Working on first board bow, some odd questions...

[halfseminole]

I'm currently working on making my first red oak board bow, but I've got some questions that I've read around on and don't see any answers to.  If nobody has an answer, I'm not offended, I don't think these will come in very often.

I was born with a connective tissue disorder, tentatively identified at first as Marfan syndrome, but later reclassified to "I dunno what it is, but it's bad and you're screwed up.  I would keep my particulars in order if I were you."  What came along with that were a few major skeletal deformities and an amazing penchant for injury (because the world is built for normal skeletons.)  My left shoulder sits about three inches under my right, and my left arm is atrophied from an injury as a teenager.  My elbows also don't extend fully or bend in all the directions yours do.  I can curl a weight just fine, I can do pull ups and chin ups, but I can't wave or armwrestle.  

When I was a young'un (at 31 some will say I still am) I made bows out of what was referred to as "hedge bush" and I was the terror of the neighborhood.  At least until they took that bow away (they didn't take the pocketknife, that was the mistake...)  This childhood led me to learn to shoot somewhat decently (I hit what I was aiming at most of the time, but I don't think I had any kind of "form") but as I've grown older, learned about who and what I was (see name above) and been through some serious upheavals in my life (diagnosed with illness, unable to work, and now just lost my son this year) I've chosen to go back to the simpler life that brought me such joy as a child.  I picked up two red oak boards today and have been roughing out the first one.  The only other time I'm generally that happy about working like that is making a powderhorn.  

I know how much I can lift, and I know what my draw length is supposed to be (per our local archery store, which is compound only and has no respect for trad archery) but how do I work out what I should shoot for for a first draw weight to work back into this?  My draw length is 29", and I can still pick up a 50# bag of dog food and heave it onto my shoulder, but past that I'm lost.  I've answered so many of my own questions on the boards (and learned an awful bunch, including that I will never match what many of you can do, though that only makes me want to know more) and I already hunt with a regular bang stick, but I have five acres of woodlands to hunt (and it's full of deer and coyote,) a lot of time on my hands and pretty much unlimited willingness to learn.  Just pretty low on cash until my disability gets sorted, but that's what the lawyer is for.

Now that I've written a wall of text and wasted half your nights, if anyone has any advice for shooting with a bum arm or how to set up this bow so I can hit something with it I would appreciate it.  If you all think that I would be better off just making wall hangers, well, I've done that before too.  I build knives and powderhorns, and do that almost 100% by hand, so almost all my gear is me-powered as well.  Any advice at all is appreciated.

[D]

Hello halfseminole welcome to the gang..First off I'm very sorry for the loss of your son.  I can't even begin to imagine how that feels.  As far as the bow goes are you wanting to hunt with it??  I usually try not to go lower than 45# to hunt deer with but thats just my opinion.  It would be nice if you could get to some 3d shoots somewhere where you could draw a few different bows and get an idea of what weight you can handle.  The good thing about a board bow you can just shave weight off.  I'd probably tiller it a little heavy and then shave weight off until you can draw it comfrontably.  I hope some of this helps.

[halfseminole]

Deer and coyote, stalk or stand either one (have both available.)  I think the best I can do will be to drive to Bass Pro Shops in Birmingham and pull on bows, as they have some trad stuff.  It's not very thick on the ground here.  I could walk into a pawnshop and buy a el cheapo wheelbow, but I'm not sure that's sporting.  In fact, I pretty much can't stand the idea of all that extra (I made my living designing and building very high end computers, I would like a quieter, simpler life now) and besides, I can't make a wheelbow from a board, which I can here.  

But yes, you're helping.  I read a long time before I posted, because I wanted to be sure I had a place that didn't have an attitude (seen them all over the internet, but I worked in IT-I got so tired of fixing kids' attitudes working I wanted to avoid it when I decided to have fun.)  This place seems to fit that bill perfectly.

[D]

This is a great place.  The people on here are some of the nicest people you will ever come in contact with.  I wouldn't mess with the compounds.  The Bass Pro wouldn't be a bad idea.  They have some trad bows you could draw to get a weight idea but it depends on how far of a drive it is for you.  If its a long drive then I would just start the bow out a little heavy and then shave it down to what you can handle.  Don't forget to put some pics on here when you get working on her.

[Echatham]

Halfseminole, I would check what Basspro has before making the drive... last year i went to that very store in Birmingham, and was very dissapointed. they had 3 PSE coyotes 45#,50#,55#, and i think a hoyt dorado. not a feather in the whole place. only vanes. with your circumstance it's tough to say what your draw weight can or should be... as it's different muscles than you use for other things. gonna have to find a couple to try out... or just build the bow to 45# or so, and lighten it as needed. if you have to start with 35# i wouldn't sweat it... you can build the strength pretty quick. I started with a 40# recurve and made a big jump to 53# longbow. took me a couple weeks to work into it, but once i got on top of it im shooting it good.

[George Tsoukalas]

I am so sorry for your loss, halfseminole. My prayers are with you.

I am happy you want to learn to make bows. There is some info on my site. Do look for straight grained boards. Red oak is good to start with. Build it at least 70 inches and let it bend in the handle for your first which means no glued on pieces.

Usually draw lengths with compounds are 2-3 inches shorter with a self or backed bow. Anyway you'll have to decide on that.

 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

Jawge

[Grandpa Bill]

I would start with a Red Oak or Hickory board and start working on my first bow...go for about 35 lbs for your first one....I would go to goodwill and buy some linen and back it.  You can and will build another one that can always be heavier weight.  Start slow and see what your shoulder can take and build up the muscles before you jump to a heavier bow.  Building heavy is easy...building what you can handle takes a little self control.

Making board bows is an addictive past time and once they start staying in one piece, you will build a lot of them.

Grandpa Bill

[macbow]

Halfseminole,
Thanks for the back ground. Especially sorry for your loss.
On your draw length. With your description it will certainly be less then the compound ratio.
To get close measure with a tape measure in your bow hand extend like holding a bow and,pull the tape to the corner of your mouth simulating drawing the bow.
It's good to,have a idea when building the bow.
I'd suggest just building one and then adjust the weight on successive bows.

Alabama is rich with traditional bowyers and events I think. Might look into something close.

For tools a,cabinet scraper will be helpful. And some type of steady vise to hold the board.

[Draffish]

hi Halfseminole i too am sorry for your loss i carnt imagine how that feels but my thoughts are with you.
as im still in the progress of starting my first bow i dont know the answers for you other than to hope you enjoy the experience of making your own bow.
all the best with making her look forward to seeing some pics

[LittleBen]

Hi there and welcome. I;m devestated to hear you lost your son. I'm sorry you had that loss in your life.

I hope I'm no overstepping my bounds in saying this but I would recommnd shooting the lowest weight you're comfortable hunting with. 40 or 45lbs probably.

Marfan syndrome and other connective tissue diseases present increased risk and earlier development of osteoarthritis.

Better to shoot lighter for a long time than shoot heavy for now.

Best of luck to you.

[halfseminole]

I was diagnosed with osteo at 12, but I haven't let it (completely) stop me.  I'm hoping when it cools off this evening to go back to work on the bow.

[John Scifres]

I agree, 40# should be a good place to start.  But just make the first one and see how it goes.  It's rare that a first bow is the one you end up hunting with.  Good luck.  Have fun.