Author Topic: Finished First Bow  (Read 3032 times)

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Hoarfrost

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Finished First Bow
« on: August 12, 2013, 12:10:01 am »
I finished my first bow. I've always wanted an English Longbow and although on the light side I am very happy with it. It took me about 2 weeks on afternoons after work. I used the instructions in "The Backyard Bowyer" by Nicholas Tomihama, which is a great book. I need some arrows splined correctly for it, (have some heavy aluminum ones now).

I had a blast roving around today, it should make a great stump shooting and small game bow. I'm just learning how to shoot too, so I'm really happy to have a self-made bow to practice with.

"Goshawk"
Made from a Red oak 1x2 with Black walnut nock points.
30# at 30"
76" tall
B50 bowstring by me (another first)





Close up of a nock point:


Full draw:

Offline bow101

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2013, 12:11:35 am »
Good job, tiller looks spot on...
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Hoarfrost

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2013, 12:15:03 am »
Good job, tiller looks spot on...

Thanks, I spent a lot of time tillering and exercising the limbs. I think I took off more wood than I needed for a heavier draw, but am very happy with it and learned a lot for the next one!

Offline Newindian

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2013, 12:15:41 am »
Awesome for a first, if you wanted some more weight you could cut off a few inches
I like free stuff.

Offline steve b.

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2013, 12:24:18 am »
Good for you, that's a nice bow.

Offline IdahoMatt

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2013, 12:43:10 am »
I wish my first bow had a tiller that looked like that.  Great job!

Offline Weylin

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2013, 12:54:28 am »
I agree, great job on the tiller! you oughta be proud of yourself. nailing the tiller is SO much more important than hitting your weight on your first bow (or any bow for that matter). No disrespect to Newindian but I wouldn't mess with that bow at all. Shoot the hell out of it, enjoy it and get started on your next bow.

blackhawk

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2013, 07:20:08 am »
Congrats on ur first shooter.... 8)

Offline Pappy

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #8 on: August 12, 2013, 08:06:26 am »
Nothing like your first,nice job. :)
  Pappy
Clarksville,Tennessee
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Offline Matt Heppe

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2013, 09:22:29 am »
Well done. It really feels great to make your own bow!
Eternal Knight: where I write about writing, do book reviews, and display my novice bows.

Offline WillS

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2013, 09:40:11 am »
What an elegant looking bow.  I'd be happy if that were my 100th bow, let alone first!

Offline Josh B

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2013, 10:02:58 am »
Nicely done!  Especially for your first!  Josh

Offline lesken2011

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2013, 10:04:24 am »
Very nice 1st bow, for sure!!
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

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Offline Shiloh

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2013, 01:12:05 pm »
Seriously, that's textbook tiller, great job! Wish my first bows could have turned out like that. Did you leave the board at full width, or did you narrow it a little?
Warning: I am one of the men the Pharisees warned you about.

Hoarfrost

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Re: Finished First Bow
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2013, 03:09:08 pm »
Seriously, that's textbook tiller, great job! Wish my first bows could have turned out like that. Did you leave the board at full width, or did you narrow it a little?

I did narrow it a little at the handle and then down to 1/2" at the tips. I don't remember the exact dimensions but copied the instructions in Nicholas' book and it worked well. I used a hand-plane to do most of my thinning which I think helped great smooth tapers.

Thank you for the compliments everyone!