Thinking about building a takedown recurve

[CREEKBOW]

I've been thinking about building a takedown recurve for quite some time now, but just haven't gotten up the nerve to try it. I've been looking at Bingham Projects, and have been thinking about trying their products and approach. Have any of you folks tried Bingham projects, and if so, do you have any advice about their approach? Does anyone else offer plans/tools/materials for the first time builder that would be any better?

[kennym]

Hi Burley,
 Bingham plans are hard to beat.
I don't have plans ,but I do have materials,and some form building instructional mat.


 http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/

[Mounter]

Everyone I've talked with says you can't go wrong with supplies from kennym!! I'm just a week or so away from my first order, so were kinda in the same boat, Burley. Good luck with your projects....Kevin

[razorsharptokill]

I've built two binghams T/D recurves and two T/D longbows. The Bingham vid explains a lot for some one who has never built a bow.

One main thing is form construction. Can't over state the importance of having your form perfectly square. Any defects in the face of the form will be permanently imparted to your limbs.

I am getting ready to start on a T/D rcurve for my buddy using Kenny's lams, glass, and riser block. Kenny's stuff is mui bueno!

You won't be sorry if you let him provide your materials. He has the same formulas that Binghams uses to figure draw weight as it applies to the thickness of your limbs and will grind the lams he sends you accordingly.

Another critical point is to get your limbs aligned with your riser so that the center of the riser is the center of the limbs. If not your string will be off track and the bow could end up being fire wood.

There's a post on here about limb alignment techniques and one about how to drill the holes perfectly resulting in perfect limb alignment.

[LPM]

Bingham is a fine choice for bow makeing supplies.  My experience has been good dealing with them.

If you have some wood working skills a few tools and have an eye for detail by all means try it.  Here is the best advice for a first time bowyer.  Don't get too wrapped up in trying to produce a fancy bow with all kinds of exotic woods and carbon laminations or some of the bells and whistles seen on experienced bowyer's bows.  Get the plans for a bow from bingham along with the materials for makeing an oven and a bow press.  Take your time with the construction of the press.  I'ts the single most important thing.  If it isn't right then everything else is a compromise and you will not enjoy your first attempt.  Buy simple components for your first bow.  Maple action wood core and black fiberglass.  Same for the riser simple and least expensive.  Use smooth-on epoxy it's easy to use and I think it's the best.  Build a reasonable draw weight bow.  Don't cut corners or get in a hurry.  When your finished your first bow is like your first born child You will be proud of it no matter what it looks like.  You built it.  Now you understand what it takes to build a bow, shape handles, tiller and aligin for performance.  You know where the critical areas are and the mistakes that can happen.  With your new found knowlege and skills you are more ready to sit down and create the bow of your dreams.  Exotic woods and limb cores, maybe change the handle shape a bit or perfect your limb tips......the list goes on.  Take it slow and enjoy it................

Years after I built my first bow I picked it up again and practiced with it.  It's a kind of plain by comparison with my later model bows,  However It just felt good to shoot it again.  I decided to take it on a sort of reunion Elk hunt with some old friends.....I killed a 5x6 bull with it on the last day of the most incredable hunting experience I have ever known.  What made it even more special was that I killed that Elk with a bow I built myself while I was learning the hard knocks of becoming a bowyer.

[CREEKBOW]

Many thanks for the responses, fellows. I definitely feel more comfortable about dealing with Bingham, and have already checked out Kenny's web site. It will probably be a month or more before I really get started (gotta clean the shop and make some room, and need a few more tools). Once I get going on this, I will probably be worrying you guys with lots of questions! LPM, I wish I was there to see that elk go down!!

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah, LPM said it well. Go slow, go simple, and don't skimp in the quality of your form. That will take you a long way.