Hello all - I'm getting ready to take my first awkward steps into bowmaking so I thought I'd register on your forum. I've been reading it for a few weeks now and found it extremely educational. I've loved archery since I was a kid and my father made me a small longbow when he was experimenting in bowmaking. I'm a father myself now and I wanted to pick up the tradition. My dad had gotten away from bowmaking in the 80s but is very excited to rediscover it right along with me.
I've spent the past year studying various bowmaking blogs and sites and I've read through TBB 1 a few times. I've decided to start out with stave longbows, since that's the only type my dad has experience with, but I plan to move along to board bows at some point. My father is a master carpenter with 40 years of experience and he has all the tools I could need. I have spokeshaves, two drawknives, a good rasp I bought from 3riversarchery, and anything else I might need I can borrow. Since the only work space I have at my place is my patio, my father and I spent the winter building an old fashioned shave bench. We just completed it this weekend.
I don't have any real questions right now. Just wanted to introduce myself and see if any of you might be in my area. I live in Nassau County on Long Island and I have met a few traditional archers, but not a single traditional bowyer have I found. I would love the chance to meet face to face and get some real-time education, but even without that, I expect the feedback I'm going to get on this forum will be priceless.