Noob bowyer

[SiongSA]

Hey all,
i'm a noob to this scene, although i've been making bows outta braches since i was 4 i've ever gotten into anything serious. So i was in this african market and came accross some traditional bows so i got one for a few bucks, nothing fancy but the pull hard and seem pretty good. But heres the problem, i'm 15, and its to hard for me to draw properly, so is there any way to soften up an all ready man, dry bow?  any more advice wud be appreciated:)

Sion

[Pat B]

Why not make a bow and save that one for when you build up your archery muscles and can pull it. Sounds like a cool bow. Can you post pics of it?

[Hrothgar]

Sion, once the wood is cured its not really possible to "soften it up"  again or make it more flexible, but you could probably take a scraper or draw knife or even 50 grit sand paper and take a little off the back. If the bow is tillered good, just scrap the entire back-handle to tip-and try to take off an even amount from the entire limb. If the bow bends through the handle you can also take a little off it too.
Hope this helps, Eric

[SiongSA]

wait i'll just upload some, maybe your right dude but there is very few good trees for bows in South africa, although i did cut some ash this morning which i debarked is drying, but i don't know if it'll work, is ash any good. Also will soaking the stave is warm water make it more flexible permanently?

Sion

[SiongSA]

Sion, once the wood is cured its not really possible to "soften it up"  again or make it more flexible, but you could probably take a scraper or draw knife or even 50 grit sand paper and take a little off the back. If the bow is tillered good, just scrap the entire back-handle to tip-and try to take off an even amount from the entire limb. If the bow bends through the handle you can also take a little off it too.
Hope this helps, Eric

Ok i might try that, if i do it will bees wax be enough to seal the wood again?

[Pat B]

Bees wax will work fine to seal the bow. If you can heat it so it sinks in it will be better .
  You don't want to soak your bows or staves. It takes a long time to season bow wood and what you are doing is eliminating the moisture content of the wood.
  Ash will make a good bow. If you removed the bark you should seal the back and ends of the wood to prevent drying cracks(checks).

[SiongSA]

is there any thread showing step-by-step bow making?

[Pat B]

Look through all the back log of bow building threads and/or do a specific search. If you want to come on the "Bows" thread with pics of your stave and ask for help you will get all the info you need. Pics are a great help for us to see what you have going. Ask lots of questions and be ready to soak up lots of bow building info.

[crooketarrow]

    Only way is to take #'s off your limbs and retiller it. I agree why not just build a your own bow.

[sailordad]

Sion, once the wood is cured its not really possible to "soften it up"  again or make it more flexible, but you could probably take a scraper or draw knife or even 50 grit sand paper and take a little off the back. If the bow is tillered good, just scrap the entire back-handle to tip-and try to take off an even amount from the entire limb. If the bow bends through the handle you can also take a little off it too.
Hope this helps, Eric

i woulndt recomend scraping on the back of the bow
you want the back as pristine as possible on wood bows
nicks cuts gouges etc can all be fatal for a wood bow when its on the back

ash will make a great bow,if seasoned properly and tillerd and designed properly
but once again the back should be as pristine as possible

[Hrothgar]

Meant to say the  "belly"  not the back of the bow. Thanks for pointing that out sailordad.

[Jesse]

check out the build along section.