Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: WVbowhunter on June 11, 2016, 10:39:00 PM

Title: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: WVbowhunter on June 11, 2016, 10:39:00 PM: Would like some suggestions for a fun (and relatively cheap) bow build. Will do a build along for whatever I pick so let's hear the ideas guys. Thanks :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: jsweka on June 12, 2016, 12:54:00 PM: If you're looking for cheap, red oak board bow or PVC bow.

Or how about a hickory self bow. I've had a hankerin' to try building one myself for a while.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: Pat B on June 12, 2016, 01:55:00 PM: Can't get much cheaper than what jsweka suggested and any would be fun to build. I'm kind of partial to selfbows.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: Dan Landis on June 12, 2016, 09:06:00 PM: James, What materials do you have? Board bows are cheap if you can find a good board. Staves will cost more, unless you have access to cut your own, but will take longer to dry. I agree with Pat, kinda partial to selfbows.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: WVbowhunter on June 13, 2016, 10:12:00 AM: I've got some black locust staves that I have had in the corner for a couple months as well as some hickory I've had for over a year.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: passion for knowledge on June 14, 2016, 09:01:00 PM: I thought building a bow was, just for the sake of doing it, fun.

I'd have to say that even the ones that broke were fun - until they broke!

Not just bows - I try to make as much of what I use, myself, as I can.

Arrows, strings and what not.

I live near Lake Ontario and right now the geese are shedding wing feathers like crazy. I'm picking 'em up nearly as fast!

In the process of trying to make a new stringer for my new bow. If it works out, I'm taking photos.

I'll post if all goes well.

There's no better feeling than shooting arrows you've made off a bow of the same origin and hitting your target!
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: WVbowhunter on June 14, 2016, 09:09:00 PM: I love making bows, and have never made on that wasn't fun. In truth I was hoping that not only would I get some new ideas, but also maybe jump start the creativity of some of those who look at this forum without taking the leap and building their own. Plus I just love seeing what ideas everyone can come up with. And good luck with the stringer man, I look forward to seeing it when it's finished.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: mikkekeswick on June 15, 2016, 02:43:00 AM: The easiest bow to make is pyramid flatbow. Eg. one where the widest part is right out of the fades and then the width tapers in a straight line to the nocks. The reason being that bows like this need very little thickness tapering/tillering. I can make one in about 30 mins :) The performance will be right up there too.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: passion for knowledge on June 21, 2016, 06:54:00 PM: Nice thing about making bows is you don't need a lot of equipment, just patience.

Here are all the tools I used for my most recent bow these and sandpaper.

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=013702

What part of UK, mikkekeswick? Is there a clue in the name?

I was born in Warrington. Went to Uni in Sheffield. Moved to Canada in '88
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: passion for knowledge on June 21, 2016, 06:56:00 PM: Curses, forgot to add the image!

https://postimg.org/image/4gu9rzkjv/
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: passion for knowledge on June 21, 2016, 07:36:00 PM: Here's the stringer.

I cycle everywhere these days. I find all kinds of stuff by the side of the road! I've picked up 2 pairs of tin snips, dozens of bungies, wrenches. I found a pretty decent filleting knife close to a fishing spot car park last week.

I found one of those big rubber suspension stops off an unknown vehicle. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was going to become.

I cut it with a coping saw, as the rubber tends to grip wider blades. Drilled a hole in the middle to accommodate a piece of metal tube, to spread the load, and pressed it in - made sure it didn't go completely to the edge so it wouldn't cut the paracord I used.

Sanded the overall shape. Started rough went smoother at the end, as usual with sandpaper.

The pouch is made from the thumb off a pair of pigskin work gloves from the local dollar store. The pouch only holds things in place, the cord takes all the strain. I twisted the cord over itself in the middle of the pouch so that it doesn't close up so easily.

Easy to adjust the length.

Works a treat.

It's not just that I's a cheap so and so. I enjoy making stuff.

(https://postimg.org/image/ovzxujidn/)
(https://postimg.org/image/y2i8htnm3/)

(https://postimg.org/image/wyy45v2yz/)

(https://postimg.org/image/4xfhef8az/)

(https://postimg.org/image/vtzgmqr4b/)
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: passion for knowledge on June 21, 2016, 07:39:00 PM: Images didn't work.

https://postimg.org/image/dxoocctsb/

https://postimg.org/image/ovzxujidn/

https://postimg.org/image/y2i8htnm3/

https://postimg.org/image/wyy45v2yz/

https://postimg.org/image/4xfhef8az/

https://postimg.org/image/vtzgmqr4b/
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: WVbowhunter on September 16, 2016, 11:45:00 AM: Guys I promise the build is coming, but it will most likely be some time this winter as I am currently in college 6 hours from home and all my tools. Because I'm going to be on limited time its gonna be a red oak board bow. probably a pyramid bow because I enjoy those. Hopefully it will go pretty quick once I get started. Sorry its taking me so long to get started guys but college is kinda kicking my rear end and has been since back in the summer when I was filling out paperwork that seemed to multiply if I blinked. Best of luck to everyone this season
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: monterey on September 16, 2016, 01:30:00 PM: I have built a bunch of oak board pyramid bows and so far have had only one failure.

One thing I learned about oak and pyramid bows is that while you CAN apply equal thickness taper full length, it's best to have just a very little bit of extra thickness coming off the fades. Just for a few inches. That will give you a more even set (with oak boards there will be set!) And avoid the gull wing at the fades which is a huge performance thief.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: takefive on September 16, 2016, 01:42:00 PM: If the air is much drier in winter where you live, I'd break out one of those hickory staves. Hickory performs best at low RH.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: bigbob2 on September 17, 2016, 02:01:00 AM: X 2 pyramid bow.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: bckskin2 on May 03, 2017, 04:33:00 PM: How about an all bamboo bow? TBB IV has some pictures. One of the others TBB has some cord backed boo too.
Jerry
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: EwokArcher on May 05, 2017, 04:59:00 PM: If I didn't have an 8 week old baby and had plenty of free time I'd be working on a herters style form fg bow. I really want to make one of them shorties.
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: YosemiteSam on May 08, 2017, 01:30:00 PM: How about a sapling bow? I've had my eye on some of my neighbor's mulberry branches...
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: EwokArcher on May 08, 2017, 10:12:00 PM: Also crepe myrtle self bow could be fun. Tons of ppl have been throwing out crepe around my area. I got a slightly crooked 6 ft piece about 1.5 inches diameter last week
Title: Re: Suggestions for a fun build
Post by: bckskin2 on May 14, 2017, 07:10:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by YosemiteSam:
How about a sapling bow? I've had my eye on some of my neighbor's mulberry branches...
Sam, I have a mulberry sapling I cut a few years ago. I was going to work it down to heart wood and make a walking stick. It is really dry with no checks a little over 2" in the middle. Would it make a bow?