Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Crash on February 25, 2010, 09:58:00 pm
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Hey Guys, first of all, happy to be here, my first post ever!
I've been doing primitive camping trips for the past three years, made my own leather, knives, clothes, and this year I thought I'd make my own bow. I really really like short bows as we hike a lot and I'm only really interested in small game hunting (don't want to carve up a dear and make it last a week in the wild)
How would I go about making a short bow (48" or less), @ 30-40#. Not really concerned with draw length. D style? Relex/deflex? woods available in NY?
I was thinking of using hickory and backing it with another type of wood, or maybe silk.
Thanks for the input!
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welcome to pa hickory will make good bow i have made bows from maple hickory red oak and ipe
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Welcome aboard Crash! Others will chime in but the shorter the bow you build the trickier it gets. I would say Hic is a good choice to start with..
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Welcome aboard! From the sound of things, it almost sounds like you think you're going to just build one...ha ha ha, good luck with that. Hickory definitely is good stuff. Especially if you haven't built one before. Shorter draw D style bow. Keep us posted!
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Thanks, I've done a lot of research, but research can only take you so far. :)
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Look at the West Coast/Pacific NW Paddle Bows or other pyramid styles - all of which can be made even from Lowe's red oak boards.
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Welcome,look bace through the bow section,lots of short bow there and plenty of people ready to help. :)
Pappy
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welcome aboard. start early because you will probably be making more than one bow before you get one completed and you like. I am on my fourth. had two break during tillering one that actually shoots put pull is to light. I dont think the wood type matters so much as aviability of good staves to start from. have fun making shavings.
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Where ya from Crash might just be one of us live close by and you can get some one on one lessons :)
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Welcome, Crash! Jawhe
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welcome,,as for as wood hickory is your best local wood ,, it will not need backing,,I would push the length to 56- 58 and make a d bow, you can make a plains style quiver with bow case to handle a bow of this length,, I am afraid that a bow 48 or less will not be fun to shoot or accurate,,
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Welome aboard Crash,
Like the others said....a "D" bow is probably your best bet, if you go that short. But they do have to bend ALL the way through.....as you get closer to being done ....go slow, then slow down some more, dont bend too much to soon. Good luck with your "first" and there is a lot of knowledgeable people here to help you along.............this does get addictive, so be warned ;D
half eye
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Thanks everyone, I was up til 2 last night reading through old posts on short bows. I'm pretty sure I want to make a paddle bow, thanks to KenH for the reference :)
I live in the Binghamton Area of NY, south-central upstate.
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crash i feel like the child interupting the grown folks here but the shorter you go the wider it needs to be and the thiner it will have to be which creates lots more work and more chance of hingeing a limb. give a 60in a try its really not that bad to carry ! and hickory edge grained boards would be a good starting place
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OK. so I decided to listen to those who know more and start out with a longer bow for my first attempt. I went to Lowes and picked up a 3/4"x2"x6' in maple and red oak. The pickings were kinda slim so I decided I would need to back it. I was going to use the maple for the belly and oak for the backing, and was thinking of making it around 54". Couple of things.
1: Does this sound like it might work?
2: How do I figure out my draw length?
3: Can I use Gorilla glue?
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Howdy Crash, welcome to your new addiction. Building bows are like Pistachios, can't really be happy with just one. I used to do a good bit of hiking myself, and understand your desire for a short bow; however for such endeavors may I suggest a take down. Easily packable, and when you need it, you could have a sweet shooting, accurate hunting bow in your hand. You have come to the right place for advise, as many here are masters of the craft. Good luck to you in your endeavors.
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Welcome Crash, some good advice has been given and you are wise to glean as much as you can from the site, old post and by asking.
I would use Tightbond 2 or 3. Gorilla glue is to soft for backing and will allow the backing strip to shift. I would suggest a pyramid style. The natural taper on the sides will help with the tiller for your first one and won't be as touchy for tillering like Ken said the thinness required on a wider paddle bow can be challenging, even for experts.