I Am Done

[BWallace10327]

I've completed and then shot and then broken enough bows to come to the conclusion that if I am ever tempted enough to try again I will hit my thumb with a hammer and ask myself if I still want to build a bow.

[takefive]

Hang in there, man.  Last summer I wrecked 3 bows in a row, including the nicest elm stave I'll probably ever find.  Then I tried an R/D glass bow and had the lams, riser, everything slide during the glue up and ruined that one, too.  That was it...I friggin' quit.  3 weeks later I had the urge, compulsion, or whatever it is to make a bow.  I had one slat of osage left and cherry and hickory boards just laying around anyway.  I kept looking at the form I made for the glass bow wondering how it would work for a wood tri-lam.  Turned out to be the nicest one I've made so far, a terrific shooter.  Just give it awhile until the wood or glass calls you back.

[Roy from Pa]

Sounds like you just need some good advice on bow building....

[Ice Mike]

Man I'm right there with you. I've asked myself several times over the last month why I'm doing this. I have built 5 bows so far and have 1 shooter. Ironically it's a tri - lam also. I've ruined 3 perfectly good walnut sticks trying to make a good solid tapered core for my next one. But you gotta keep this in mind. It's not really about the finished bow. It's about the journey to get there. Think of it like this...

You walk out into your favorite hunting grounds and catch a glimpse of the biggest buck you've ever seen. You spend weeks..maybe months..maybe even year trying to learn that buck and get the opportunity. When you finally release that string, or pull that trigger, it's over. It's a nice feeling but what was really more rewarding? The hunt or the kill. I would put money on the fact that when you told your friends the story, it wouldn't start at the kill shot. It would start at the point where you first glimpsed that monster.

My point is, savor the journey. The end is just the prize but it's more about the experience than it is the end result. A wise man once said, and I think I read it on here...if you ain't breaking, you ain't building!

[LittleBen]

x2 what Roy said. There's lots of great advice on this site if you search a bit, and if you can't find it just ask.

Once you get the hang of it, things will fall into place very nicely.

It's like anything else, practice makes perfect .... can't tell you how many times I had my ass kicked in highschool wrestling before I figured out what the heck I was doing and started winning ... sometimes.

[Echatham]

while I've never had a bow "break"  my first 5 or 6 got retired early due to splinters lifting or frets or massive set etc.  my last couple have been great.  ya gotta do some homework and ask some questions to get good at this.  read the books, and ask about a thousand questions in 1 year.... like this guy
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[Pat B]

Have you guys studied each break to determine why they broke? Without knowing why you are resigned to make the same mistake again. Do you know any one near by that builds wood bows? Are there any gatherings near you where wood bows are used or made? Trying to build wood bows by yourself can be daunting. It took me 10 years of trying to build wood bows before I became confident in my craft. That was over 25 years ago when there were very few folks build wood bows.
 This craziness isn't for everyone but it is basically a simple process. There are a few little tricks that makes it a bit easier to accomplish. Find someone to help. Post your to be bows on here or other bow building sites. Ask questions. Read everything you can find on the subject and give it another shot.

[Jerry Gille]

So can I have your bow building stuff then?  

[Roy from Pa]

LMAO, Jerry..  

[Wolftrail]

I have found that if you are having problems with a project just walk away and have a breather for a few days. When you return you will find that it was only a mental block hindering your success.  

 

[KenH]

I see the problem Brent -- you've been using a hammer as a bowbuilding tool!  Try a different style, or wood-glass lam rather than selfie...  illegitmus non carborundum!

[carpin'mark]

Illegitimate conundrum....what?

[George Tsoukalas]

I broke 14 over a 3 year period BI (before internet).
Hang in there and use my site and KISS.
Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

[Roy from Pa]

More help:

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000122

[halfseminole]

It translates to "don't let the b*******s wear you down."  

I broke my composite bow core a week or so ago.  The trade bow is the best I've built, but anything for me breaks except PVC.  I just bought a Kassai.  I may try bowbuilding again later, but not right now.

[wood carver 2]

I have a friend who heats his shop with the remnants of my failed bows. (maybe I exaggerate a bit) I keep at it and recently, I have gotten two shooters in a row. The high I get from building a good bow is worth the effort.
Dave.

[takefive]

That's what keeps me going too, Dave.  Yeah, it's frustrating as hell putting all the time in to get a bow to final tiller only to have it raise a splinter or chrysal or etc...  But the satisfaction you get from the next one that turns out nice makes it all sweet again.  IMO it's a very steep learning curve when you're new to it all and you have to be realistic enough to expect some failures or mediocre bows along the way.   Like it's been said; it's the journey that counts, not the destination.

[Roy from Pa]

The first bow that broke on me I almost cried. Now when one breaks I just laugh and start all over. But very few break anymore, hardly any now ah days.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
The first bow that broke on me I almost cried. Now when one breaks I just laugh and start all over. But very few break anymore, hardly any now ah days.

I hope I'll get there soon myself, I was tweaking 2 bows today and broke them real quick, like you say "just laugh and start all over"...........