Need help with Bow Building

[Taylor45]

Hi guys just started making my own bows and learning the methods I live in northern california and the only wood I have on my property is oak and pine I mostly try making bows from oak I have read that the best way to make a bow is from the heart of the tree but everytime I make the bow from the base of the tree its always too stiff and just snaps on me after trimming it down I have tried making bows from branches from the oak tree and have had good success any tips or things I should try to do to be able to make a bow from the base of the oak tree, thanks

[tommy6]

Instead of taking the wood from the heartwood, get a piece around 6ft long with the bark still on. This will be the back of the bow. The other side that was facing inside the tree will be the belly. Cut only on the belly side to make it about 2 inches thick. Carefully remove the bark without cutting into the wood underneath. That is now the back of the bow and it shold not be thinned down any more except for light sanding to smooth. Thin the bow slowly from the belly side only. Take off a little, see if it will bend, repeat. The reason your bows are breaking is either the wood is rotten, you cut through the wood on the back, you stressed it to much too soon or the design was the wrong type for the bow/ wood you are making.
That is a very abbreviated start. Dont worry about breaking your first bows, it may take a dozen till you get it right! Just keep it up and try not to get discouraged.

[Taylor45]

hey thanks for the advice I think I am addicted now at trying to make bows I was told that from the beggining not to take to much wood of the back so I dont think its that problem Im thinking the design is wrong I was thinking of trying to make the bow wider and thinner and try putting a backing of some kind on it

[bubby]

you might try making a board bow to start, you can get a nice hickory board for les than $15 bucks and it will make three, maybe four bows. and hickory is easy to work and a good board needs no backing. I've made 66" unbacked pyramid bows up to 65#

[Taylor45]

has anybody tried making a bow out of dougfir my dad bought alot for a hardwood floor and I was thinking I could try some of that

[bubby]

in tim bakers bow woods list it's a borderline wood but can make a midweight full draw bow. I wood back it. get his list of bow woods at onemississipp.googlepages.com/bowwoods

[Taylor45]

thanks for the info hey I noticed your from redbluff I live in Redding do you usually use wood where you live or buy lumber

[bubby]

I mainly use lumber, go to hardwood specalties off of girvan rd. They have about anything you want and it's preety  reasonable

[Taylor45]

Ya I will go check it out sometime I was thinking about buying some hickory since overall it seems easiest to make into a good bow

[bubby]

go to the how to page,lot's of good info there. try the ferrets board bow building at residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/brdbows.html you can p m me if ya need some help

[Taylor45]

thanks man will do