I have an eight year old grandson that is taking an interest in shooting bows. He is  big fan of the Marvel Avengers and Hawkeye is his favorite! He is right handed and I checked him and it appears his right eye is his master eye.
He heads back home to Tennessee in the morning and we are planning to go down to visit them the last weekend of September and I am hoping to have a selfbow made for him by then. He is tall at 4'5" but thin. He has a pacemaker that is inserted lower in the ribs (they will move it when he gets into his early 20s) and there is always a concern about stress on the leads.
Not real sure what length of bow and weight I should shoot for at what I think will be an 18"-20" draw. Any suggestions are appreciated and also where I can find some arrows for this bow and an arm guard and a tab. I can make both of those is I need to though.
Andrew is a trooper... pacemaker at 39 months and diagnose with type one diabetes at age 5! Papaw needs to build his little buddy a bow!!
Thanks guys! Mike

Poor little guy. My heart is breaking for him.

Honestly,  Id talk to Mike at Maddog Archery. He is a pro at making kids bows, and I know he can and would tell you everything you need to know. Mike is a rare and outstanding guy, you will like him.

The longer the better for a smooth draw and stay light.  I just had two 19 year old firefighter students shooting 30 pound bows last weekend and they had a blast!  There are so many variables in weight, and I know you said you wanted to build a self-bow, but a well made 20-25# fiberglass bow that is matched to tuned arrows will really push an arrow.  There is no "right" answer to this question.  Have fun Pawpaw!

I have 9 grand kids. Mike made me 2 dual shelf Pup longbows last year that are real good. With the dual shelf he can go either way. He made me a 48" and a 50", 25#@26". That way, if their draw is shorter they are automatically pulling less weight.

By the way, Mike is Mike at Maddog Archery.

QuoteOriginally posted by Shadowhnter:
Poor little guy. My heart is breaking for him.

Honestly,  Id talk to Mike at Maddog Archery. He is a pro at making kids bows, and I know he can and would tell you everything you need to know. Mike is a rare and outstanding guy, you will like him.

x2

My granddaughter and her Maddog "pup".  A really nice longbow.  I'd call Mike,

There are a lot of grandpas getting there there grandkids bows these days. He has a had a tough life already  prays for you all. I don't have a lot of knowledge on self bows but yes as mentioned earlier. longer the better. I would think 48 to 52" to start with for him. Keep it light so he has fun

x2 on the dual shelf Mad Dog pup!

Mike-  I sent you a PM, I have some 5/16 shafting, 2" feathers and nocks your more than welcome to. Just out of points right now.

James

Forgot to add the specs inn my granddaughters bow.  It is 26# @26".