which is easier,self bow or laminate?
IMHO selfbow
Two different animals! A laminate bow is probably faster to build once you figure out the correct recipe for the bow you want.
I personally prefer selfbows. I like the challenge of finding the bow in the stave.
I made a laminated R/D longbow for my first venture. Now I'm really wanting a selfbow, too... I definitely had some "issues" with the laminated bow-I'll give you my 2 cents on what I found:
-I was all kinds of nervous with my application of epoxy, but it all worked out fairly well with only a couple slight problems.
-Once it was done cooking, just had to cut out and form the bow. Really wasn't rocket science, but then my bow's not nearly as smooth as a lot of others...
-One great part was there wasn't much anything as to the tillering process. I had one limb end up slightly stiffer which was good. That was all I had to do.
-I think one of my biggest challenge when it comes time for a selfbow will be tillering it properly. Seems like a lot of these guys on here are part craftsman, BIG part artist. Being able to look at the wood objectively and see what will make it into a bow still seems a bit mystical to me...
I think you'll have challenges either way you go and once you've got one bow, you might just start wanting the other, too :) . Good luck and ask these guys on here-they helped me out a ton.
Jeremy
P.S. Be careful, building bows gets addictive...
Thanks for the input,as usual great friendly advice from a great bunch of people.
WHITE WOOD ,HICKORY OR ASH EASY FIRST SELFBOW.OSAGE IS TOUGH.HAD MY FIRST HICKORY BOW TILLERED IN ABOUT 5 HOURS.Try to find a nice strait stave.This helps alot. :archer2:
go to you local lowes or homedepot and pick up a could of straight grained red oak boards to practice your tillering skills on
In my experience...
Selfbows are easier from a getting started point of view. Its cheap and you can get away with almost no tools.
HOWEVER, laminates are easier to get a good shootable bow out of.
I've made many selfbows and only one is good enough for me to confidently take hunting
I've made 2 laminates thus far and would confidently hunt with number 2 and would probably also have done so with number 1 if it was in a poundage range that didn't require a lifetime in the gym before you can draw it ;)
Look up 4est trekker's board bow build along.
Great thread and you will be shooting in no time.