Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Deerhunter21 on February 13, 2019, 06:52:28 pm
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I would like to get into bow making but need some direction in where to go. any tips will help :) (tools, bow designs, wood, where to buy staves, etc.) Thanks!
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Your other post about starting with a board bow is a good plan. Boards are much cheaper and easier to come by in most cases.
There's info in the how to thread, like build alongs. Read as many of those as possible. Post pics and others will hopefully pitch in with suggestions.
Tattoo Dave
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My site may help you get started.
http://traditionalarchery101.com
Jawge
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George has what you want to know on his site. Check it out then come back so we can walk you through the process. :OK
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Make some no frills well tiller bows to start,..then experiment as u gain experience
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https://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,64697.msg909762.html#msg909762
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Start with the best wood you can, any short cuts in that area and your failure rate goes up exponentially.
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Thanks Guys! another question. What are frills? also whats a Well tiller? I haven't heard of that type of tillering. Also Thanks for the Link George! ;D
Make some no frills well tiller bows to start,..then experiment as u gain experience
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Buy a good drawknife and a good rasp. The difference is like night and day. I had two cheap Chinese rasps and the heat treat was so bad that they bent in the handle... while rasping yew. A small high quality draw knife also doesn't really cost that much but is absolutely worth it.
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A no frills bow is a simple bow without all the geegaws, without decorations, just good tiller. Tillering is the heart or bow making. A well tillered bow is one that has both limbs bending evenly and together, depending on the style of bow you are making. Some bows have an elliptical tiller, some a circle of an arch tiller. This depends on the style and shape of the bow.
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Plus 2 on all the replies! Take your time, and ask questions. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask! Read "The Bent Stick" by Paul Comstock's, vols. 1-4 Traditional Bowyer's Bible.
Welcome aboard!
Hawkdancer
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OK so I want to get the stuff but where can I get a Good draw and pen knife? I know where to get the books. And is it better to buy a stave or make one? Thanks! :BB
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Jusk shops of antique shops usually have good, old drawkinves for about $20 or so. If you know a farrier(horseshoer) they usually have farrier rasps that they will give away or you can but one new for about $20 from Tractor Supply.
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Thanks! I will check them out!
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Like learning any new information on a particular subject education is key. You can fly right into the “doing” part of this craft and learn by trial and error. Better I believe to learn from the wisdom of others and simply avoid some of those errors. Get your hands on the Traditional Bowyers Bible, vol I and vol II. Read them as you go, in advance of the “doing” part. Pick up a copy of Comstocks “The Bent Stick”. Lots of wisdom there. So much of what you will read those books will translate directly to that piece of wood your working on. You have the added advantage of coming to this forum throughout your build to consult with any number of guys that are much farther down the road. Tearing into this without that foundation...frustrating at best. Knowledge is power.
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Thanks for posting this thread. Lots of good replies here that are helping me as well.
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And is it better to buy a stave or make one?
you can start collecting wood for future use but it will take time to dry well. You also need to know how to do it in a proper way (debarking, sealing, storing..)
If you want to start making bow start with a board bow or buy an already seasoned stave
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You also have to know how to choose a tree to cut for staves to be sure there are few if any knots, does the tree grow in a spiral causing twisted staves and the type of wood best for bows. If you want to start learning to build wood bows now buy a good board stave or tree stave or trade for one on our Trading Post.