New to bow making

[IAhunter86]

Ok heres a question i would like everybody to chime in on, Im BRAND NEW to traditional archery. One of the things that drew me to it was the idea of building a bow and killing a deer with it. What are some tools I would need to start out with????

[Mark Smeltzer]

Sort of depends on what kind of bow you want to make.
If you want a selfbow then you can get away with a draw knife a rasp and some kind of scraper and sand paper and a hatchet.
If you want to build a laminated glass bow then you would want things like band saws and belt sanders. I have seen one or two guys that build glass bows with hand tools but I wouldn't want to.
I use power tools like the band saw and belt sanders for my selfbows but some guys like to use all hand tools

Mark

[T Callahan]

I made my first couple bows with a hack saw and a couple hand files and rasps.

[jsweka]

Keep reading the threads here on the Bowyer's Bench and you'll get a good sense of what you need for whatever type of bow you decide to build.

There's lots of ways to do the same thing and lots of good info here.

[Sam Harper]

Yeah, it really depends on what kind of bow you want to make and how much work you want to do.  You can make a bow with just a couple of pieces of broken flint, or you can use belt sanders, band saws, drum sanders, routers, and all kinds of files and rasps.

Check out my web page.  I started making bows in my apartment on a budget and gradually added tools as the need/desire/means arose.  But I've made everything from simple board bows from Home Depot red oak, to fiberglass laminated bows, all in my apartment.

 http://poorfolkbows.com

[typical2]

Do you know of anyone near you who makes bows?  A mentor would go a long way.  You can get all the information you need right here though.  Beyond rasps, hacksaw, and an orbital sander, tools will change dramatically depending on what type of bows you want to build.

[T Callahan]

second sam's website. He's got some great build along's.

[MB_Sweden]

Here is a build along I did using only some handtools, except my cheap "drill press" and the router for my form!

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=010620;p=1

[ChuckC]

you know....to save some bucks and get some practice in... consider getting a couple 2x3" pine boards and practice making a handle.  See what cuts are needed, what shaping is needed. etc.  In the end, it needs to look good AND feel good. . to YOU.

If you look at folk's bow making, we all tend to have very square, kinda clunky shaped bows for the first one or two, then we start to make them more sleek and well shaped as we do more.

Same with tips, practice on junk wood to get the shape and maybe even what it takes to glue on lams, build up the tips etc.

Plus. . .  you can start that right now while you are looking for other supplies.

For many bows, once you get the basic bow shape done, you can use a coarse rasp, a finer file, a coarse round file, a round chain saw file and various sand paper grits.  

I really suggest getting cloth backed sand paper cause it holds up better (for me) and you can use it in many different ways, including ripping it into 1/4" or less strips to shape and polish nocks.  I like to have pieces of wood, like a 6" section of 3/8" dowel, a 1" x 6" and a 1" x 2" section of flat 1/4" or 3/8" plywood or similar and a popsicle stick to use with the sandpaper.

Somewhere, I think in the build along section, there is a thread made years ago where (I think it was) Wingnut shows a build along which is excellent, although it makes things appear way easier than in (my) reality.

ChuckC

[IAhunter86]

Thanks for the tips, I think for my first one I'm just goin to make a simple self bow. I plan on keeping is as simple as possible. Still doing a lot of research before I dive in

[bornofmud]

If you're planning on making a selfbow, there are few better information sources than the Traditional Bowyer's Bible series.  Lots of good info regardless of what type of bow you end up making.  And of course, this site has a whole lot of information.

[John Scifres]

In order of use for selfbows:

Chainsaw, sledge hammer, wedges, measuring device, strong (it helps if they are a little "simple" too) friend or family member to harvest trees. Shellac and a paint brush to seal them.  Or you can buy wood.

Hatchet, machete, drawknife and/or bandsaw to reduce the staves and chase a ring.

Measuring devices of different types.  Pencil.

Rasps and files.  I like the Nicholson #49 and #50 for rasps.  Get a half round and a mill bastard file.  

Scraper - I like the Sandvik/Bahco brand.

Chainsaw file or small round rasp for the nocks.

That'll get you there.

I made my first several bows with a hatchet, machete, 4 way rasp, and a butcher knife.

[macbow]

Are you currently living in Iowa, if so what part?

[IAhunter86]

Yes I'm in Cedar Falls currently, getting ready to move to Tennessee shortly.

[macbow]

You could plan a stop here for a couple of days and work on a bamboo backed bow.

[Wolftrail]

I have learned a lot in the last couple years.  But don't have the space.
A band saw would be nice, because I prefer to build board bows [laminates]  without the proper tools projects plug on slowly.

[Drewster]

Hey IAhunter86, John Scifres provided you with an excellent list of tools needed.
 
And I agree on getting a copy of "The Traditional Bowyers Bible" series.  

AND, I also agree with finding a mentor.  You will be light years ahead.

BUT, be careful, building bows is addictive :-)

[red hill]

I agree with Drewster. John's list is a good starting point. I would add a farrier's rasp and a couple of C clamps.

Welcome!

[Jason Kendall]

Gene Winter in Waterloo has classes on bow building, very fair prices too!

[D]

What pare of Tennessee you moving to??  If you end up close to me let me know.