this is how to make a leather bow tip protector. i will post directions along with a few pics in each post. i have read that these make your bow louder when shooting, i haven't tested them to see if this is the case but i do know that they will provide protection from damage to your tips.
...things you will need...
1. sharpie marker, or a pen
2. a thin cardboard box, use a cereal, soda, or whatever you want box
3. piece of leather, i used a scrap piece from a deer hide. you could use any leather i would guess, but not something really hard or thick
4. thonging chisel, i bought one that has 4 edges, and i also took a small flathead screwdriver and ground it down to a sharp flat point
5. hammer, i have a wooden hammer but i'm sure a rubber hammer would work fine
6. glue, there are many types of glue that will work, just make sure it's something good
7. heavy braided wax thread
8. needle for sewing, i got a pack of them, you need one that will have an eyelet big enough to accept the thread we'll be using
9. an exacto knife or scissors, or both
step one, take your bow and maker/ pen and trace around it onto the piece of cardboard box. you want the total length to be at least 2 1/2 inces or more, and when you trace it don't go right along side it, leave yourself a gap
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector001.jpg)
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector002.jpg)
next cut out the template that you made and trace it onto the leather piece. if you want the soft/ fuzzy side out, trace onto the smooth side, if you want the smooth side out, trace onto the soft/ fuzzy side. you will need 4 pieces so make sure you trace it 4 times.
cut the pieces out
then take 2 pieces and cut a slot into it
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector004.jpg)
next take a SMALL amount of glue and put it around the edge. do NOT put it on the short flat side, that's where the bow tip will slide in, you knew this but i don't want you to glue the whole thing :)
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector003.jpg)
then glue one piece that has the slot and one that doesn't together, repeat with the other one also. you can put some books on it so they will set. give it some time to dry and be solid.
this is one after the glue has set, it doesn't take too long
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector005.jpg)
the next thing you'll do is to punch/ hammer holes in it so you can sew it together. use the thonging tool or whatever to make holes spaced out and along the edge. do NOT put holes at the opening where the tip goes into, the same place you didn't put the glue earlier
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector006.jpg)
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector007.jpg)
after you have all the holes punched along the edge you can get your thread and start sewing it up. start at one of the corners and weave in and out all the way around. when you reach the other side don't tie it off just weave back through the other way so that the thread makes a solid line on both sides.
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector008.jpg)
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector009.jpg)
now is when you would dye it. the pieces i used were left over from something else i made that was already dyed. if you dye it before you'll have white colored edges and and it'll look lame. i fixed it by just coloring the edges with the black sharpe marker, i could have just dyed the edges but i was lazy.
just dye it after and get the edges and everything evenly coated, let it dry and then put a protection coat on it with super sheen. i put at least 2 coats of super sheen on my projects when i'm done.
after they are dyed, super sheened and completely dry, your done.
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector010.jpg)
(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/hunterace1/leather%20tip%20protector/leathertipprotector011.jpg)
if anyone has ?'s just ask or pm me and i'll try and help.
hope yours turn out well.... Jay
Sweet !! Nicely Done. Thanks
if a admin or moderator wishes to move this to the how to section or build along section they can. i saw i couldn't post it in the how to section, but i didn't see the build along section, sorry
Very cool! I need to make a few of these here over the next few weeks, this is going to help!
Are they a snug fit on the tip?
Very good instructions Jay..Going to try to make a couple...Thanks,Mike :)
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was looking for something just like this!!!!
Well done and a useful project for all.
QuoteOriginally posted by BowHuntingFool:
Very cool! I need to make a few of these here over the next few weeks, this is going to help!
Are they a snug fit on the tip?
yes, well at least the 2 i made are. i would guess it just depends on how big you make them and the stitch that you make. if you make it too big it'll be loose. the 2 i made are real tight, it wasn't easy to get them one, especially the one that goes on the top of the bow, tihout the bow stringer i made i have no idea how i would have gotten that one on
Awesome build along! :clapper:
Dang good Jay!! You might as well go ahead and get a DBA.
QuoteOriginally posted by straitera:
Dang good Jay!! You might as well go ahead and get a DBA.
ok i'm dumb, what's a DBA ???
Thanks for the build along. It looks like something I can do. I do however have a question about your statement "especially the one that goes on the top of the bow" did you put one on both ends of your bow? I always thought that bow tip protectors were made just for the lower limb. Wouldn't putting one on the upper limb prevent you from stringing and unstringing your bow?
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd
QuoteOriginally posted by Mudd:
Thanks for the build along. It looks like something I can do. I do however have a question about your statement "especially the one that goes on the top of the bow" did you put one on both ends of your bow? I always thought that bow tip protectors were made just for the lower limb. Wouldn't putting one on the upper limb prevent you from stringing and unstringing your bow?
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd
i have no idea if they are only meant for the bottom, seems like if you want to protect your tips for walking in the woods, stalking , whatever, you would need to protect both.
the bottom one is easy, just put the loop of the string into the "slot" holeand start to slide onto the bow tip withe the loop and protector until the loop is secure and then pull down and snug the tip protector.
the top is a little harder, but is done the exact same way, except your sliding them both on as your holding the bow with a bow stringer. that's how i did it. i put the loop into the "slot" hole of the tip protector, then i put the loop end and tip protector through the gap of my bow stringer, so the big ended loop isnt attached to the bow it's just hanging in the V section of the bow stringer. then as i had tension on the bow with the bow stringer, i slid on the tip protector and loop until i got it situated. it's sort of hard to describe but mabey that helped, otherwise i'll get my wife to mabey take some pics of me as i'm putting the top end on, there's no way i can do it and take pics by myself
Thanks for the build along
your all welcome, i like to help if i can, hope all yours turn out well. you can also, if your ambitious, wood burn pics on them if you so wished, it's a small area, but a tiny design or pic would make it stand out even more.... Jay
i decided to make another set of tip protectors last night, and i used the template from the fist ones i made, instead of measuring/tracing the tip of my new bow. THIS WAS A MISTAKE. it turned out ok but a little lose at the bottom, my new bow doesn't taper as much so it's sort of loose at the bottom.
so PLEASE measure/ trace you tips, especially if you decide to make them for different bows! :)
I made 3 tip protectors last night.thanks for the build along.
QuoteOriginally posted by Big Bird:
I made 3 tip protectors last night.thanks for the build along.
good hope they turned out well, post some pics if you want i'd like to see what i sort of helped make :)
Awesome build along...Now I know what I can make with all my small scraps...Thanks hunterace!