Laminated bow making

[J. Holden]

I have a few questions for those of you who have made laminated bows in the past.  I'm entertaining the purchase of the materials to make my own.  As I look at the materials and such that need to be bought I got to thinking, how many bows am I gonna build.  So, have any of you built one bow and then been done?  I don't see me building a bunch of bows or anything like that.  Also, I'm looking at Binghams plans.  What are the odds of failure on my first bow?  I'm going back and forth I guess and I'm lookin' for advice.  Thanks gentlemen!  

[bjansen]

Well...if you enjoy your first bow build you will likely be hooked on this hobby for a while...and thus the heat box, form etc you built will come in handy....but if you just want to make one bow or even a couple, you could get a bow blank glued up and then finish it your self..that would be much cheaper for only 1 or 2 bows and still a great deal of fun.

[jsweka]

Odds of failure - pretty slim using Binghams instructions/plans.  I'm pretty much mechanically disinclined, but I've built several longbows and recently a take down recurve from Bingham's plans and haven't had any sort of failure with any of them.  And I shoot a lot - nearly every evening when the weather is decent.

Warning - it is addictive.  About the time you finish your first one, you'll be planning the second one.

Jump in and build one.  You'll love it!

[stykbow67]

Myself and a buddy thought we would just build one for ourselves and are boys,Ha, I just finished my 5th longbow today and I've only got one boy! My buddy has turned out 4 and we both just bought Bingham plans for TD Longbow and TD Recurve. Trust me it's addictive to say the least!! If you can find a bud to split the cost of some of the equipment it makes it a little easier to justify.

Good Luck,Steve

[sulphur]

i agree with the blank idea.  very economical.  On the other hand, a good set of plans should get you there.  Just be slow and deliberate with your planning.

[Scott F]

I think that it is too late for you!  

If you decide that bow building is not for you but you never try to build one all you're really doing is deferring your first bow build!

Buy the plans from Binghams and get started.  My advice is to go back and read as many build alongs as you can prior to buying your materials or building any jigs that you think will be necessary.

I've only made 4 bows so far but I am really looking forward to the next!

Your bitten, buy the materials!

[macbow]

There is no way to know at this time what you will feel after the first or second one.

Most guys build their first Bingham recurve and it will be sorta blocky. Take your time and create smooth lines.

I had a friend that bought all jigs, plans and made a form and build some great bows. He offered me the use of his stuff. I insisted that I buy in for 50%
I made 4 bows. Then another friend bought in so we each had 33% in the original investment.
I've moved to all wood bows, but some day may want to make another glass bow.

So look for some partners.
enjoy the process.
Ron

[Tyler Langston]

I have made one bow from the Binghams r/d longbow and thought I just wanted to make a few.

But now I am hooked and Ive got myself making me another bow and my family members so dont plan on just making one lol  

[Pat B]

I have built only one glass lam bow. It was a straight limb Bingham Project long bow and it blew. Not because it was a Bingham bow but because I didn't feather out the fades correctly. If you follow the instructions that come with the kit and get additional advice here, your chances of success are excellent.

[cobbow]

Try to find a mentor. You will have a lot more fun on the first one. My mentor has been building bows for 15 years. It made it so much easyer to get started and a lot more fun    
I is addictive I am finishing up on #2 (wifes bow) and planing on #5 lol.

Have Fun!!
Cobbow

[J. Holden]

Well, I'm gonna scrape some pennies together and get started.  Thank's for the advice.  Talk to you soon.

-Jeremy

[barley40]

I've built many selfbows and one Bingham straight limb longbow. Theres the heatbox, form,airhose etc. My first bow was nearly perfect but I paid a lot of attention to detail. One thing, I went by outdated instructions from Bingham and put my lams under the formica strip on the form and had to order more lams. Should have paid more attention. Do dry runs before glueing.

[J. Holden]

Thanks for the advice.  I called Bingham's and they recommended for the first time bowyer the recurve or the longbow.  I already have a recurve and would like to build their reflex/deflex longbow.  They discouraged me but didn't turn me away.  They just said there's some curves that may throw me for a loop.  Anyone have any experience with this?  Is a R/D bow that difficult to figure out?  I know I haven't built a bow before but, I do consider myself someone who can follow directions fairly easily.  Any thoughts?

-Jeremy

[barley40]

Guess what I'm trying to say is for one bow it's not worth it unless you really, really want a bow you made yourself, which to a lot of us is a big thing. If you have the shop tools already and the plywood for the forms thats a good start. It cost me about the same to build my bow as what I could have bought a good longbow. I'm planning to build more though.

[barley40]

I wanted a r/d reflex also, but went with the straight limb because I wanted to simplify the first one. The form is easier to saw. It's probably better to stay simple til you get the mechanics of bowbuilding down. But then, I've only built one.

[Bob Sarrels]

Back in 97 I thought I would build myself a bow.  Now, some 800 plus bows later it has become both a full time job and an obsession.