Building a kids bow?

[Stonedog]

All-

Two weekends ago....my little boy and I were down at our place at Lake Cumberland in eastern KY.

We were headed over to Wolf Creek Dam to fish and there was a kids bow shoot going on....

So he wanted a turn.....and you guessed it.....

All it took was one arrow and he was hooked.

As soon as he was done...he turned to me and said, "Daddy will you build me a bow like yours!?"

How can I say no!?

So......

How do I go about building a bow os a 4 yr old?

I was thinking of backing it with linen....I have some premium lnatural color linen for that purpose.....

Maybe a redoak board, 40" long or so.....

What specs should I use??? 

[JackCrafty]

I've got 2 four-year-old boys (twins) and the bows I make for them are made of small saplings....about 1/2" diameter.  They are about 36" long. I leave the back rounded, and tiller to 7lbs @18" draw.  The arrows are 1/4" diameter and 20" long and fletched with two "peeled" turkey wing feathers (about 3" long) with tips sharpened with a pencil sharpener.  The strings are waxed linen and about 1/16" diameter.

The boys draw the bows to about 16" (or less) and shoot at a range of 6-10 feet.  I've taught them to use a pinch grip and I wrap a bulb of thread just above the nock to help them with this.

[adb]

Make him a maple self bow from a board. Cheap. Easy to make.

[radius]

adb is right, stone dog...maple is cheap and holds together well on lightweight bows, i have found.  I made a couple maple bows last years from 3/4" boards...violated the grain in every way imaginable...well, not EVERY way...but i drew curves on the back of the board, so that the bow was wavy like a wavy-bladed dagger or a slithering snake...kids loved it...you will love it too, and your bow will love you

[Pat B]

For kids, I like to tiller a bow out beyond their draw length/weight. That way they can continue to shoot it after their muscles develop and their draw increases..  I'm working on a 52" osage bow that will be donated to"Powder Creek Traditional Archery Shoot and Summer Arrow Search". This bow will be tillered out to 23" or 24".  I haven't decided about weight but 15# to 18# @ 18" draw is a good starting point. That would bring it up to about 35#@24"...and look out neighborhood squirrels.   Before the youngun gets to the 24" max draw it is time to make the next bow...bigger/stronger...and pass the old bow down to the next kid.          Pat

[FlintWalker]

Use Osage.   I have a piece about 44' long and a couple inches wide and a piece about 60" long and 1" wide I would be happy to send you if you want it.
  I love to see them little ones properly equipped.
  Just let me know.   Saw Filer

[bambule]

use Rattan - I build lots of Rattan bows for kids - easy to make, cheap and undestroyable...





Here is a buildalong from Dean Torges:

http://www.bowyersedge.com/kidsbows.html

Greetz

Cord

[adb]

Thanks for the Torges post on rattan bows. I forgot all about them!! Awesome, quick, and cheap.

[JackCrafty]

Nice bows (and arrows) bambule 

[George Tsoukalas]

Boards are good, saplings are good and so are small pieces from a stave. I make them them same size the kid. Jawge

[jeduffey]

I think I have to agree with Dean's rattan kid's bow design.

I would, however, (personal preference), not teach him to pinch the nock. I teach three fingers under, and -always- use a properly sized serving for the nock and good nockset. It has been my experience that kids that are capable of making the Boy Scout salute with their hands are ready to shoot. Otherwise they need to grow a bit. I have taught this to kids from 2.5 years old to 82 years old.

I also use a 1/2" PVC tube, 4" long, with an animal balloon passed through it and ends tied together to teach proper form and release, -before- I put a real bow into the kid's hands.

I have to finish up my new kid style quiver to post for you. I think you'll like it. Check next week.

[salad days]

I made a 50 " d bow for my 4 year old daughter out of hickory board leftovers from another bow. Just ripped parallel, narrowed tips alittle and cut in nocks. Tillering took about 20 mins total. Pulls about ten pounds. It actually took longer to make the grip that the whole rest of the bow! Of coarse then she wanted arm guard like mine, Ok no problem. Then quiver, uhh litter tougher but will try. Then three finger glove, then pink arrows, now she wants her whole bow pink and all the other stuff I arleady made pink.
Gotta love em. Shes up for anything, as long as its pink.

[JackCrafty]

Dang, I thought I had a pink problem....my daughters are satisfied with pink arrow cresting.  (Thank goodness)