New to this forum!

[Bnorma1276]

Hey everyone, I'm joseph. New to this forum. Not new to traditional archery (a bit rusty though) I've got a few nice bows and have made a few bows in my younger days (nothing to talk about. Just a kid carving sticks) but I think I'm going to actually make a good bow here one of these days. Used to read this forum a lot but finally decided to make an account! Not positive if this is the proper place for an introduction but I figured I'd be spending most my time here I might as well get to know the regulars. For the record I haven't shot a bow in a couple years. But been meaning to get a new bow, just haven't got around to it yet. As far as bowmaking I probably won't be able to impart much knowledge (yet) on the actual process of bowmaking. But since it's trad gang I figure a lot of y'all use leather somewhere. And that's one of my things is leatherworking. So I can help out in a small way with that! Anyway. Glad to be here and share any knowledge with yall.

-Joseph

[Pat B]

Welcome tp TG, Joseph. What kind of bow do you want to make, glass lam, wood lam or selfbows?
 I also do leather work. Got any pics of your leather work?

[Bnorma1276]

Just a basic bow I guess? I have a couple old recurve but I wanted to start with the most basic bow to make and use (longbow maybe?) As far as leatherwork. Nothing too fancy. Just functional, sheaths, axe covers, overstrike protectors (for axes) belts, arg guards, etc etc. My newest has been these little pocket knife holders (I don't like a lot of things in my pockets all the time) I'll get you some pictures at some point. Im at work right now

[Roy from Pa]

Welcome to TG, Joe...

[Flem]

Yes, Welcome! I'm a tenderfoot also. Although I noticed, I broke the 3 digit barrier recently.

[Roy from Pa]

Tenderfoot from now on it will be, Flem..

LOL

[Bnorma1276]

So how do y'all make bows? Or did, rather. When you first started? I'd prefer to start with something simple with wood I can buy or order. I have 60 acres out here and already cut wood. But I'd rather start with something while I let some wood dry. I do have some Osage cut and dried. But I was doing an axe handle experiment with it so not long enough sadly lol

[Roy from Pa]

Here would be a good start.

I suggest hickory or hard maple for your first bow.

http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=108949.0

[Bnorma1276]

That's exactly what I've been looking for roy! Thank you

[BMorv]

Oh good you're still here!  That means that Roy didn't scare you off yet.   
Welcome to the site.

[Forwardhandle]

If you want to make a self bow type , hickory is always a good choice, I still have my first self bow from 25 years ago hanging on the wall it's the worst tiller that I have ever done ,but it survived and shot & still would but probably have to go to the dentist afterwards do to the hand shock but most first time bow builders can get a shootable bow with hickory ,Welcome & ask a lot of questions you will probably get more answers then you want...lol

[Flem]

Tenderfoot from now on it will be, Flem..

LOL

OOps

[Roy from Pa]

Welcome, Joe...

[Bnorma1276]

Thank you thank you! I was looking at the link for the red oak board bow build. And I think I'm going to build it. Except my band saw is out of commission sadly so looks like coping saw and drawknife time lol. Also I'll definitely cut a few lengths of hickory. I've got so much hickory in my wood shed and my handle pile from a few months back that I never even thought of making bow staves from. but when those two hickories fell I needed the firewood more than a bow lol (should've cut a piece still I know) but got a few decent hatchet handles out of it

[Roy from Pa]

Red Oak is ok but hickory is much better bow wood.

But ya all could use red oak..

Heck ya can't just make one bow anyways:)

[Bnorma1276]

I started the board bow! Every th ing is clamped up while the glue dries right now. Next up is hollering after a bit of shaping so I'm going to be making a hollering stick at some point in the next few days. Then a string. That's the part I'm concerned about. What string material for a self bow?

[fujimo]

welcome mate
good to see you here.
as said by Roy and FH, hickory is a great choice- it will survive bad tillering- i too have one like FH, its amazing that its still shoots, that Hickory is tough!!
talking about tillering, i see you prefer to  holler at yer bows- must be a Tennessee thang!
do ya just holler at it, till it starts to bend, or do you use a different technique

( damn auto-correct )

[Bnorma1276]

The hollering just keeps the splinters down! See. You take your hollering stick and smack it if it raises a splinter. Eventually it'll stop. That or I'll learn to proofread, one LOL. And I'd love hickory. I just don't currently have any seasons hickory big enough for a bow. I use hickory a lot on various tool handles so I'm used to working with it. Just don't have any lol

[Roy from Pa]

You could Z splice 2 pieces of hickory together and get a long enough piece.

[Bnorma1276]

I might try that when I get a little bit better at the process. If I were to try it now y'all would think "man that's a really good joint on that really bad bow lol