anyone ever made a successful bow on first try?

[DLH]

My first was a shooter thanks to 4est's buildalnong I still go back and learn something from it now and than. Than I broke a red oak and hickory whick was a stupid mistake it shot well was the sad part... Now I have 4 ready to go and am working on a black locust sapling. Want to make one of those tillering gizmos too. Just curious could I use the gizmo on my sapling?

[fish n chicks]

My first board bow is still shooting. It only pulls 25 pounds but it actually thumps em pretty good. Learned a butt load, and made a second one that pulls 55#. Every single bow you will learn more than just one thing I assure you. But the only way you will really learn it, is to do it.

[KellyG]

I broke my first but it was a stave from hickory. I have not tried since because of work. But once I get settled here. I plan on having my wife mail me some stuff and try try again.

[DVSHUNTER]

I made five before I broke one. I'm still about every fifth or sixth one will fail. Only two have really blown

[George Tsoukalas]

I was not successful on the first try. I paid my dues in full. Beginners these days do not realize how good they have it. There is so much more info available. There were no bow building sites when I started in'89 (the last century. LOL) . Where I could go to ask a question. I did have Bob Holzhauser, the best osage selfbowyer, I have known to ask a few questions and he was a good help.       Jawge

[Pat B]

I built bows for many years before I broke one but 75% of the bows I did build were badly bent!!! When I did finally break one(ERC English style longbow) it blew in a spectular fashion.
  Like George I started building wood bows many years ago, even before George!
  I have only made one glass bow, a Bingham Project longbow. It blew before I ever put a string on it. Now, that's hard to do!!!  d;^)

[RAU]

My 1st bow was a success for........for about 50 shots. It was a birch stave bow. It was the coolest. I was real proud of myself. I made my wife come watch the first arrow. I missed the target with the 1st old arrow i had handy which had a broadhead on it and burried into the shed that was on the proerty of the place we stayed. It was real cool. It lasted about 50 shots then fretted severely and broke.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

My first four or five made great kids bows, LOL

 Just read all you can here and start workin some wood everyfailed attempt will teach you something new.

 the first one I thought was gonna be a shooter popped when I got it to full draw, My wife was standing and I started laughing. She said she could not belive I didn't come loose. I just smiled and told her something I learned here.

 "If you ain't breakin' You ain't makin'"

 Stiks

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

Yes my first worked out great..second and third .."not So" ... I learned to take your time and "NEVER" put more pull when checking bend/tiller than your final bow weight  GO SLOW !!!

[Roy from Pa]

My first bow was a shooter, but I had an expert bowyer lead me through it.

[ductape]

My first was a shooter. 67" 60# @ 28" made of an osage stave. I can't say enough about the the fine people at O-jam and Mojam. If you are attempting your first bow I sugest one of these events. lots of graet experinced people and a good source for staves.

[twitchstick]

I failed the only one I have tried to make but I rushed things. Not many boards to choose for around here and still waiting on my staves to cure. It will not be long until I can start again.

My first was a bamboo and glass string follow longbow, 85 pounds at 26".  The most accurate, quiet, and shock free longbow I have ever shot.  It was faster than my 89 pound pre Craig Big Five and slower than my 64 pound Schulz hunter. Every laminated bow that I have done were better than average shooters and very steady. I have a pignut that I keep reworking, it must be good wood because everytime I work on it, it gets better.
  I have had three failures, osage all three, always wanted an spliced osage longbow and a yew longbow from a spliced stave.  I shot a 90 year old yew one day that was still being hunted with, magical.  For me to succeed with these I think I would need a perfect stave, pre spliced by someone that knows their stuff.

[ishi1archer]

Yes my first bow was a Hickory flat bow 66" 42# I built about 18 yr's ago. I still pull it out once in a while and shoot it. It has more string follow than I like but it didn't blow up.

[George Tsoukalas]

I still break'em. Sooner or later the piper will be paid. He will not be denied. I see more and more newcomers taking tillering short cuts. like not even using a t stick to tiller for as bad as they are ( a rope and pulley is better) they are better than nothing.    Jawge

[Chris Grimbowyer]

I did! It was a 66 inch white elm flatbow at #55 and 26inch draw

[stickbowguy]

My first and only so far(want to start again)turned out to be a great shooter. Hickory now backed with rawhide, I made a shelf and worked the grip to my liking and she shoots just fine. 66" 54@28 I would do a few things different next time. I want to make lam. bows now

[rascal]

First bow I tried was a Pacific Yew longbow turned out it was more American longbow than English longbow but that wasnt a big concern.  The final draw weight was a little low, I was trying for 50+ pounds but after I shot it in I had a 38# bow.  It threw an arrow exceptionally well and after I was satisfied that it really was a bow I started hunting with it and killed a nice Iowa 7 point that year.

[sadiejane]

just finished my first bow earlier this month. it shoots good, tiller appears to be pretty good. had a great teacher. stayed patient, didnt continue when i felt unsure. loving this bow. 68"(66" ntn) shoots 45# @ 28". just picked up a piece of yew. being a native oregonian, feeling the desire to make a bow historic to these parts.  heres a few pix of the process.
 bow making

[ranger 3]

Hova, and others get a pair of scissors from the dollar general and take them apart. They work great and easy to sharpen or just get another pair.