afford it.
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Is it better in the long run for someone to make a great bow first time....or to take ten to learn how to?
Good question. I have learned plenty from my mistakes. And, for me, it is never really the destination (a "perfect" bow) but rather the journey getting there, mistakes or otherwise.
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Also...
The Primitive Archer Community--in other words, you guys (and gals)--are an invaluable source for newcomers. I probably know 10%--well, maybe 15% ;), of what most of you guys/gals know about building primitive bows. I still regularly muck things up, but the advice I get here is generally quick and polite. So the muck ups are on me, and I can live with that. But with sound support, I get a bit better each time too. And, most importantly, I have a heck of a lot fun doing it.
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Not patronizing bows with real issues helps a bunch in my opinion. Not just the builder of said bow, but the dozens of folks reading the thread silently and learning as they go. We've seen plenty of split opinions on this matter and several "warm" threads discussing it, but in the end the honest critiquing helps the most.
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As I have said before PD. I would rather have one guy comment on the issues with my bows rather than have 500 views and no comments.
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+1 on the above two.
Jim Davis
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I think it is ironic that the end goal of the work is a primitive bow that draws us back to thousands of years of bowmaking tradition--but would have been utterly impossible for me without the aid of the most modern technology of the internet.
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It is ironic. I've had some folks up to make a bow and they make one and that is it.
Seems the only way I can pass it on is through the internet.
Jawge
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What a journey the past 30 years have been !
Before that it was hunt and peck away and not on the keyboard either .
and oh ya lots of FG dust most of which is still in my lungs
it's been 39 years since I have glued up a Glass bow
Boy was I glad to get away from that junk
I am tickled with how things are going in archery today and with so many folks doing there own it should continue for way after I am gone :) :)
Keep up the good work folks
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The last three students I had in my shop were work horses, very refreshing, at least a dozen that came before them never completed a bow.
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How many "first bows" are really actual first attempts? I don't s'pose many newbies will post their failures/
@Mike... I'm sure they'll have some failures lurking round the corner waiting to pounce on 'em and go 'tick' then BANG >:D
Del
No way, I'm going to share every victory and definitely every failure. I would want you guys to help give a broken bow an autopsy so I can avoid future mistakes.