First try

[DoubleLung]

I've wanted to build a bow for several years and even went as far as ordering all the supplies several years ago. This year I decided I was gonna pull the trigger and make time to get it done. I decided to start out with some kids bows so I can outfit my little girl and three budies sons in time for Christmas.
I did my first glueup using fire hose method on Friday and what an experience trying to keep everything where I wanted it. I succeeded in keeper my everything lined up but I had one glue joint on the belly ramp not turn out well. I've realized that my form needs some changing. I made a 1" wide form and 48" long. I think that was my first mistake as I should have just gone with a 1 1/2" form so I could of better managed the material during the glue up. I also spaced my form pieces to far apart resulting in the fire hose not being flat enough. My lams and glass ended up just narrower than my form and I chased them all over the place. I've ordered some locktite to try and fill the crack. I finished the bow out to practice all the other facets of building and now am close to ready for finish. It finished out 10lbs at 20" and actually slings an arrow really well. If I can get better on the glue up the next will hopefully turn out better!

 

 

 

 

 

[bamboo]

looks great tim!!----that riser wood is stunning!!
--way better first effort than mine!!nice work!

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice.

[EwokArcher]

I dig it dude great job

[macbow]

Nice!  A lot of first bows are not so sexy.

[DoubleLung]

Thanks everyone. Also, sorry about the double post. I figured out every time I hit the back button when posting on my phone, it results in a double post.

Damn...  Looks good Bro...  Live and learn...  They are only gonna get better...

  Put a little bit of flat or less curve on the end of  your ramps near the grip...  It will help to sit those lams down on the ramp...
   And don't pinch that hose too tight that could cause shifting issues in your form and cause your lams to slide sideways...  Optimum cross-cut view of the fire house should be just a little more pinched than what looks like an oval race track...

[DoubleLung]

Thanks! So what distance between your forms do you shoot for?

[DoubleLung]

Thanks! So what distance between your forms do you shoot for?

[Crooked Stic]

Your wood has some nice character.

That depends on the size of the hose, the width of the form...  I made my own hose so it might not be standard...  I have about 7/8" to 1" between an empty top and bottom form...  Do a dry run with lams and riser in the form... Have the forms squeeze that hose so it is just a hair of a dog-bone shape...  That is perfect...  I will try to post a pic of a diagram I just did about two month's ago... I had an issue with the lams wanting to slide sideways and my form shifting...

Check out this forum...  It says it all right there... I did a diagram about half way down the first page with an explanation...

 http://tradarchers.com/forum/index.php/topic,1722.0.html

[Kohlqez]

Not fair at all, my first x-number of tries didn't even yield a something bow shaped let alone something that looked good and even shoots.