Backing for a kids bow?

[lpcjon2]

Do I need to back a kids bow it's cut from a red oak piece of trim 1/4 x 2" and its for a 6 yo girl.It would only be around14# @ 20-22 and what do you seal the bow with .Can you tell it's my first time

[JEFF B]

i put true oil on my bow to seal it it works fine as for backing a kids bow i supose ya could use canvas it works ok i did a bow i made with it no problem.

[lpcjon2]

My concern is that to get it down to 14#'s is red oak strong enough at say 3/16 thick. I wouldn't want it to break.And does polyurethane work top seal the bow.

[JEFF B]

i think i would go with true oil. now about the bow i dont know much about building them because every one i did went bang!! big time

[lpcjon2]

Thanks for the info.

[4est trekker]

Back it with brown paper.  I use shipping material found at any department store.  Spread a layer of Titebond III over the back, then lay on the paper and work it smooth with your fingers.  No need to clamp it.  Use two pieces, one for each limb with the splice at the handle.  I start at the handle and work the glue smooth with my fingers, making sure the paper is firmly secured with glue along its entirety.  

I like to use paste wax followed by gunstock wax because it's cheap, easy, and builds nicely.  Sometimes I seal it with shellac and then lacquer.  Tru Oil is good, too.  Really, you could seal the bow with just about any wood finishing product, as this is a kid's bow and won't be out in the elements much, if at all.  Relative humidity is probably the only real concern.

Here's some pictures of a couple paper backed bows.  I stained the paper in these, but you could leave them unstained.  The first is a kid's bow (30#@22").  The second is a 68" hunting bow.  Both are finished with wax.

 

 

[Rich Evans]

need some more info from ya, what is the length, the thickness you say at 1/4 or 3/16 would not work if the bow was 30" long but maybe at 48" long it would be good. also the width, i have not made any kids bows from red oak, but i would go no less than 1" wide to mid limb and then taper to 3/8" nocks.  i think i would back the bow just for safety for a kid. i would probably use rawhide, burlap or some silk (found in lots of women's pants at thrift stores, make sure its 100% pure silk, the tag will say inside)  for sealing the bow, polyurethane or true oil will work fine.  I saw one posted somewhere where a guy made one for his daughter that was pink painted and then sealed. very nice for a little girl, i know my little one would love a pink bow.

just my .02 worth, hope it helps

[macbow]

I've made a lot of the kids bows similar to what your talking about. There were plans on the net at one time. These were made from 1/4 inch by 2" by 48 inch red oak from Lowes. The hard part is finding a board with good grain.

 they end up 12 to 15 pounds at about 16 inches of draw. Most 6 year olds might pull 14 inchs to 16 inches.Totally pyramid style left full 1/4 inch thick and a handle glued on and shaped.

They are great for up to about a 8 year old.
You will know if it will stay together when you first draw it . I have about 20 percent failure.

I back mine for safety. If over drawn they will break even if backed with cloth. I haven't used paper yet.
To make them almost bullet proof you could (I have) backed them with fibre glass cloth from a auto part store using TB111.

At 3/16 inch thick I'd back for sure and expect maybe 10 pounds if 48 inches long.
Ron