Making Bows for our Boy Scouts

[Traditional-Archer]

Man what a job ahead, I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew. One of my guys from my Boy Scout Troop asked if they could build their own self bows, what it will take, how long it will take. Some very hard questions for me to answer, the great thing is, I knew where to find the answers to their questions.  So am I getting in over my head? I will need some staves my brother-in-law had one of his Osage trees come down last year. Has this tree been on the ground to long? I hope I can make all their dreams come true. I would love to pull this off and show up at Denton Hill Potter county Pa. next year.
So let me have it Guys am I over my head.
Bruce

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Not if you have a little patience. Are you building the bows or showing the kids to build their own?  I think they would lose interest quickly and move on to something else if you have them build their own.  Not to mention they may not pay attention to detail like they should.

If you want to help Scouts make bows you should look at the Boy scouts and then only help the ones who show interest. That would cut down on the throwing about of tools    

If you were building them for a local cub scout group, I have seen some packs as large as 80 kids in which case you have some work cut out for you.

If you wanted to focus on one den (smaller group of kids, Usually 3-10) and help these kids every year as they enter Weblows or their Bear/Wolf Rank, It would be not only more achievable but you could give the kids a quick building lesson that is a little hands on with all aspects of building bows.  They then can have a meeting where they decorate their own bows and maybe even paint and shoot them.

Any way you hack it, it would be an ambitious but rewarding venture. Good for you entertaining such a worthy cause.

Good Luck and let us know how you make out.          

[DVSHUNTER]

I wouldn't say over your head, but osage staves can be expensive, and sometimes hard to get. The tree that fell might only give a few staves, but it should be fine. Cut it and seal the ends with shellac or elmers glue as soon as you cut it. After you get it home split it up and see what you have for material. Board bows might be a better option for the kids. Check the bowyers bench here for easy info for you.
dave

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I just re read your post, I see you are dealing with the Boy Scouts.  I would ask any one that would be interested and if it's a large group, I would only offer it to the senior scouts. (oldest 2 years)

This would involve young adults between 16 and 18.  In my troop there were about 10 of us.  We would have all been capable of building bows but think only 4 or 5 of us would have been very interested.

Not only would this give the younger scouts something to look  forward to but it would give you time to scrounge materials. After 2 years someone else may learn enough to take the reins.  That's how it should work.  Also every subsequent year the oldest scouts can come back and make another bow and help the new scouts make theirs. You will not need to instruct as much.

Don't try to make all their dreams come true, just try to help them experience the joys and frustrations of building your own bows.  Some kids will not be all that interested so dont try to make all their dreams come true, you will only be dissapointed. Just have fun with it.

I think this is a great and worthy cause. I hope parents are as involved with this scout troop as they were with mine. If so you will be fine.

and again          

[Traditional-Archer]

Thanks guys, the tree that came down was a big one I will take pics as soon as I can. My Troop is made up from half the boys being 11/12 years old 8 boys. The other half is 15/17 years old 8 of them Testosterone filled crazies. They are ready to go and chew the osage tree into Pieces .

[Traditional-Archer]

Ok other than osage what wood will work will Hickory work. Thanks

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Yes Hickory will work.  You can also look at Ash and Black Locust.

[John Scifres]

I would highly recommend you get a seasoned bowyer involved.  It's hard enough to teach someone else to make a bow without the challenge of learning how to do it yourself for the first time.  

If that is not an option, read the Traditional Bowyer's Bibles Vol I and II and Dean Torges' book  "Hunting the Osage Bow" if you are making osage or Paul Comstack's "The Bent Stick" if you are using hickory.

[horatio1226]

I think you should have the scouts start with a floor tillered bow blank. They can purchased for a reasonable price and the boys who are truly interested will buy them. Maybe they could do a fundraiser for them. I have been thinking about doing this and this is the route I would take. For a lot less work they could have a working bow and they would know if they want to pursue it further.
  http://216.119.68.89/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_19&products_id=294
 
 http://www.gibow.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=271

[Traditional-Archer]

Thanks to everyone, this will surely give me a head start. Horatio 1226 that is a good idea, I looked at the bows on this sight you posted. I think with everything in consideration if anything else the younger scouts would be more fitted to the sand and stain stave. I have printed the information to present the idea to my scouts I will keep everyone posted with pictures of our progress.

[Traditional-Archer]

By the way I forgot to mention the younger Boy Scout Patrols name is the flaming arrows, how fitting this project will be. Maybe we will name the bows the flaming arrows.

[Lefty]

You may consider the PVC bows for starter and then board bows, and them maybe offer staves to the ones that really seem to take the interest in bow building.  There are alot of other archery things they can build too, like arrows, quivers, armguards, tabs, etc. to keep it interesting.  
  Just another couple options to think about.

[chopx2]

Check out  http://bringbackthebow.com/site/  this non-profit was started by a couple of brothers Bill and Merle Brillhart to bring the art back to the Lakota. They used rattan staves and can probably give you some useful tips. They made over 100 bows in about a week I think last year with the kids doing most f their own work.

[tishtail]

hi saw your posting last week i knew i saw a posting at rudderbowsarchery that mite help you $45.00 for u finish longbows 60" or 65" plus 20% disc. for all church and kid groups hope this helps lawrence