Hi all. I just joined recently. Just got my first computer recently and am as illiterate with it as it's possible to be. I started building bows about 6 - 8 years ago and the learning curve has been a long one. I have the TBB books and The Bent Stick but there's a lot of little tricks they don't tell you. My biggest problem has been finding bow wood. The best that grows around here is birch and it can make a nice bow but it has to be wide and long, which limits the designs you can use. The nearest store that carries hardwoods is a 4 hour drive away.
I've made somewhere between 60 and 100 bows and a huge amount of firewood (birch is also the best firewood that grows around here.
In September I was contacted by bowyer who also lives in my province (BC) and he reccomended that I join Trad Gang. I did and learned more in a few weeks than I had in the previous year. I also saw references to Primitive Archer and joined here. I've learned a lot here too and have joined your bow swap. Finally got some nice hardwood so I don't think the swap bow will be birch. It's time to move out of my comfort zone. Rob