posted
Depernds on the bows you build and the quality and expense of the materials./ You have to pro rate the cost of machinery , electrictiy over the year ect. I agree with Brandon though. It is roughly twice the cost of hard materials. That is not counting time buying the materials. Gas ect/ Most bowyers forget the expense of shipping. Even when you charge for the shipping you still have to run it to the post office. buy the boxing. foam wrap ect. It all adds up. On my bows hard cost is close to 500. per bow on a takedown./ I have done as close to true costs as possible and when I got done it shocked me. At this cost I am counting sand paper , glue used. all materials., pro rating wear on machinery and replacement costs. ect. I then take the bows I have built over the year. Add the sales up and deduct actual costs. I was so shocked I almost quit building bows. Seriously. This is a labor of love. I am in complete agreement with everything Brandon said.
posted
After I started building bows, I soon realized why the professionals charge what they charge. When I hear a guy at a 3D shoot complaining about the cost of custom bows, I tell them to try building one for themself and they'll soon realize why they cost what they do.
As Sixby said, it is a labor of love.
-------------------- John Sweka - Howard, PA Posts: 2075 | From: Howard Pennsylvania | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
Most of my equipment I picked up used ( not the hobby stuff). I've had to replace a few pieces over the years and that hurt the wallet each time.
Like jsweka said, when I hear someone complain about the price of most custom bows today I tell them to buy their own equipment and start building.
I've even had people ask me what it cost to build a bow. I tell them the cost of material isn't that bad if they use black glass and local woods.
However, if they use exotics and clear glass the price is going to much higher.
Now, add in the cost of even used equipment and the cost of their first ten bows will be still higher than what they can buy ten bows for from a reasonable bowyers.
posted
I would think that money saved on buying meat would help justify the money/effort put into bow building, imho. Posts: 129 | From: Bear, Delaware | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
You guys might want to start makeing selfbows. It only cost me sweat THE LAST 21 YEARS. Mine are totally hand made. Draw knife and rasps.And for the post at wants to add where and tear on tools. I still use the same ones as when I started. And they were 100 years old when I got mine at a flea market.
Money should'nt matter if bow buildings in your heart. Not many peoples builds enough to start a bissness. So why worry about the money. If you do, buy yourself a flea market,yard sell bow.People don't build bows to save money. I don't know one person that started for that reason.
-------------------- DEAD IS DEAD NO MATTER HOW FAST YOUR ARROW GETS THERE 20 YEARS LEARNING 20 YEARS DOING 20 YEARS TEACHING CROOKETARROW Posts: 1122 | From: WV | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[dunno]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
