DIY Youth Bow?

[Sarah]

Anyone have any experience making bows for their kids? I'm looking for instructions on how to make bows with kids as an activity at a summer camp I am helping to teach. We can use bamboo or sticks...just looking for something quick and cheap that the kids can have fun building and trying to shoot.

If anyone has any ideas, please post them here!

[jonathan creason]

I made my 5 yo son a red oak pyramid bow from some of the 1/8" stock available at Lowe's or Home Depot.  Just made it as tall as he is, and tapered from 2" at the fades to 1/2" tips.  I backed this one with brown paper bags.  Pretty much required no tillering after I got it cut and a handle glued on.  I've never measured, but I'd guess it's pulling 15-20 lbs at his draw length.

Oh yeah, I also made him a PVC bow before that.  If you've got a lot of kids this would probably be a good idea.  They can be shooting in less than half an hour.

[Shakes.602]

I made My 3 Year Old Granddaughter an Oak LongBow, from a Board from Home Depot! Just make it like the Big Boys do!     I cut 'er Out & Tillered it like the Big Bows,  LEARNED  a  LOT  too!!  BUT  Didnt Do It in Record Time though.  :rolleyes:    Good Luck to Ya!!  

[b.glass]

If you're having the kids make thier own then the red oak board bows are pretty easy. How old are the kids?

[Hud]

It would depend on how much time you have to collect information and materials. You might post on Bowyers Bench, forum on this site.

You might ask for help, information, and materials, hand tools (loaned), and accept donations. It would be helpful to find someone in your home state, that has experience teaching kids the art of selfbows. Some wood is easier to work, but still needs to be air dried.

Vine Maple found locally, in WA and OR when seasoned (dried) will make a good kids bow.

Air drying is preferred to kiln dry lumber. Wood obtained through a lumber yard, is almost always kiln dry. Lumber is rough cut into boards and then finished, but the surface grain is almost always a problem for bowyers. It takes experience to locate and select suitable boards, and then the work starts. It does require a certain degree of skill to fashion a selfbow, and to teach others how to do it, with a limited amount of time.

I would start by looking for help from someone in your state. Try this forum, and The Bowyers Bench. Check for local shops, and clubs in your area.

[razorback]

What are the time constraints you will be working under. If it is like our camp my guess is you will have about 5 one hour periods to work with. You could go with real primitive and build sapling bows. Teach the fundamentals of how bows work with the taper of the wood, tension and compression etc. Then go out into the woods and search for saplings that they can cut. have them find even sized pairs, cut them and join the thick ends together to make the handle. Saplings will have natural taper, add a sting and they will have something they can shoot. Will loose all cast after a while due to moisture in saplings, but will cover the basics, teach a skill and provide a lot of fun.

[Sarah]

Thanks everyone! The kids are between the ages to 8 and 12. I think I'm going to do primitive-style bundle bows and gather the wood in advance. Just had the idea to set up a simple little course that they can go through, with targets at different angles etc. like a 3-D course.

Anyone have any suggestions for a simple and cheap string material?

[John Scifres]

Rattan works well.  Here's a way to do it.  Cost is about $5 per bow.

go to bowyersedge.com for a nice article on doing this by Dean Torges.

[b.glass]

The rattan bows then I would say also. Small enough for 8 yo but stout enough for a 12 yo.