**Beginner** Starting a Red Oak Board Bow

[jpschersch]

Thanks all! Hopefully I can get something started so I can show pics!

Thanks
Joe

[Thesquirrelslinger]

Alright cool! Anybody who's done a red oak board bow have any recommendations on what looks good?

Thank
Joe

Duct tape makes a nice grip. I like bend in the handle bows.. so I don't make risers.
Duct tape doesn't look nice however... so electrical tape or jute cord works great too.
ERc is some pretty stuff.

[Weylin]

Really? duct tape? out of all the things you can make a grip with... 

[bubby]

Really? duct tape? out of all the things you can make a grip with... 





that is exactly what I thought, look in the yellow pages for cabinet shops in your area, they have lot's of end pcs and scraps that they have to haul off or burn, they will prolly give it to you

[jpschersch]

Bubby, you talking about the black walnut when you say that?

Thanks
Joe

[George Tsoukalas]

There's info on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

[Mad Max]

JP,
 Welcome to PA. you have found the greatest well of knowledge. There are many here who love to share and help! Love to see the bow when your done
Knapper

Amen on that

[bubby]

Bubby, you talking about the black walnut when you say that?

Thanks
Joe

[bubby]

you should get black walnut, cherry, maple and more

[kevinnator11]

I used red oak for my riser at first since I didn't expect it to work out.  I started playing/paying with the exotic woods after I got the hang of tillering.  Doesn't hurt your feelings as bad if it breaks when you only have $10 in it.  You can get silk at fabric stores at a decent price and back a lot of bows with it. 

[jpschersch]

Awesome! Thanks everyone!  I'll post progress pics once I make some progress

Thanks
Joe

[paoliguy]

If you want to dress up your handle a bit get a piece of thin cedar at Lowes then cut your red oak left over piece in half, sandwich the cedar in between the oak pieces and you'll get a cool stripe in your handle. The thin slats of cedar for closet linings work great and they are cheap.

[jpschersch]

So put the thin Cedar plank (what, 10 inches?) where the handle will go, and then put on top of that another piece of Red Oak board (same size...10 inches? or other), then fade it? Will the Cedar really show through?

[paoliguy]

I like to put a thin piece of oak onto the belly then a thin piece of cedar on top of that and then top it off with another piece of oak. Depending on your finish it will show through quite nicely. I don't have any pictures and I can't figure out how to post my sketch I just made 

[IdahoMatt]

Another way to gussy up bows when you are gluing wood together is to get a veneering kit at a hobby store.  Or just find wood for veneering.  You can sandwich thin strips to get a custom look for not too much $ .  I learned that building guitars.  It really looks clean when you use light and dark wood together.  Especially on tip overlays.  Have fun with you fist build.  Get ready to be infected with something that only has one cure.