First bow build, red oak board

[Jermcramp1]

Shot my first bow last year and got hooked, but I have been shooting my buddy's bow, and seeing how I have a baby on the way, I figured it would be best if i built my own rather than buy one.  I started on it a couple hours today, hopefully I will have it finished this week, and it will shoot straight!

I am doing a mollegabet style red oak board and will keep you posted on the progress.

let me know what yall think...  

Not to scale but didnt want to forget...

 

the "shop" and tools

 

first cuts

 

so far so good...
 

So, I learned that you need to go slow and not rush, I almost went nuts with the draw knife and had to take a breather, so i called it a day.

 

used a innertube to glue the handle..

I glued a handle on and decided to put on some nock tips as well, just cause...


So let me know what you think so far, I know I still have a ways to go...

[Jermcramp1]

Sorry guys, guess I havent figured out the photos yet. I will post them asap

[SportHunter]

If you have a photobucket account to upload pics to its easy to insert pics with img tags.

[Jermcramp1]

Here are the pics so far...I will start shaping the handle today, and maybe start on the working limbs...I'm just trying to go really slow and take my time.

I also have a nice 3x3x12 piece of walnut   I thought would look nice on the handle but didnt want to waste it on my first bow... maybe on the next one.

 

     
   
   
     
     
   
   
     

 http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6119006208_471beec0e7_s.jpg

[KellyG]

So are you going to try and take it down to one ring? you have several rings on the back, it is close to one ring.

[Jermcramp1]

Hadnt thought about it, I will. thanks, thinking about using fiber drywall tape to back it just in case.

looking for +-50# 28"

[Mike Most]

Can ya make the pictures a tad bigger for us guys with old eyes?? Love to see the grain in that board bow......Please...

If you get a chance check out 4est trekkers build along in the how to section, got some great pointers if you havent already seen it. (So you want to build a bow-its title I think)

Best of Luck

[Jermcramp1]

I did see it, as well as jawge's bows, and poorfolks bows.                      


I still have alot of work to do but i started rushing it so i took a break.

[wildbill001]

Interesting design.  I've made three red-oak American style flat-bows so far.  More or less a pyramid style. I'm anxious to see how yours comes out.

What kind of weight and drawlength are you shooting for?

Bill

[Jermcramp1]

Looking for 28" +-50#, hopefully I can do that...if not I may give it to my bro in law, hes 13, and start over. I'm sure it won't be my last one...

[Osagetree]

Now the pics are too big!

Looking interesting, keep'm coming.

[SportHunter]

Hows the project going?

[Mike Most]

Wondering how the bow is coming along here also?

[Jermcramp1]

Its coming, I should finish it this weekend (as far as ready to shoot).

I had slowed myself down trying to be too much of a perfectonist, dont have a scale, its not perfectly symetrical bla bla, but figured just tiller it good and shoot it, its only my first one!!...Got it floor tillered really nice and its still pulling pretty hard. I was looking for 50# but now i just want it to shoot straight, so if its around 40 I think I can live with it.

I will put pics up this weekend of it in shooting order but without the finishing touches. Might even put some arrows through it.

 And My dacron wont be here til next week so i only have hay twine to string it with until I can make my strings.

And a guy from my church owns a woodworking company so I now have the hookup on hardwood boards! Got a hickory board I'm going to be making my lil bro in law a light bow out of as well as a short wide limb for me too.

And, bamboo grows crazy out at the country house so we will be collecting for arrows, and trying to harvest a buzzard for the fletchings(hopefully, since I'm not sure if turkey is in right now). I have some interesting ideas about how to put on tips and nocks for the bamboo...

Sorry I'm rambling, just excited about my new found love interest...


Pics to be up soon!!

[Jermcramp1]

FINISHED!!!!!ish

Lessons learned...

1) Don't think it too much, just do.

2) Wood is warm and works WITH you.

3) The minute you get frustrated or rushed, put your tools down and have a beer or cup of coffee.

4) No matter how many layers of newspaper you put down on the ottoman you will still get "THE LOOK" from your beautiful wife...

5) There is such a thing as too much glue...

6) And every single person you tell you're building a bow is an expert at building bows!! WHO KNEW?

(Its your dadgum bow build it how you want it)

It aint tillered perfect or pretty but it shoots good, I put about 30 arrows thru it and it hits hard. About an inch or two of set but its cool since i glued on the tips...

55#-60#  @26-28   ish...  my string I made is an inch or two too short so its not exact.  backed with two layers of brown paper bag...

not quite full draw due to short string, and I'm considering flipping the bow and making the top the bottom since it looks a little stiffer...
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 IMG_0838  by  jermcramp1 , on Flickr

first flemish twish hence the tags, and the added tips, I had no idea where I was headed with them...

 [/url] [/IMG]

top limb not tillered enough, but it shoots...
 [/url] [/IMG]

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string runs straight
 [/url] [/IMG]

Didnt serve the string yet but the grip feels nice
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All criticism is appreciated...


O and whoever had the idea of hitting up a boot maker/shoe shop for leather is genuis...

[Nim-rod]

It shoots so thats great for a first time build! I'm sure you learned alot in the process too. Top limb seems to be bending only in one area near grip and could become a problem later. Could be the photo angle too though. Is the flemish string twisted enough? Looks kinda like the two bundles are side by side in one pic.

[Jermcramp1]

no, the string isn't twisted at all after the loops cause it's so short, I'm going to have to make another string and keep this one as a backup( mostly just wanted to get the first one done to see how the process).

I havent put a finish on the bow, just stain, so I could tiller the top a bit more, and the tips I glued on are to big and I feel they slow it down...but I'm eager to get started on the next one so I may just leave it as the target bow,

the next one will be a short pecan molly with maple handle and tips. I want to hunt with this one.

[wood carver 2]

That's a really cool looking bow. I love the variety of bow styles that a person can build.
Dave.  

[Jeff Smith]

Congratulations. Keep building, learning, and posting.
Jeff

[firewood]

the angle of the groove(on your tips)look a little sharp.you might want to soften that angle a little bit.design looks good,and the tiller will get better with practice.if it shoots good leave it and enjoy.
very nice for your first.