Making a bow.

[Kevin007]

Hi guys. I am new here and this is a great site.
I am just starting out on traditionals but I've been shooting compounds for the past 10 years. Thanks to the gurus here, replying to my first post, I have started shooting my bow in no time. I think I'm going to like this.

As I look around on the internet and pro shops, these traditional bows are quite expensive. However, I thought about building my own bow. Maybe start out with a long bow or something. I've been trying to seek a beginner's course (live in class) on it but no luck. Does anyone in here have homemade videos on how to go about making bows? I've seen some sites that sells plans  and bow kits but I like to see how it's done before I attemp. Would be nice if someone started a course here in Minnesota. I would pay to attend the class.

thanks, any help would be appreciated.

kevin

[va]

check out the How To section on this site.

get some wood and start learning.  It is a process so look ahead to getting better on each bow you make.

[Talin342]

Get a piece of red oak and some drywall tape, if you screw up you're out like maybe $10 bucks.  Learn by doing, start with a forgiving wood and make enough where you feel comforable making more complex long-bows and and recurves.

DO a google search for "bow building for poor people and apartment dwellers" good site for beginners in my opinion.

[Pat B]

I'm assuming you want to build a glass lam bow. If so, look up Bingham Projects. They have all the materials and plans for many different styles of bows. Start out with a simple straight limb longbow.

[moebow]

Kevin,  Check out Northhouse  folk school in Grand Marais.  They have three classes scheduledfor this summer/fall.  I took one last summer and built a hickory longbow with Richard Yonker (the instructor.)  He lives down in your neck of the woods -- somewhere in that big village.

[AKmud]

This is the instruction set I used to get started -     Red oak board bow  

Sam Harper does a great job with this build.  It is really easy to follow and you can make a pretty decent bow as well.  

Good luck and post pics!!

[George Tsoukalas]

Here's my site. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[UnderControl16]

what is a glass lam bow?

[Pat B]

A glass lam bow has a glass back, a glass belly and multiple layers of wood in between. Like most traditional bows.

[UnderControl16]

oh ok... i guess i'm going to have to look around on the how to area and see what it all entails.

[sulphur]

read as many buildalongs as you can find.  on this site there are many good ones for selfbows and fiberglass laminate bows.  also i second sam harpers site.  he does good buildalongs for board bows, wood laminate and glass laminate bows.  once you have read a little buy some wood and start building.  If you ain't breakin' you ain't buildin'.   thats a  popular saying around here so don't get discouraged.

[Eric Krewson]

Lots of bow making videos on utube.