After cleaning up stave #2 I found another issue in the form of a side knot. Not sure how to handle this one. The future back of the bow is facing left and the knot is on the side of the working limb. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


<div class="md"><p>After cleaning up stave #2 I found another issue in the form of a side knot. Not sure how to handle this one. The future back of the bow is facing left and the knot is on the side of the working limb. Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>
</div>

Stave #2, question #2

<div class="md"><p>Flipped the bow for the second picture.</p>
</div>

Tiller Check

Stave #2 is an inner stave with some issues I’m not sure how to deal with. The stave has a dark flaw in the working part of the limb along with some knots, twists and turns. I think I understand how to handle the knots but the dark area looks like a crack that filled itself in over time.
The stave is about 82” long but the flaw falls within the 66” bow length I’m planning. I might be able to eliminate it with the layout favoring away from it. Here’s some pics.


<div class="md"><p>Stave #2 is an inner stave with some issues I’m not sure how to deal with. The stave has a dark flaw in the working part of the limb along with some knots, twists and turns. I think I understand how to handle the knots but the dark area looks like a crack that filled itself in over time.
The stave is about 82” long but the flaw falls within the 66” bow length I’m planning. I might be able to eliminate it with the layout favoring away from it. Here’s some pics.</p>
</div>

Hickory stave #2 questions?

Going to try and work on it more and maybe string it tomorrow, hope it doesn’t break?

<div class="md"><p>Going to try and work on it more and maybe string it tomorrow, hope it doesn’t break?</p>
</div>

Update

Just finished my first selfbow and an arrow. the arrow is pretty much just a sharpened dowel with fletching, parallel shaft no taper. The rear of the arrow looks like it's lifting up in the side view. It could be a number of things from the bow to the arrow to my technique. What can I do to rectify this? the accuracy is surprisingly not too bad, but im pretty sure arrows aren't supposed to lift like that.

<div class="md"><p>Just finished my first selfbow and an arrow. the arrow is pretty much just a sharpened dowel with fletching, parallel shaft no taper. The rear of the arrow looks like it&#39;s lifting up in the side view. It could be a number of things from the bow to the arrow to my technique. What can I do to rectify this? the accuracy is surprisingly not too bad, but im pretty sure arrows aren&#39;t supposed to lift like that.</p>
</div>

First bow, need some advice!

Any fresh bowyers just note that there is risk to doing this . 

<div class="md"><p>Any fresh bowyers just note that there is risk to doing this . </p>
</div>

Force drying hickory blank just because I can .

Finished up my red oak board bow this morning. Thanks all for the help with the tiller checks! Learned some good lessons. Roughing out what will become a red oak linen backed pyramid bow now.

<div class="md"><p>Finished up my red oak board bow this morning. Thanks all for the help with the tiller checks! Learned some good lessons. Roughing out what will become a red oak linen backed pyramid bow now.</p>
</div>

First bow

Currently im roughing out some of the staves i could get in december. This one split pretty bad for me but i thought i'll give it a go anyway. It got a twist from about 45° and its bending sideways. As you see in the pictures. Its still green so i roughed out a front profile i was hoping for kind of ELB design and clamped it on a straight board. Now it got pretty good Reflex i think and the twist is only about maybe 15-20° which i think i can handle later in the process. My question now is... At the thinnest part of the stave it is only 1 3/8 Inch wide and 1 Inch thick but the Cross section isnt good. Its Going in an Angle from the back to the belly on one side because it split like that. Dont know If i can describe that correctly Hope the Pics will... so i dont know If thats even enough? Never build an ELB so i dont know how wide they usually are or thick. Ash is probably Not the best wood for it but im not shooting for a warbow.. dont know. Maybe somebody got any suggestions if there's enough wood left or its gonna get super weak starting with it Like that or If i screwed it Up already or any better design ideas i dont know ... Happy for help and for anyone who read this far lol 

Im just trying to save every piece even If only for practice or getting another childrens bow ..... Its 71" long btw

<div class="md"><p>Currently im roughing out some of the staves i could get in december. This one split pretty bad for me but i thought i&#39;ll give it a go anyway. It got a twist from about 45° and its bending sideways. As you see in the pictures. Its still green so i roughed out a front profile i was hoping for kind of ELB design and clamped it on a straight board. Now it got pretty good Reflex i think and the twist is only about maybe 15-20° which i think i can handle later in the process. My question now is... At the thinnest part of the stave it is only 1 3/8 Inch wide and 1 Inch thick but the Cross section isnt good. Its Going in an Angle from the back to the belly on one side because it split like that. Dont know If i can describe that correctly Hope the Pics will... so i dont know If thats even enough? Never build an ELB so i dont know how wide they usually are or thick. Ash is probably Not the best wood for it but im not shooting for a warbow.. dont know. Maybe somebody got any suggestions if there&#39;s enough wood left or its gonna get super weak starting with it Like that or If i screwed it Up already or any better design ideas i dont know ... Happy for help and for anyone who read this far lol </p>

<p>Im just trying to save every piece even If only for practice or getting another childrens bow ..... Its 71&quot; long btw</p>
</div>

European Ash Design Help needed

So yesterday, a very prominent fletcher called out me out on Instagram for using pine resin in my verdigris and other fletching compounds.

So today I called a butcher in my old neighborhood in north Chicago and they cut me 2  lbs. of fresh lamb kidney and heart fat which I'm now going to hard render.

Let's do this!

I'll post progress pics here as it renders 😁

<div class="md"><p>So yesterday, a very prominent fletcher called out me out on Instagram for using pine resin in my verdigris and other fletching compounds.</p>

<p>So today I called a butcher in my old neighborhood in north Chicago and they cut me 2  lbs. of fresh lamb kidney and heart fat which I&#39;m now going to hard render.</p>

<p>Let&#39;s do this!</p>

<p>I&#39;ll post progress pics here as it renders 😁</p>
</div>

Suet Saturday!

I came across a few bows at my work. Does anyone know the maker of these? 

<div class="md"><p>I came across a few bows at my work. Does anyone know the maker of these? </p>
</div>

ID on these 2 bows?

A friend and budding bowyer was nice enough to give me these hickory staves. I have questions on 3 of them. 
Would it be better to address each on this thread or start a new thread for each?
I’ll ask question #1 here. The widest stave ranges from 5” to 6” In width and is about 76” long. I’d like to get more than one bow out of this one. Should I try for 2 or 3 by splitting it? The stave is flat and straight with straight grain running full length.

<div class="md"><p>A friend and budding bowyer was nice enough to give me these hickory staves. I have questions on 3 of them. 
Would it be better to address each on this thread or start a new thread for each?
I’ll ask question #1 here. The widest stave ranges from 5” to 6” In width and is about 76” long. I’d like to get more than one bow out of this one. Should I try for 2 or 3 by splitting it? The stave is flat and straight with straight grain running full length.</p>
</div>

Stave questions?

This stave took a bit of bend pre-tiller. Should I straighten it or focus on tip-grip alignment?

Slightly worried I messed up the hop hornbeam. It was really hard to split with less than ideal tools and sort of ran off the side, so I went and borrowed a chainsaw to split the larger side but it’s pretty warped. The rest I’m hoping will be okay. Ash and maple. The ash was about 2 1/4 inches across, I just split it in half and sealed the ends. The maple was only an inch and a half ish so I stripped the bark off and left it whole. 

<div class="md"><p>Slightly worried I messed up the hop hornbeam. It was really hard to split with less than ideal tools and sort of ran off the side, so I went and borrowed a chainsaw to split the larger side but it’s pretty warped. The rest I’m hoping will be okay. Ash and maple. The ash was about 2 1/4 inches across, I just split it in half and sealed the ends. The maple was only an inch and a half ish so I stripped the bark off and left it whole. </p>
</div>

How do these staves look? Usable?

This broke around 80 shots through. It was pulling 56# at 32".

67 inches nock to nock, with an 8 inch stiff handle. 

I haven't quite diagnosed the break yet, and was wondering if anyone might know why. The whole bow only had about an inch of set.

I know it isn't much help but I added.my only pocture of it at full draw. I didn't do a great job documenting this bow before trashing it, which I regret.

<div class="md"><p>This broke around 80 shots through. It was pulling 56# at 32&quot;.</p>

<p>67 inches nock to nock, with an 8 inch stiff handle. </p>

<p>I haven&#39;t quite diagnosed the break yet, and was wondering if anyone might know why. The whole bow only had about an inch of set.</p>

<p>I know it isn&#39;t much help but I added.my only pocture of it at full draw. I didn&#39;t do a great job documenting this bow before trashing it, which I regret.</p>
</div>

Two for two on my breaks this week

Worked both limbs a fair bit. Feels pretty good at a short draw. How’s it look?

<div class="md"><p>Worked both limbs a fair bit. Feels pretty good at a short draw. How’s it look?</p>
</div>

Tiller check round 2

[green Peafowl](https://preview.redd.it/un2vukfv3hge1.jpg?width=262&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5de8d05c1e2024bb5c62d2a117cae51dc6c5ca2c)

[female crested fire back pheasant ](https://preview.redd.it/dcmcsztw3hge1.jpg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11a748841e4bdbb0c6584598360dabaa15ae0efc)

[male crested fire back](https://preview.redd.it/36d3snj04hge1.jpg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=42b8ee0652abacd1138bbad27f7477b1e39c108b)

[rhino hornbill](https://preview.redd.it/vf3kfqo24hge1.jpg?width=1656&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2620a7fedcb04d41b12b32d91d2a04d4159fe347)

<div class="md"><p><a href="https://preview.redd.it/un2vukfv3hge1.jpg?width=262&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=5de8d05c1e2024bb5c62d2a117cae51dc6c5ca2c">green Peafowl</a></p>

<p><a href="https://preview.redd.it/dcmcsztw3hge1.jpg?width=600&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=11a748841e4bdbb0c6584598360dabaa15ae0efc">female crested fire back pheasant </a></p>

<p><a href="https://preview.redd.it/36d3snj04hge1.jpg?width=474&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=42b8ee0652abacd1138bbad27f7477b1e39c108b">male crested fire back</a></p>

<p><a href="https://preview.redd.it/vf3kfqo24hge1.jpg?width=1656&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=2620a7fedcb04d41b12b32d91d2a04d4159fe347">rhino hornbill</a></p>
</div>

Please don't take this seriously, I doubt if very many will even get to try but what are your thought about how or if you might use these feathers for arrow fletching's

This one's going to be my shooter if I dont do anything crazy in the next few days :p it feels close 50lbs at my draw. Looks to me like mid limbs top and bottom might benda bit extra. What does the council think? I'm thinking a bit more out of the inners and fades and thin down the handle a bit till it feels less bulky in my hand. Any riser ideas I could try that would benefit shooting or even just comfort?

<div class="md"><p>This one&#39;s going to be my shooter if I dont do anything crazy in the next few days :p it feels close 50lbs at my draw. Looks to me like mid limbs top and bottom might benda bit extra. What does the council think? I&#39;m thinking a bit more out of the inners and fades and thin down the handle a bit till it feels less bulky in my hand. Any riser ideas I could try that would benefit shooting or even just comfort?</p>
</div>

72" White Ash flatbow

Bottom third top limb seems a little extra bendy to me  now top third might be a touch stiff, not sure I want to take anymore off the limb... I'm liking the feel of it and buddy I made it for was calling his shots lol I'd hate to ruin it now :p The rest looks decent to my eyes. What say the council of bowyers? Spar urethane or continue to bend?? 

<div class="md"><p>Bottom third top limb seems a little extra bendy to me  now top third might be a touch stiff, not sure I want to take anymore off the limb... I&#39;m liking the feel of it and buddy I made it for was calling his shots lol I&#39;d hate to ruin it now :p The rest looks decent to my eyes. What say the council of bowyers? Spar urethane or continue to bend?? </p>
</div>

64" White ash almost RH centershot flatbow. Update.

Tiller check. Shooting for 25-30lb draw at 28”. Pretty sure the grain is going to make this bow explode on me, but I’m definitely learning a lot. Top of bow is on the right. (First bow, btw)

<div class="md"><p>Tiller check. Shooting for 25-30lb draw at 28”. Pretty sure the grain is going to make this bow explode on me, but I’m definitely learning a lot. Top of bow is on the right. (First bow, btw)</p>
</div>

Tiller check

Went to a nearby park saw a dead tree, got it in the car. Split up these staves. What are my options now and where do I go from here?
.

I am from New Zealand so my choice of native wood is limited, this is a kanuka tree i believe. 

While cutting up I think I messed up stave C halfway as shown in photo.

And there's a close up of stave B.

What do you think I should do?
Which ones do I practice on and destroy and which one do I keep last to make sure its the best I can do

<div class="md"><p>Went to a nearby park saw a dead tree, got it in the car. Split up these staves. What are my options now and where do I go from here?
.</p>

<p>I am from New Zealand so my choice of native wood is limited, this is a kanuka tree i believe. </p>

<p>While cutting up I think I messed up stave C halfway as shown in photo.</p>

<p>And there&#39;s a close up of stave B.</p>

<p>What do you think I should do?
Which ones do I practice on and destroy and which one do I keep last to make sure its the best I can do</p>
</div>

Hey guys first time cutting up a log

Well shoot. Been working on this one for a long time and dreaming of building it for longer. Not sure what went wrong here to be honest. The sinew didn’t lift at all, the bow was bending very nicely, had it drawing about 45# at 18” or so, but already the tiller was near perfect. God only knows what did her in but may she rest in peace(es). 

Easy go get down on yourself when something like this happened but honestly, I learned so much and had a great time building this thing. It sucks for sure to make it to the finish line but I don’t count it as time wasted by any means. 

I don’t have any staves that’ll work for this design and I’m all out of time for sinew for now. But maybe in a few years I’ll take another stab at it! Until then….you win this round bow gods! 

<div class="md"><p>Well shoot. Been working on this one for a long time and dreaming of building it for longer. Not sure what went wrong here to be honest. The sinew didn’t lift at all, the bow was bending very nicely, had it drawing about 45# at 18” or so, but already the tiller was near perfect. God only knows what did her in but may she rest in peace(es). </p>

<p>Easy go get down on yourself when something like this happened but honestly, I learned so much and had a great time building this thing. It sucks for sure to make it to the finish line but I don’t count it as time wasted by any means. </p>

<p>I don’t have any staves that’ll work for this design and I’m all out of time for sinew for now. But maybe in a few years I’ll take another stab at it! Until then….you win this round bow gods! </p>
</div>

Can’t win em all

My first attempt from a hickory stave. Tiller is far from perfect but I learned a lot in the process. It’s currently 31# at 27”.


<div class="md"><p>My first attempt from a hickory stave. Tiller is far from perfect but I learned a lot in the process. It’s currently 31# at 27”.</p>
</div>

My first stave bow

72” ntn read oak board bow 2” at fades and keeps that til 20” down the limbs then tapers to 1/2” knocks, and pulls 46# at 30”.  The outers still look a little whippy to me but I think I’m done with it for now. Unless y’all spot something that really needs changing or if it doesn’t shoot well. It had a little over an inch of set right after unstrung, and the set that was more in the outers has kind of blended into the rest of the limb a bit. The left limb is stronger on purpose, it’s going to be the bottom limb. For my 3rd bow I’m pretty happy with it. I’ve learned a lot from each one I’ve built so far, and an even more from this sub. I’ll definitely be posting this one again when I get it all finished. Thank y’all for all the help.

<div class="md"><p>72” ntn read oak board bow 2” at fades and keeps that til 20” down the limbs then tapers to 1/2” knocks, and pulls 46# at 30”.  The outers still look a little whippy to me but I think I’m done with it for now. Unless y’all spot something that really needs changing or if it doesn’t shoot well. It had a little over an inch of set right after unstrung, and the set that was more in the outers has kind of blended into the rest of the limb a bit. The left limb is stronger on purpose, it’s going to be the bottom limb. For my 3rd bow I’m pretty happy with it. I’ve learned a lot from each one I’ve built so far, and an even more from this sub. I’ll definitely be posting this one again when I get it all finished. Thank y’all for all the help.</p>
</div>

Final Tiller Check

Lol sorry, I couldn't resist.

Fitting a 1/2", 300 grain atlatl dart point (3 Rivers) to a hand-planed and shouldered ash military/warbow arrow shaft.

<div class="md"><p>Lol sorry, I couldn&#39;t resist.</p>

<p>Fitting a 1/2&quot;, 300 grain atlatl dart point (3 Rivers) to a hand-planed and shouldered ash military/warbow arrow shaft.</p>
</div>

Just the tip...

Was a little all over the place today, but finished this prototype/experiment for an order from a bowman looking for something more snappy than ash for his warbow:

- 32" hand-planed poplar shaft
- barrel tapered  from 11/32" at the ends to .4" in the center
- 7.5" turkey feathers bound into verdigris with green silk
- slivered blonde cow horn self-nock insert
- tipped with an 11/32" 190 grain field point from 3 Rivers

<div class="md"><p>Was a little all over the place today, but finished this prototype/experiment for an order from a bowman looking for something more snappy than ash for his warbow:</p>

<ul>
<li>32&quot; hand-planed poplar shaft</li>
<li>barrel tapered  from 11/32&quot; at the ends to .4&quot; in the center</li>
<li>7.5&quot; turkey feathers bound into verdigris with green silk</li>
<li>slivered blonde cow horn self-nock insert</li>
<li>tipped with an 11/32&quot; 190 grain field point from 3 Rivers</li>
</ul>
</div>

Fletcher Friday

Alaskan yellow cedar for the back,  western red cedar for the core and maple for belly. I really hope the yellow cedar holds up to the maple 😬🤡

<div class="md"><p>Alaskan yellow cedar for the back,  western red cedar for the core and maple for belly. I really hope the yellow cedar holds up to the maple 😬🤡</p>
</div>

Tri-lam


Made two sets of blunts for my warbow. Both have horn inserts in the nocks.

Manchu style fletching bound with linen and sealed with super glue

Livery style fletching bound with b55 thread and again sealed with super glue

Both have rubber walking cane ferrules which have a washer inside and stuck on with hot glue.

<div class="md"><p>Made two sets of blunts for my warbow. Both have horn inserts in the nocks.</p>

<p>Manchu style fletching bound with linen and sealed with super glue</p>

<p>Livery style fletching bound with b55 thread and again sealed with super glue</p>

<p>Both have rubber walking cane ferrules which have a washer inside and stuck on with hot glue.</p>
</div>

Fletcher Friday: blunts for my warbow

I made an even smaller one out of toothpicks

I posted this bow a few days ago and ended up shortening it by 4” to see if I could re-tiller a bit and increase the draw weight—I’m hoping it was at least mildly successful. It’s 64” with about a 5.5” brace height, and it’s pulling about 27# at 28” (up from 23# in its longer form). I was considering giving some reflex to the tips—is this bow a good contender for that? At my draw length, I don’t seem to be stacking, which is nice.

p.s. does anyone have tips for getting a good front profile shot? I struggle with it.

<div class="md"><p>I posted this bow a few days ago and ended up shortening it by 4” to see if I could re-tiller a bit and increase the draw weight—I’m hoping it was at least mildly successful. It’s 64” with about a 5.5” brace height, and it’s pulling about 27# at 28” (up from 23# in its longer form). I was considering giving some reflex to the tips—is this bow a good contender for that? At my draw length, I don’t seem to be stacking, which is nice.</p>

<p>p.s. does anyone have tips for getting a good front profile shot? I struggle with it.</p>
</div>

Tiller check - 64” oak longbow

the bow string came in and now i reckon its about 30lb draw at 28”. i attempted to fix some of the tillering issues from when i first posted it and it getting some arrows from back home over the weekend to test it out

<div class="md"><p>the bow string came in and now i reckon its about 30lb draw at 28”. i attempted to fix some of the tillering issues from when i first posted it and it getting some arrows from back home over the weekend to test it out</p>
</div>

UPDATE: on my first bow

*All about the amateur bowyer's art
how to make a bow from a plank, a stave, horn, sinew, steel, plastic or fiberglass. 
Homemade crossbows and arrow topics are welcome too*


**RESOURCES:**

[TradGang](http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=125;hardset=0;start_point=0;DaysPrune=0)

[PaleoPlanet](http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/18/t/Archery-Primitive-Bows.html)

[Primitive Archer](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?board=2.0)

[ATARN (Asian Traditional Archery Research Network)](http://www.atarn.org/frameindex.htm)

[Sam Harper's Buildalong:  Your first red oak bow](http://poorfolkbows.com/oak.htm)

[Can I make a bow from this wood?](https://sites.google.com/site/onemississipp/bowwoods)

[How to make a flemish string jig](http://www.stickbow.com/stickbow/features/flemishstring/flemishstring.html)

[How to make a flemish twist bowstring](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjU-0lfDUzI)

**Related subreddits:**


[Archery]
(/r/Archery)

[PvcBowyer]
(/r/pvcbowyer)

<div class="md"><p><em>All about the amateur bowyer&#39;s art
how to make a bow from a plank, a stave, horn, sinew, steel, plastic or fiberglass. 
Homemade crossbows and arrow topics are welcome too</em></p>

<p><strong>RESOURCES:</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=125;hardset=0;start_point=0;DaysPrune=0">TradGang</a></p>

<p><a href="http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/18/t/Archery-Primitive-Bows.html">PaleoPlanet</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?board=2.0">Primitive Archer</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.atarn.org/frameindex.htm">ATARN (Asian Traditional Archery Research Network)</a></p>

<p><a href="http://poorfolkbows.com/oak.htm">Sam Harper&#39;s Buildalong:  Your first red oak bow</a></p>

<p><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/onemississipp/bowwoods">Can I make a bow from this wood?</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.stickbow.com/stickbow/features/flemishstring/flemishstring.html">How to make a flemish string jig</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjU-0lfDUzI">How to make a flemish twist bowstring</a></p>

<p><strong>Related subreddits:</strong></p>

<p><a href="/r/Archery">Archery</a></p>

<p><a href="/r/pvcbowyer">PvcBowyer</a></p>
</div>

<div class="md"><p>Reddit&#39;s friendly bow making community. Talk bows and archery, share your creations, and get help from fellow bowyers. Topics include bows, archery, woodworking, woodcarving, artwork and finishing, DIY crafts, wood selection, tree identification, history, archeology, experimental archeology and much more.</p>
</div>

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