Questions about Binghams

[MikeWinVA]

I am selling off the remainder of my compound bow stuff.  I was planning to use the money to get a higher end r/d longbow or recurve.

However, Binghams kits came to mind before I pulled handle the drop the money for a Blackwidow or similar.  I was wondering, with their kits and the "recommended ingredients" how do their bows fare compared with commercial offerings in performance? This is assuming I follow the plans perfectly and have no problems.  If I go this route, then I will have a form(s) and the basic setup to build many more bows in the future.

I have built a few long bows, mollegebets, and flat bows already.  I have done composite layups before (wooden boats and furniture veneering), and have a shop full of the appropriate tools.

[breazyears]

Go for it.
 If its something that you think you might enjoy than why not?
 I bought my first longbow plans from Binghams, and built my first bow off them. It. It preformef great, and still does.

[fujimo]

they are a great start-
but be warned- it wont be the end.
new form shapes and ideas will pound your brain late at night, in your dreams and every waking moment.
Now every unattainable bow in the past is immediately , potentially available to you. its a rabbit hole!

[Crittergetter]

Originally posted by fujimo:
they are a great start-
but be warned- it wont be the end.
new form shapes and ideas will pound your brain late at night, in your dreams and every waking moment.
Now every unattainable bow in the past is immediately , potentially available to you. its a rabbit hole!

That's the gospel truth right there!!!

[takefive]

Amen, Wayne.  
I love the Bingham's hybrid I made.  I haven't chrono'd it yet, but it feels pretty quick and it is a very smooth and straight shooter.  I'm working on the riser for one for my daughter, now.
If you make one, look for tips on here on how to keep everything strapped down tight to your form for the glue up.  That was the hardest part of the whole build for me.

[mikkekeswick]

There is no 'secret magic' that these companies can put into a bow that you can't copy - and easily at that.
Glass bows are made with a set of materials and a form. If you can work out what materials they used and copy the shape of the form well there you go you just made one!
Ok there are things that are hard to get right but they are mainly in the 'looks' department.
If you can make a wooden bow that shoots well you can definitely make a good glass bow.

[Roy from Pa]

If you get a binghams kit, be sure to make the limb profile exactly as the diagram says. Otherwise and it will not come out at the correct weight.

[Roy from Pa]

Geeze, I must be losing it. I just posted in a glass bow thread. Oh great spirt in the sky, please forgive me.  LOL

[kennym]

Ya just as well come outta that closet,Roy.....    

Bingham is a good dtart, but you will soon be tweaking em and designing your own.....

[Roy from Pa]

What's dtart, McKenzie? Ah new word?

[kennym]

Yep, thought everybody knew that one! Where you been, sonny?

Just messin wif ya ,bud!

[1oldbowguy]

Man I love this place.      Sometimes I think you guys are nuttier then I am.         But I am sure I am wrong about that as my wife says I am totally crazy.  I know she would lie to me, would she?   :confused:

[Roy from Pa]

I musta skipped school the day they wuzah teachen dtart...    

Oldbowguy I'm about the only sain one here and that KennyM boy, well just never mind..  

[1oldbowguy]

Right with you my friend.      Skipped a little to much of that schooln stuff myself.  LMAO

[Akbowman16]

Ill throw a couple cents at this one Mike. First of all, when I decided to build a Bingham hybrid my plan was to make 3 of them. One for my dad, one for my brother, and one for me. That was 3 years ago and 40ish bows later and I still have promised bows to build. So prepare yourself for that. Not sure at this point if its an addiction or a passion or both.

Secondly, when your stomping around in hunting country with your own bow, built by you, It takes your hunting pleasure and satisfaction to a whole new level that I feel makes all the work and hours spent building very very worth it.

And lastly, to echo what takefive said, this place is likely the most valuable tool that any bowyer could ever have. I learned the hard way (not knowing about this site) and looking back now, I cant believe how much time i wasted with issues that I could have easily remedied by asking the generous folks on here.

Good luck you you

[fujimo]

x10!!

[michaelschwister]

Mike, I live near Elkton and make both osage self bows, BBOs and glass lam bows. If you want to come down and see how I make them, or even make your own using my shop/forms you are welcome to come down.  I started the glass lam with binghams design, then made my own. Bingham bows are god shooters.

[jess stuart]

This forum is a wealth of knowledge and will save you a bunch of headaches.  I wish it had been around when I started, which was before the internet.  Binghams has been at this over fifty years I have been using them for twenty five plus years no complaints.  The designs they offer are intended to give the first time bowyer a very good chance of success.  The videos are probably a big help I have never watched one but, should be easier than only having printed instructions.
Your will love building your own bow and like others have stated once started you can't stop.