It all started at the Kalamazoo Expo last weekend. We were out to dinner as a family and my oldest son, Nick (7 years old), said he had to make something for the school science fair in the middle of February. He asked if he could build an arrow all by himself. Well, if you all would please join me in a very proud dad moment I would appreciate it.
Here he is picking out his very first shaft to be the greatest arrow of all time.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0001.jpg)
Sanding the shaft before any finish is appliedd. I did do the tapers for him seeing that a 7 year old should not use power tools (woodchuck)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0003.jpg)
Now Nick is applying the crown stain.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0006.jpg)
Then after letting the crown stain dry for 5 hours, he then did the foreshaft stain.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0007-1.jpg)
After allowing 24 hours for the stain to dry, he did his first coat of clear sealer.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0010.jpg)
After allowing to dry for 24 hours he then started with his wide band of blue cresting.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0013.jpg)
Applying his red pinstripping.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0015.jpg)
Applying duco to install the nock.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0017.jpg)
Mike, Great pics. Looks like Nick will be a natural. I like his cresting job he did. Don
Here Nick is installing his nock.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0018.jpg)
Once the duco was dry he then proceded to dip his shaft one more time.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0019.jpg)
On this one, I applied the fletch tape to the feather, but he installed the feathers on the shaft.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0023.jpg)
Cutting the drip off of the end of the shaft to prepare it for a head.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0024.jpg)
Choose your poison, they all have a purpose. His Principle said it was a good project for him to do, just do not install a point on the arrow and he could bring it into school.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0028.jpg)
Nick's finished arrow. He made me a proud Dad once again.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0026.jpg)
One more of the completed arrow, and one of the Mudd Skull Cap now that we know how to properly wear it.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0002-2.jpg)
Thanks for following along. I do appreciate you giving us a little bit of your time.
Way to go youngster :thumbsup:
You got a good one on your hands Mike, nice job youngster!!!
Way to go Nick! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: Thanks fir sharing with us Mike. You've taught him well!
Way to go Mike. Nothing like teaching them to shoot...then teach them how to make the arrows they break....lol. Good life lesson in there for youngsters. That's my daughters next step.
If you look, you can see he drew up a blueprint of what he wanted his arrow to look like, and it is sitting on the workbench.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0007-1.jpg)
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Makes for one proud papa! :thumbsup:
I like it, Great job Nick :wavey: :thumbsup:
wow he does a lot better than i can. looks like you got a natural there.
by the way, i really like those yellow flu flus in the backround :D
Very Cool, Ya gotta love that! It's awesome when your kid's take interest in the things you like. Jason
QuoteOriginally posted by $bowhunter$:
by the way, i really like those yellow flu flus in the backround :D
I'm donating those to our Michigan Longbow Association winter banquet next weekend. That half dozen are paired up with a half dozen yellow barred of my banana burn arrows so that someone will have 6 for big game, and 6 for small game.
Great to see kids at work it does the heart good.I like those flu's in the background
Enjoyed the build along!! Good job Nick!!
that is so cool well done young man. :clapper: :clapper:
:notworthy: and if your parents give you a hard time you can come down here and build arrows for me. :clapper: :biglaugh:
Nice job on the arrows Nick. That's a real cool hat too! :clapper:
Yeah!!
Talented boy you got there! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
nice!~
Great. Nice job. Start em young, encourage them and they'll remember it forever. Quite a young man you have there. Yeah! Looks like you have another one thats showing interest also. Very good pictures defining the moment.
Good stuff!! Going to take over the shop soon! Good looking arrows boys.
Good time spent with the kids Mike! Think of the memories that were created with this project... PRICELESS!
Thank you for all the praise guys. Nick just read all of them to me out loud, and he was smiling the whole time.
On a side not, I got the black nocks today Magnus, and they are perfect for what I needed them for. They look better on the shafts than the Bohning classic nocks do. Thank you Matt.
Mike
Nice job! I have to admit though, that when I first saw this I wondered why it would take 7 years for an arrow build along :biglaugh: .
RonP
QuoteOriginally posted by portugeejn:
Nice job! I have to admit though, that when I first saw this I wondered why it would take 7 years for an arrow build along :biglaugh: .
RonP
One way to look at it is he was an apprentice for that long, now he is a journeyman fletcher. Well, not yet, we both still have alot to learn. Atleast we are doing it together, and yes his brother is chomping at the bit to get into it too, which I love to see.
That is cool. What a great school project!!!
Strong work--both son and dad.
Mike your welcome buddy! Good luck.
Way too cool Mike.
My daughter did some archery stuff for grade school science, she never built any arrows, but her flight charts got displayed in the main hallway cabinet.
Good job.
It is great that both your boys are getting started early. Keep 'em going!
RonP
Great kid. And an even greater dad! That's pretty cool.
Nicely done Nick.
Your brother watching you seemed very much into it also.
Earl
Great job,fellas!Dads like you are strengthening the future of this awesome journey! :cool:
Here is a picture of his finished project. It gets turned in tomorrow, and the Art/Science fair is on Thursday, February 17th. I'll let you all know how he does. I can honestly say my boys make me proud in everything they do, and atleast try.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/miklvines/IMG_0001-1.jpg)