Author Topic: I Want to build a bow (Read 1361 times)

Holepuncher · « **on:** April 13, 2009, 08:46:00 PM »

Due to wanting to get out of debt, and deciding to let my lease go for next year or so, I am going to have a lot of time on my hands next fall and winter. So i want to start building bows. Where would you suggest I start? Books? equipment? I have all summer to acquire the tools. I already have a Rigid Table saw. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
H

tim roberts · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2009, 08:51:00 PM »

What kind of bows do you want to build?

Holepuncher · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2009, 08:57:00 PM »

Recurves, Longbows

kennym · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:05:00 PM »

Binghams DVD is sposed to be good,look in the trad bowbuilding section here for a used copy.

A bandsaw is essential to my shop,and a spindle sander. I have grizzly tools,and they are good IMO

Here is a little on formbuilding...
http://www.kennyscustomarchery.com/Bow_forms.html

kennym · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:06:00 PM »

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=70;t=000658

bjansen · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:27:00 PM »

Yeah i agree...a bandsaw, a spindle/belt sander (i use the Ridgid ones you can get from home depot...about $200, reconditioned ones you can get for $130 on-line)...and a 5" random oribtal sander..You really cant beat the Grizzly deal on a 14" bandsaw..best purchase I ever made.

To start the learning process, I would search on this site for build alongs. I learned so much from these guys just seeing how they built bows. And if you want another good way to start pick up the bowyers bible, vol #1...it will tell you a great deal about selfbows...which you can leverage even if you start building glass bows as well. Best of luck

Andrew Wesley · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:30:00 PM »

trad bowyers bible books will teach you a lot and are a good reference for lots of problems that you can run into while building bows.

Holepuncher · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:48:00 PM »

I was thinking of purchasing the whole Bowyers bible set.is that a good idea?

bjansen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:52:00 PM »

I did...it was well worth it for me, they are excellent books and provide a great deal of knowledge......i think i got mine on amazon..

Andrew Wesley · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:53:00 PM »

it is a great investment.. you can learn a TON from them..

TNstickn · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:12:00 PM »

What Kenny said... I would deffinitely check his web site out. Your not going to find a nicer fellow to deal with.

Binghams DVDs are really good for laying out the methods right there for you. The lam bow designs are almost fool proof.

I would follow a proven plan for a particular bow design (lonbow/recurve/hybrid) on your first bow. It will save you time and alot of money.

I highly recommend the bowyers bibles also. Great reads, especially for all wood bows. Not gonna help you much if your wanting to jump right into lam bows, but alot of good info and design concepts, not to mention alot of great history. Every trad archer should have a set of these!

Oh boy have you started something that is totally addicting!!!!

Steve Kendrot · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:14:00 PM »

I would suggest you start with self bows or bamboo backed bows as they don't require as extensive a suite of tools. In fact you can do most of it with simple hand tools. I wouldn't buy the whole Bowyers Bible set if you are scrimping. The torges book and video are good, though the video will leave you wondering how to tiller. Dyrad bow blanks come with a good tillering video. maybe they sell it alone. Tools you should have are a good rasp, cabinet scrapers and I found a toothing plane indispensable. I bought a band saw as soon as I found one for a decent price and am glad I did. I also bought a jointer and a thickness planer after my first bow. Craig's list is a good place to find used tools. If you dropped your hunting lease to save money, don't get your hopes too high that building bows will be a cheap alternative!

Pat B · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:14:00 AM »

If you want to build wood bows I would suggest "Trad Bowyers Bible 1" to start with. Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick" is another and Dean Torges' "Hunting the Osage Bow" would be another.
Once you get going, you can consider TBBII, III and IV and many other books. Your best resource is here and a few other sites where you have the best wood bow builders in the world at your finger tips.All you need is a stave, tools and a dig camera!

ishoot4thrills · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2009, 08:13:00 PM »

Another thumbs up for the Trad Bowyers' Bibles. I used to have volumes 1 thru 3. If I could have only one source of info, it would be these. But also, the guys here at the 'Gang can get you through everything bowmaking as well. Seems like Pat B is always here just dying to help people build bows, and with superb advice too. Wouldn't hurt none either to get a copy of Torges' book too, if nothing else but just for the great reading. Dean is in a class by himself, with his undisputed bowmaking skills as well as his talent with the written word.

mox1968 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2009, 04:50:00 PM »

I recently bought a dvd too making a wood bow with mark keller.start to finish build a wood bow from a stave easy to understand and follow.Im building my 1st bow right now ,hoping it will work !!dont care what it looks like as long as it doesnt snap!!!!

bigcountry · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:17:00 PM »

TBB's IMO are great for selfbows, but not much info on laminated bows. I think vol 4 has one chapter on it. I would stick with the bingham stuff.

ChristopherO · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:22:00 PM »

I am a big fan of the Traditional Bower's Bibles (TTBB), too, but I will say that they are so packed full of information that you will need to reread the chapters more than 2x's to feel secure in what you are doing. When I first started out a man with experience suggested I read those later and read Dean Torges, "Hunting the Osage Bow," first. He felt the TTBB's were just a bit too technical for the beginner. I didn't have that book handy so I pressed forward with 1,2 and 3 of the TTBB's with many readings apiece. I recently read volume 4, too. And they are great, but, I cannot completely disagree with what that fella said to me. What helped me in this was that I had read a book 18 years earlier about wood bow making from a man in England who explained many of the terms and processes involved that I could harken back on.
If you are a complete newbie at this then find an online glossary/definitions list and refer to that while you read. It would have speeded up my learning curve if I had.
I just wish I was faster at making a bow!

Jason Jelinek · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2009, 10:18:00 PM »

If you're not careful, you'll soon have spent $1k or more in power tools and raw materials. Bow building is not cheap unless you're using a small set of hand tools and working on wooden bows from wood you've harvested.

Glass laminate bows can be fairly inexpensive if you have extra time and friends with some power tools.

With that said, it's probably one of the most rewarding hobbies one can have.

Ricker · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2009, 01:23:00 AM »

I might suggest getting your feet wet by doing the reading for sure but pick up a bow blank from one of the sponsors here on trad gang....that will save you time and money and will give you an idea where the real work in bow building is. Tillering and finishing.

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