first go... help

[greenbear]

Hi everyone.   I've been working on my first self bow- a red oak board bow for a very long time now.  It's been bothering me how long its been taking me to tiller and I messed up by doing too much tonight.  

Right now the bow is 72".  I have a pretty bad hinge about 9" from the one tip.  Can this be salvaged in any way?  The one side looks good, but can I turn this into a "yumi" bow by cutting the other limb at the hinge?  Could it be shortened on both ends, but then it would be a 54 inch- would it work for a red oak?

Thanks for the advice- if it's trash, it's trash, but I am very down about how much work I put into this project, and the amount of time.  uggghhh...

[Steve B.]

No one took longer to make the first few bows than me so I understand your emotion.
Since you are new at this you must post pictures of what you have and more details because the problem you think you have might not be that bad or it might be much worse.
Give the width of the bow and draw length.

[psychmonky]

From one new guy to another: don't be discouraged. Its good that it has taken time. Better to go slow than too fast...as you may have learned tonight.

We do need pics though. The guys on here can offer tons of advice.

Even if its firewood, don't look at it as a waste. You undoubtedly learned a ton during the build.

[mwosborn]

I hear you greenbear!  Took me all summer to make my first one - and it was just a "practice" kids bow - only 42" long!  If I have learned nothing else, I have learned patience.  There is definitely a learning curve but it gets better.

Post some pics on here of the bow - side profile - unbraced and braced and at whatever draw length you are at in your tillering.

There are some very good bow builders on this site and they will take the time to help!

Looking forward to pics.

[wood carver 2]

Don't feel bad Greenbear, I was tillering my 8th. bow on Saturday and I created a hinge only 8" from the bottom. When I strung it on a shorter string, the tip bent over at about 90 degrees. All I can do now is salvage the riser and start over. Maybe your bow can be saved. Dave.

[Buxndiverdux]

I've cracked my first two. It happens. Keep at it.

[jtbluefeather871]

If it was easy, everybody could do it.  Keep putting in the time, best investment you can make. And when you shoot your first arrow from a bow that YOU built... It's a pretty great feeling!  You can do it.
I have a corner in my shop for my broken bows.  A lesson in every one!

[greenbear]

 

Thanks for the replies, fellas.  Here are to pics I took of the bow on my board in the shed.  I am sorry for the (lack of) picture quality- only have a floor lamp in the shed and took the picture with the phone.  

I only can draw to about 12 inches due to the right limb.  Prior to my mistake, I could get the limbs moving more- not exactly sure how much draw, since I was tillering with the long string (which I know now is a no-no after reading posts last night).

Any suggestions?  Is she shot? Salvageable?  I'm not too concerned about weight now- I can let my wife use it, or if need be, cut it down and re-tiller for my four-year old daughter.  I do not want it to blow up in their faces.

Thanks much.  If it weren't for work, I would have posted the pics much sooner.

[mwosborn]

I don't know enough about this stuff yet to give you any worthwhile advice on the one you are working on.  There will be some experts that can help.

But on the next one - I would suggest making a tillering gizmo.  It will help out with the tillering for a new guy.  Here is the link...

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000075

[Roy from Pa]

It's not shot, but the weight will be very low so it would be good for your wife or a kid. You have a gizmo tool?

[Steve B.]

I would do one of two things:  either sinew back it or make a kids bow.  You can make the handle smaller for a small hand.

[greenbear]

Thanks for the link.  I didn't know such a tool existed- I'll have to build one up for the future.  

I do have the bow backed with three strips of sheetrock tape (each successively glued on top of another).  Does this make the situation worse?

Thanks again for all of the input.

[greenbear]

I meant to report the fiberglass sheetrock mesh.

Got the idea from Mr. Sam Harper from "poor folk bows"

[Roy from Pa]

The bow is still save-able. Make the gizmo tool and tiller the bow out. You will need to remove a good bit of wood from the hinge inward towards the fade, then the other limb will need wood removed to weaken it up because of all the wood you removed to get rid of the hinge.

[greenbear]

Thanks very much everyone.  I will have at it for a little bit and will send and update- most likely after the weekend, when I have time- and the patience- to work on it.  

I do want to give thanks to the 'gang for their advice and encouragement.  I hope to report good news regarding a self bow in the future.