Least favored task

[osage outlaw]

I'm surprised by how many people don't like making strings.  That doesn't bother me at all.  I understand the arrow making though.

[Slackbunny]

I guess I agree with the string haters sometimes. I like to make one string at a time. Any more than that and I don't enjoy it. Problem is I only hit my target length about half the time, so I usually end up making two or three at time before I get one that fits. And I must make all my bows similar length because no matter how many extras I make, I never have one that is the right size!

[Gus]

I do love the way Osage and Tung Oil smell together while Heat Treating...
Smells even better than Ole Regular Gasoline...
I used to Love that smell as a child...

Hmmm... maybe that part of what's wrong with me.



-gus

[BOWMAN53]

i actually like making strings now, im really good with a reverse flemish twist. the key is to use those tiny irwin clamps to hold the string, after that all your doing is twisting.

[Don Case]

I hate crashing through the brush to find a nice Pacific Crab, carrying it home for an hour and then splitting it and having 180 degrees of twist in it. But I toughed it out, roughed it out and clamped it to a 2x8. Now I can forget about it for a year. At least I've got Ocean Spray. It splits straight every time--so far.
Don

[bow101]

Some interesting stuff on here, I would probably have to consider sanding a strong second as far as un-likeable tasks.  Have not done enough bowyering to actually call waiting a bad one, mabe after I have built 30-50 bows and mastered the skill somewhat.. All in all its fun, addicting, challenging and very humbling.

[bubby]

I'm surprised by how many people don't like making strings.  That doesn't bother me at all.  I understand the arrow making though.

i'm with you Clint, strings are pretty easy, I just make them as needed, arrows are another matter

[sleek]

I dont understand what folks do to not get the correct length of string and cant lengthen them or shorten them? All my string will adjust for almost any bow length.

[PrimitiveTim]

Yeah, strings and waiting for staves to season.  I go from plant to string though and it sucks.  Lots of tedious finger work.

[osage outlaw]

I'm surprised by how many people don't like making strings.  That doesn't bother me at all.  I understand the arrow making though.

i'm with you Clint, strings are pretty easy, I just make them as needed, arrows are another matter

I'll spend hours looking for a lost arrow.  I figure if it takes me two hours to find it I'm still several hours ahead if I had to make a new one.

[Japbow]

      Hmmm...my least favorite task, and it's specific,
      is thinning down the wood on the belly of a bow.
      I'm talking post hatchet and pre tiller. I always
      have at least a centimeter of wood that needs to
      come off. I usually bounce between my Shinto
      rasp, a small draw knife, and this wood "cheese
      grater" thing I have because the monotony kills
      me. I dream of getting a bandsaw one day.

      Japbow.

[osage outlaw]

Japbow, have you tried a farriers rasp?  It is pretty aggressive at removing wood.

[JW_Halverson]

So far, I think I have heard every stage of bow work disparaged by several people in this thread.  Yup, used to hate chasing rings, now I love it, used to hate sandpaper, string making, arrow making, the whole shebang.  It's all the same to me now, but the one thing,,,that one little thing that I just can't work up any enthusiasm for....

(and now you are all gonna look at me funny.)

(Again.   )

...is shooting them.  Never really have enjoyed it.  Probably never will.  Shocking huh?  But I didn't get into this for a bow, you can buy those.  Instead, it is the process, the simplicity of old hand tools, the sweetness of a curl breaking over the lip of a spokeshave, it's the journey.

Oh, and the look on a kid's face when you tell him or her to go ahead and keep that bow, after all, they shoot it pretty good, it must have been theirs from the beginning.

[sleek]

And now I understand why you dont own a single bow you make... JW.... I like you. And dont worry, I'm not lookin at you funny. I'm just lookin at you because you look funny...

[koan]

Actually... I have to recant. I really dont mind makin strings although ive worked with my hands in construction and factory work my whole life so the twisting makes my hands cramp. ... What I absolutely cant stand is makin what you know to be the best shootin bow you ever made( with a good 30-60hrs in) and giving it to someone who just had to have it...then find it hangin on their wall..strung..and never shot... Grrrrr..... Maybe we should start a thread on our favorite part of archery, lol.... Brian