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Author Topic: makeing bow with webelos?  (Read 4041 times)

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Offline merl

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makeing bow with webelos?
« on: September 06, 2011, 01:22:42 am »
hi im looking for some advice on making bows with and for cub scouts age 10-11. any and all advice is wellcome . i can harvest all the osage  but not sure this is a good choices for them. please any help would be great.
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Offline aaron

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Re: makeing bow with webelos?
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2011, 12:38:09 pm »
osage might be too hadr to carve for thoise young ones... you could make "panda" bows- that's where you lash together a small bundle of bamboo- the pieces are selected and arranged to produce a bow with out doing any regular tillering. Don't call them "panda" bows, though, call 'em "dragon" bows or something!

another option is to use long straight saplings that are "green" - that is, not seasoned. make 'em like 6 feet long and they should be forgiving to tiller. green wood will be easier to carve. 10 year olds would have a real hard time carving seasoned osage and most kids don't want to spend a day or more making a bow- they wanna go shoot it. with the panda bow they will be shooting before too long and if it breaks there's time to make another.

how much bow making experience do you have and what tools are available?
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Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline Ifrit617

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Re: makeing bow with webelos?
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2011, 01:46:36 pm »
I agree make some bamboo cane bows... they are quick and easy to make and can shoot pretty well too.
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Offline jthompson1995

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  • Parkville, MD
Re: makeing bow with webelos?
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2011, 10:41:35 pm »
I went to a youth archery day and they made bows out of split rattan poles. They went really quickly and easy for the kids.
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A man who works with his hands is a laborer, a man who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsman, but a man who works with his hands, his mind and his heart is an artist. - Louis Nizer (1902-1994)

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: makeing bow with webelos?
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2011, 11:37:38 pm »
The split rattan is really quick and easy.  Run the rattan thru a bandsaw and tiller them inside out!  The cut edge is now the back of the bow!  Once tillered to the short string you can leave 'em strung and rasp the back where the curves flatten.  Just be sure to have the kid excercise the bow 20-25 short draws after taking off rattan on the flat spots.  No narrowed handles, no arrow cut-outs, kid can finish in a half day with help from someone with experience.

If there is any question on survivability, back them with Elmer's glue and strips of bown paper bag.
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Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.
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