I was just wondering if any of y'all shoot using homemade tabs? If you do, how do make them? What materials do you use and can they be just as good as a commercially made tab? Thanks for any input!!!
I know several guys who use homemade calf hair tabs.
Bisch
Here´s some pics of the ones I made
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Tabs%20Homemade/1368ac05-9c29-4c43-9543-8efe2f088c9f_zpsjkcklp59.jpg) (http://s929.photobucket.com/user/yononindo/media/Tabs%20Homemade/1368ac05-9c29-4c43-9543-8efe2f088c9f_zpsjkcklp59.jpg.html)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Tabs%20Homemade/ca834a24-4461-4042-8dbe-698bf24a2271_zpsq6qhfcmr.jpg) (http://s929.photobucket.com/user/yononindo/media/Tabs%20Homemade/ca834a24-4461-4042-8dbe-698bf24a2271_zpsq6qhfcmr.jpg.html)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Tabs%20Homemade/474339b2-21d7-4918-bb7c-b658936d8067_zpstasn7yfe.jpg) (http://s929.photobucket.com/user/yononindo/media/Tabs%20Homemade/474339b2-21d7-4918-bb7c-b658936d8067_zpstasn7yfe.jpg.html)
(http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad132/yononindo/Tabs%20Homemade/7b92daa3-bd5b-478f-b19c-07a7815c8ab4_zpsafxo1ziy.jpg) (http://s929.photobucket.com/user/yononindo/media/Tabs%20Homemade/7b92daa3-bd5b-478f-b19c-07a7815c8ab4_zpsafxo1ziy.jpg.html)
Daniel, Well done as always. Great tabs.
Yeah Daniel, great looking tabs, but question... What's up with the tails on some? They look cool, but wouldn't they sometimes get in the way of the bowstring?... Thanks
I have made my own for several years. Used some other commercial type ones as well.
After I settled on a type that fit me, I just used it as a pattern to make my own from then on.
Nothing fancy, but they work for me.
Daniel (yononindo), you are a true artist!
Bisch
There are lots of reasons to make your own tabs, not the least being they cost practically nothing. Except perhaps for precision target shooting even simple tabs will perform well. Another reason to make your own is that self-made tabs (including spares) can be easily customized to fit your unique preferences. And they're fun to make.
Got some old boot leather or leather scraps you don't need? If yes then you have the necessary ingredient for a serviceable tab.
It's a safe bet that if arrows aren't hitting where they need to it's probably not the tab (whether store bought or home-made) that's causing the problem.
Ive made a few, don't look anything like the feller's above but they've killed plenty of animals!
Those look Great!
Ernie
A variety pack of leather at Hobby Lobby and you are good to go. The ones I make look like the calf hide ones above without hair. I shoot 3 under.
Those are some very nicely made tabs you have there! So any kind of leather is good for homemade tab? I bought some leather from a shoe shop here in town. I'm going to print a picture of Fred Eichler tab and use it as a template. Then customize it to fit. I plan on using just a single piece of leather and see how that goes.
The only tabs I've ever shot were my own. Not as pretty as Daniel's tabs, but very easy to make...tippit
(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv96%3A5%3Dot%3E2395%3D%3C78%3D763%3DXROQDF%3E2%3B3623784%3C23%3Bot1lsi)
(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv9346%3Dot%3E2395%3D%3C78%3D763%3DXROQDF%3E2%3B3623993423%3Bot1lsi)
(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv4%3A6%3Enu%3D32%3A4%3E%3B87%3E672%3EWSNRCG%3D3%3A4532875%3A32%3Cnu0mrj)
Mine are even simpler than Tippit's. I just cut a split finger pattern out of good vegetable tanned lether, of a thickness I like. Just enough to cut down wear on my fingers, but give me a good feel of the string. I buy the leather from a local guy who makes belts and bags, I get thinner tan belt thickness. A $10 piece will make A LOT of tabs. I have a couple of tabs in my packs, turkey vest, my truck and scattered about. if I drop a tab while in the treestand, I have another in the pack.e
maineac,
I do the same...multiple tabs ever where! I tried single layer tabs but like the extra cushion of two layers.
I am always amazed at Daniel's skills and artistry. Some of the coolest traditional archery "stuff" and some very awesome videos portraying his commitment to stick and string have been posted here over the years. Really nice tabs!
Not going to show any of my tabs! Too embarrassing.
Mine are single layer simple Mediterranean style. No finger separators. Can make one in two minutes from scrapsy