Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Odyssey12 on March 28, 2020, 01:36:10 PM

Title: Old but just getting started
Post by: Odyssey12 on March 28, 2020, 01:36:10 PM: I am 71 years old. Been shooting bows and bow hunting since my early 20’s. Mostly traditional, but exclusive traditional the last 10 years. In all this time I have yet to build a bow. I’m interested in building a self bow. I’m sure this question could get many different answers. What would be the best reference material (book, CD, etc.) for me to get started? I like materials that are easy to understand and direct to the point.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Forwardhandle on March 28, 2020, 02:19:06 PM: Well you came to the right place , a lot of old timers around here :laugh: I have a vast library of bow building books but the one that's close to my heart & a simple strait forward book that I first read when I started was the Bent Stick by Paul Comstock, I read the book in a couple hours & got a shootable bow the same day ! There are many other books I could recommend but that's the one that comes to mind given your stated criteria !
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Bob D on March 28, 2020, 02:46:36 PM: I have never built a self bow but I did enjoy Glenn St Charles “Billets to Bow” which is still available in DVD from 3 Rivers. It also has a companion book that I thought informative and entertaining.
Good luck with your adventure :thumbsup:
—-Bob D.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Odyssey12 on March 28, 2020, 03:22:33 PM: Thanks a bunch for the feeback
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: bucknut on March 28, 2020, 06:23:20 PM: Dean Torges Hunting the Osage bow is a dandy if you can get ahold of one. I've read mine half a dozen times. Rattlestick by Gary Davis is a very good DVD too.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Pat B on March 28, 2020, 09:03:08 PM: Also the Traditional Bowyers Bible series of 4 books. Each book has many authors each with a different topic of pertinent information. You may find some of these books at your local library or they can order them.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Mad Max on March 28, 2020, 09:56:19 PM: Used one's on Amazon
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: buckeyebowhunter on March 29, 2020, 08:58:27 AM: The bowyers bible's are good but a little difficult to understand when you're first getting started, at least for me they were. Clay Hayes has a book out called the Traditional Bowyers handbook, easy to understand and read. Plus he has many YouTube videos that will help. Good luck.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Wolftrail on March 29, 2020, 12:28:46 PM: Never to old as the saying goes. Welcome to the addiction, I started when I was about 54. Doing woodwork is what got me started the rest is history. I do not have any books as such but bought a lot of Magazines on the subject. YouTube has a vast network of guys on there building self bows, laminate bows etc……… That's all I do now for any reference, kick back on the couch and watch YT.
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 29, 2020, 01:40:12 PM: Glad to hear you are wanting to build a bow.
You may want to begin with bad bows.
Comstock's book will give you a good start.
Also, here is my site.
Jawge
http://traditionalarchery101.com
Title: Re: Old but just getting started
Post by: Pat B on March 29, 2020, 05:06:39 PM: George's site will give you lots of good info and get you started and walk you through the process. :thumbsup: