This is exactly what I was looking for. I watched part one, and am about to watch part 3. You making it possible to very easily go out and get a piece of wood from Lowes and make a bow in a day, gives so many more people the confidence to do this as a weekend project and be shooting after a few days of drying. And the best part is, it is all done for virtually no money. Thanks for the videos!
Definitely would love to see more content like this - especially a bow made with material from home depot but with a shelf. Would be awesome. And as for Merino as base layer, can't go wrong with that, totally different type of warmth you get. Thanks for sharing, man.
Clay, actually can't adequatly express how much I apreciate and love the content you share! Thanks man. Really looking forward to your upcoming videos. Wishing you and your beloved ones a very Merry Christmas! Take care, brother.
Hi Clay! Just found your videos, Love them. I Absolutely love traditional archery. I've made a few bows in the past, but I jumped in way too quickly with less knowledge than I thought I had(over-enthusiastic) and 3/4 have finally failed. My brother still shoots one from time to time, but only I believe because he hasn't dropped the cash on a better bow. Your video has inspired me to try again for a better result. I use Titebond on a daily basis at my job. Great stuff! I love that you said "add a little glue between the rawhide strips" and then proceeded to put enough Titebond III to hold a car up.... Thanks for the vid! I appreciate your taking time to explain what you are doing and why. I'll just be off to Home Depot now...
That sort of failure is likely because you are not smooth in your cutting of the wood off the bow. It MUST be perfectly smooth. IE no potholes or washboarding or uneven or sudden thickness variations. I would bet, if you take your broken bows and measure the thickness at the break that it will be less that the surrounding wood.
Excellent series! I tried making a board bow a year ago and hit problems. I think I know why now thanks to your video. I'm going to take another shot at it now. Thank You!
I have been following your videos for a while now and you have inspired me to build a bow for my son and my self. Thank you for your amazing work 💪 you inspirational 👏
How bad is it if I made the tips as thin as the limbs? I planed the limp all the way through to the tip. It seems that you stopped short of the tips and just rounded them off.
Awesome videos. The worst about about your channel is waiting for the preceding videos to be released, makes it more of a treat when they come out. I'm on my third hickory flatbow (first one shoots terribly, second broke, third one showing good promise), and learn something new every time (like back setting). Helpful tips and tricks in these videos.
Great video! Yes definitely keep up the how to videos. Bow building, arrows, shooting, broad heads, camping, stalking,...campfire cooking in elk camp, what ever you got I'm listening!
good morning Clay, i scored a find at a thriftstore, a squeegee for window tinting, and a wallpaper roller. i use these to smooth out bubbles in rawhide, or linen backing. i've heard of exercising your limbs, but jogging pants? brother you're taking it to the next lvl. that bow's gonna get spoiled you pampering it like that lol.
Great videos. What’s got me troubled is it’s pretty unclear how much material to actually remove from the edges. And how much tension should initially be in your limbs. Can anyone provide some insight?
It was worth the wait Clay , loved the video and with minimal tools as well brilliant thanks for sharing 👍👍👍. At 70 pounds it would be to heavy for me would it just be a case of removing more wood from the back of the bow for a lighter poundage or just start off with a thinner blank , thanks Clay
Clay i’ve been meaning to ask you. I’ve been building bows for 12 years. I cut my own trees and split them into staves. But I have never built a board bow, however. What are the moisture content readings usually at for a typical home depot board? I don’t want to bring my moisture meter to test at the Home Depot in case they think I stole it. The only thing I know is look for parallel grain from end to end with no knots. I plan on building a fully bending design like you did, with a deer rawhide backing/hide glue. Thanks! Aaron
Just tell them as you come in the door that you have it. Show them. They will not give you any problems after that. Store wood is kiln dried and in VERY different from naturally dried woods in how it responds to moisture. Research it. It is something about the plastic nature of the wood getting fixed by the high drying temperatures.
Douglas E Knapp I’ve got to re-calibrate my meter. Getting funky readings. But thanks for the info. I feel like I would have too spend hours searching for the perfect board stave. I think I will back it with rawhide as a precaution as that won’t overpower the belly. I don’t use modern finishes, so i’ll just seal the bow with a dozen coats of rendered hog fat, heat it up gently to drive the oil in, and seal with my homemade beeswax/fat. Thanks for the info. Aaron
@@aaronluna4341 I never find the perfect wood. I have ended up just taking what I can get and getting good with heat bending the wood. I use lots of branches as my base and then flatten the back. I use any wood that I can get and adjust the width to compensate per the bowyers bible number 3 or was it 4?
Hello from Sweden Clay. :) I have a question: could you use a silk tie or linen as a backing if you don't have rawhide? I saw another bow builder use it... so could it work for this build too?
ya know a board bow is not as romantic but the wood still comes from a tree. I am going to try board bow first. I just may enjoy the concept more. and there is some nice wood out there
Thanks for all the videos. I've recently just started going down the rabbit hole with bow making. It IS So awesome to actually work wood vs machine and assemble like in cabinetry. Couple questions, how come you and everyone else puts some kind of baking on all their board bows? A gentlemen medieval reenactor said they were unnecessary(he has made many board bows). What is that plastic white cup/pipe on the edge or your bench for? You're awesome! thanks for all the vids and advice.
Damn, now I`ve gotta go find a good board at Home Depot. Thanks Clay for another great bow building video. Can't wait for the next one. Curious...would it be possible to do a small arrow shelf on a board bow?
For a bend through the handle bow, you'd add your shelf to the side. Don't try to cut one in. To cut a shelf in, you'd need to add a piece of wood to beef up the handle section and make it stiff. I'll do a vid on the process.
i love this vid i have been wanting to make a bow for years and really want to use Osage but i was pretty intimidated by the process, but for my first self made bow this way seems much less intimidating and novice not to mention inexpensive perfect for getting the feel of bow making, i will be starting my project soon and ordering rawhide from you. thanks for the help and inspiration.
Love the videos. I will be following this build. I have made a couple bows out of staves but never really got into board bows. This will be a good start for board bows for me. Thanks for the videos! I look forward to buying some raw hide off of your website!
Thanks mate for the epic vids that you put out. Such an inspiration. I’m planning on making my first bow just like this. You’re a legend. From Australia, phil
I would definitely watch more videos showing bow builds...I have a beautiful chunk of Osage that was milled into a square post with amazingly straight grain. I'm thinking a board bow style would be great for a first attempt at making a bow of my own
MrDeebz32 how big is your post? With Osage you could chase a ring and make a great bow I would save that for a few bows in. I love Osage it's a great wood to work with bet my first bow 4 years ago was a red oak board bow and it worked great to start.
MrDeebz32 Another option is to mill the post into as many straight grained 3/4”x1.5” slats as you can get out of it. Back it with hickory backing strips, or better yet with bamboo. A well built bamboo backed Osage bow is about as good as it gets for a backed primitive bow in my opinion.
It's about 6 foot long, and roughly 3x3 inches....I've done a tone of reading and watching videos, and I will definitely work up to chasing a ring on a piece of Osage at some point....I believe there's enough wood on the post to make several bows. I will probably try to cut off a piece to do a board bow backed with another wood, and save the rest for when I've got more experience..
The board that you cut should have the the grain perpendicular to or at 45 degrees to the back and belly of the bow. The grain for the party that you want to chase a ring on should have the grain should be parallel to the back that should give you a place to start. With a 1 in thick piece of Osage that's long and narrow could still produce a good hunting weight bow.
Great video Clay. You explain things really well. I want to make some of these bows for my grandkids. To reduce the weight do I just remove more from the belly side?
you already lined me out with the rawhide backing for protection, and sinew backing for performance. many 'brick staggered' small strips of backstrap sinew, or wide flat 'sheets' staggered? and would you do rawhide over the sinew to protect that as well?
Hi! Two parts. What is the width and thickness of the board that you started with? Second, does the growth direction of the growth rings matter in determining the back and the belly of the bow? e.g side where the growth rings start from, would determine the belly side? Thanks !
I've followed you for a while now and I'm considering making a board/self bow for "Primitive" 3D competitions. In the mean time I've purchased a second hand bamboo laminated 'primitive' bow that has moderate string follow. I've never dealt with primitive bows before. Can I remove some of that set by carefully (little at a time) stringing the bow backwards and letting it set for a few days at a time? My gut feeling says no but thought I'd ask. Thanks...
Fantastic build. How would you reduce the draw weight. Would you taper the limbs further down. If you had to remove material to lessen the draw weight would you do it just at the far end of the limbs or equally through the length of the limb. Thanks. I'm going to start one this month.
To reduce weight, continue to remove wood from the belly while maintaining the proper arc. Go slowly, weigh comes off fast toward the end of the process.
Hey, I'm beginning to make my first bow and I was wondering if it's mandatory to have the jig setup for testing the bow? Also, thanks for all your videos! They really help when making your first bows.
Several reasons...With a bending handle,one can build a shorter bow,for the same draw length...Some find them much easier to build and tiller..Usually you can build them narrower,so many staves can be used for a bendy,that would otherwise be useless for a static handled bow..You can put a small shelf,on the outside,of a bendy,,you just have to be more precise with arrow spine,but they will shoot,just as accurate,when the right spine and or arrow is used..In the History of archery,,the shelf,is a relatively new concept and was developed after archery,became a form of recreation,rather than a tool of serious survival.....
Clay do you think this would be a good choice for a small kids bow say in the 10 pound @ 16" draw range?I have only built bows out of staves and this would be more economical and save time as well.
First of let me say I really like you videos. You break it down in plain English without a bunch of technical jargon that sounds like a foreign language to those of us that don't do this everyday. My question is; would there be an advantage to more than one layer of backing? Or would that be a waste of time?
How you doing clay thank you for all your videos It's helped me with all my archery Specially with my shooting in my shot cycle I have a problem with my long bow The limb tips will you hook up your string is very sharp And it's been tearing up my bow strings was in aware of it at 1st but when they start looking at it my strings were being cut in their life expectancy with short By looking at it seems that I have to file it down in round it out a little bit but to be honest with you and the can of afraid it was a gift to me And I love that bow now my problem is how can I fix it your advice is valued maybe you could help me out if I have to send it down in put a finish on it so I don't damage it can I do this myself I hope you understood everything I said I appreciate your time I hope you could help me Can make no mistakes so when you explain it to me 20 to me like if I was a 14 year old OK so I understand I hope you get back to me on this And keep in videos going they've helped me quite a bit Efrain From Pennsylvania
This is exactly what I was looking for. I watched part one, and am about to watch part 3. You making it possible to very easily go out and get a piece of wood from Lowes and make a bow in a day, gives so many more people the confidence to do this as a weekend project and be shooting after a few days of drying. And the best part is, it is all done for virtually no money. Thanks for the videos!
you're welcome
It took me more than a day lol. Snapped it while trying to put a little more deflex in it 🤣🤣🤣 time to start over now.
Definitely what my son and I were needing to get started on a budget
Definitely would love to see more content like this - especially a bow made with material from home depot but with a shelf. Would be awesome. And as for Merino as base layer, can't go wrong with that, totally different type of warmth you get.
Thanks for sharing, man.
That's on the to do list. I've got a lot of comments about building one with a shelf.
Clay, actually can't adequatly express how much I apreciate and love the content you share! Thanks man. Really looking forward to your upcoming videos.
Wishing you and your beloved ones a very Merry Christmas! Take care, brother.
So we're hooked now, can't wait for the next instalment!!
me too!
Thanks Clay for sharing your expertise on building a board bow
Thanks for the generous knowledge
That block planer is so satisfying
Thanks clay really want to make a board bow good place to start thanks
Made one from red oak. Not the quickest, but after snapping three others it feels great to make a successful one
Congrats! The first shooter is an achievement!
Hi Clay! Just found your videos, Love them. I Absolutely love traditional archery. I've made a few bows in the past, but I jumped in way too quickly with less knowledge than I thought I had(over-enthusiastic) and 3/4 have finally failed. My brother still shoots one from time to time, but only I believe because he hasn't dropped the cash on a better bow. Your video has inspired me to try again for a better result.
I use Titebond on a daily basis at my job. Great stuff! I love that you said "add a little glue between the rawhide strips" and then proceeded to put enough Titebond III to hold a car up....
Thanks for the vid! I appreciate your taking time to explain what you are doing and why. I'll just be off to Home Depot now...
That sort of failure is likely because you are not smooth in your cutting of the wood off the bow. It MUST be perfectly smooth. IE no potholes or washboarding or uneven or sudden thickness variations. I would bet, if you take your broken bows and measure the thickness at the break that it will be less that the surrounding wood.
The reason I watch your channel is for primitive hunting and building techniques.
More to come!
Raw hide in house from twisted stave, delivered today! A great video series, so much fun making it happen at your own work bench :) Thanks!
love these beginner bow builds
thanks Jake
I just subscribed after seeing a few other videos. These are relaxing to watch.
Excellent series! I tried making a board bow a year ago and hit problems. I think I know why now thanks to your video. I'm going to take another shot at it now. Thank You!
You’re welcome
I have been following your videos for a while now and you have inspired me to build a bow for my son and my self. Thank you for your amazing work 💪 you inspirational 👏
Great video ! That is the LEAST confusing explanation of rawhide backing I've ever seen. Thank you so much! Larry Canter
Thanks
How bad is it if I made the tips as thin as the limbs? I planed the limp all the way through to the tip. It seems that you stopped short of the tips and just rounded them off.
You look at the bend of the limbs and remove wood accordingly.
@@clayhayeshunter Gotcha. Thanks so much, Clay.
Cool, I'm going to try this myself. Thanks for teaching us how.
Awesome videos. The worst about about your channel is waiting for the preceding videos to be released, makes it more of a treat when they come out. I'm on my third hickory flatbow (first one shoots terribly, second broke, third one showing good promise), and learn something new every time (like back setting). Helpful tips and tricks in these videos.
thanks, good luck.
Intriguing
You should offer this on dvd if you're not already. Great how to.
Love these videos
You are a true genius.
Great video! Yes definitely keep up the how to videos. Bow building, arrows, shooting, broad heads, camping, stalking,...campfire cooking in elk camp, what ever you got I'm listening!
Will do Mike, thanks.
Loved the video. Never thought about using a pants leg to hold the backing. Get idea. Hole lot easier to take off afterwards.
it works great. and a lot easier than wrapping.
Nice! Can't wait to see the final result.
Grea work my friend. Love and respect from Greece. I wish you the best.
It's always going to feel warm with that sweater on. Sorry, we only tease people we like right? Thanks a million for this build series man.
😂😂
Very good. I use stretch wrap but I like the pant leg approach
it works great
Please do a video on dogwood arrows
As always great video
Glad you enjoyed it
Love the bow making videos
Thanks David.
good morning Clay, i scored a find at a thriftstore, a squeegee for window tinting, and a wallpaper roller. i use these to smooth out bubbles in rawhide, or linen backing. i've heard of exercising your limbs, but jogging pants? brother you're taking it to the next lvl. that bow's gonna get spoiled you pampering it like that lol.
Haha, you gotta keep'em fit man!
Great videos. What’s got me troubled is it’s pretty unclear how much material to actually remove from the edges. And how much tension should initially be in your limbs. Can anyone provide some insight?
Thank you for making these videos. New to traditional archery and you provide great information!
are little weavil holes gonna be a problem for a beginner bow piece of wood?
It was worth the wait Clay , loved the video and with minimal tools as well brilliant thanks for sharing 👍👍👍.
At 70 pounds it would be to heavy for me would it just be a case of removing more wood from the back of the bow for a lighter poundage or just start off with a thinner blank , thanks Clay
we'll reduce weight in the next vid. You'll end up removing wood from the belly to lighten the bow.
Clay i’ve been meaning to ask you. I’ve been building bows for 12 years. I cut my own trees and split them into staves. But I have never built a board bow, however. What are the moisture content readings usually at for a typical home depot board? I don’t want to bring my moisture meter to test at the Home Depot in case they think I stole it.
The only thing I know is look for parallel grain from end to end with no knots. I plan on building a fully bending design like you did, with a deer rawhide backing/hide glue.
Thanks!
Aaron
Just tell them as you come in the door that you have it. Show them. They will not give you any problems after that.
Store wood is kiln dried and in VERY different from naturally dried woods in how it responds to moisture. Research it. It is something about the plastic nature of the wood getting fixed by the high drying temperatures.
Douglas E Knapp I’ve got to re-calibrate my meter. Getting funky readings. But thanks for the info. I feel like I would have too spend hours searching for the perfect board stave. I think I will back it with rawhide as a precaution as that won’t overpower the belly. I don’t use modern finishes, so i’ll just seal the bow with a dozen coats of rendered hog fat, heat it up gently to drive the oil in, and seal with my homemade beeswax/fat. Thanks for the info.
Aaron
@@aaronluna4341 I never find the perfect wood. I have ended up just taking what I can get and getting good with heat bending the wood. I use lots of branches as my base and then flatten the back. I use any wood that I can get and adjust the width to compensate per the bowyers bible number 3 or was it 4?
Great videos, really helpful. Am wondering though, is it necessary to back a board bow?
It’s safest to do so.
Hello from Sweden Clay. :)
I have a question:
could you use a silk tie or linen as a backing if you don't have rawhide?
I saw another bow builder use it... so could it work for this build too?
ya know a board bow is not as romantic but the wood still comes from a tree. I am going to try board bow first. I just may enjoy the concept more. and there is some nice wood out there
Oh dang!! is it Christmas morning? NOPE,,, Clay just uploaded a video.. part 2 is great man. Thanks
haha, thanks
Thanks for all the videos. I've recently just started going down the rabbit hole with bow making. It IS So awesome to actually work wood vs machine and assemble like in cabinetry.
Couple questions, how come you and everyone else puts some kind of baking on all their board bows? A gentlemen medieval reenactor said they were unnecessary(he has made many board bows).
What is that plastic white cup/pipe on the edge or your bench for?
You're awesome! thanks for all the vids and advice.
Awesome video, just bought some rawhide thanks clay!
Thanks Phil!
Really enjoy this type of build along video. Great stuff for us new guys.
thanks
Clay for got to ask what size block plane are you using ? Is it a Stanley No. 220 ?
Damn, now I`ve gotta go find a good board at Home Depot. Thanks Clay for another great bow building video. Can't wait for the next one.
Curious...would it be possible to do a small arrow shelf on a board bow?
John Little You have to laminate the wood in order to make a shelf because the board is too thin to make one.
For a bend through the handle bow, you'd add your shelf to the side. Don't try to cut one in. To cut a shelf in, you'd need to add a piece of wood to beef up the handle section and make it stiff. I'll do a vid on the process.
Thanks Mr. Hayes. Love the videos keep em coming.
Is rawhide that yellow/milky white stuff they make dog chews/bones out of?
Great video! Love the tee shirt too.
thanks
yup! Awsome as always!
i love this vid i have been wanting to make a bow for years and really want to use Osage but i was pretty intimidated by the process, but for my first self made bow this way seems much less intimidating and novice not to mention inexpensive perfect for getting the feel of bow making, i will be starting my project soon and ordering rawhide from you. thanks for the help and inspiration.
Good luck Shane
@@clayhayeshunter in your book does it show the steps to making a reflex deflex bow? That is my final goal with the Osage. Thanks again.
It describes how to reflex the limb tips but I don’t cover deflex specifically.
@@clayhayeshunter ok in the near future I think I'm just going to come see you for a class
Great video Clay!! Thank you so much for all the tips and the great content! Can't wait to see this bow finished and see how it shoots!!
Thanks Nik, it'll be out next week.
Would you recommend staining or sealing the bow before backing or after?
sealing and staining should be the last thing you do.
Love the videos. I will be following this build. I have made a couple bows out of staves but never really got into board bows. This will be a good start for board bows for me. Thanks for the videos! I look forward to buying some raw hide off of your website!
it's a great way to get started.
Thanks mate for the epic vids that you put out. Such an inspiration. I’m planning on making my first bow just like this. You’re a legend. From Australia, phil
Good luck Phil! Have fun with it.
Hi Clay, Can you steam the limbs to add some recurve into them
Yes you can! Do that before backing.
I saw that the sticker was still on the board from purchasing and I thought that would be a nice thing to leave to give the bow some character. :-)
It would have gotten covered up by the backing anyhow.
i really like watching you work, i always learn something new, great video
thanks
Very informative! Thank you.
You’re welcome
Could you just use Saran Wrap to hold the rawhide down?
No, it would never dry.
Clay, what are your thoughts of gluing a block in for a handle section? Is it doable in this type of build?
It is, I'll do a vid on it.
Great content! will look into coming up for a bow class from Boise area.
shoot me an email through the website and we can talk about the classes. ch
I would definitely watch more videos showing bow builds...I have a beautiful chunk of Osage that was milled into a square post with amazingly straight grain. I'm thinking a board bow style would be great for a first attempt at making a bow of my own
MrDeebz32 how big is your post? With Osage you could chase a ring and make a great bow I would save that for a few bows in. I love Osage it's a great wood to work with bet my first bow 4 years ago was a red oak board bow and it worked great to start.
MrDeebz32
Another option is to mill the post into as many straight grained 3/4”x1.5” slats as you can get out of it. Back it with hickory backing strips, or better yet with bamboo. A well built bamboo backed Osage bow is about as good as it gets for a backed primitive bow in my opinion.
It's about 6 foot long, and roughly 3x3 inches....I've done a tone of reading and watching videos, and I will definitely work up to chasing a ring on a piece of Osage at some point....I believe there's enough wood on the post to make several bows. I will probably try to cut off a piece to do a board bow backed with another wood, and save the rest for when I've got more experience..
MrDeebz32 that sounds like a good plan.
The board that you cut should have the the grain perpendicular to or at 45 degrees to the back and belly of the bow. The grain for the party that you want to chase a ring on should have the grain should be parallel to the back that should give you a place to start. With a 1 in thick piece of Osage that's long and narrow could still produce a good hunting weight bow.
Great video Clay. You explain things really well. I want to make some of these bows for my grandkids. To reduce the weight do I just remove more from the belly side?
are there any alternatives to raw hide for the backing
Is this style of bow supposed to be longer @ 70" or can a guy make one in 62"?
Yes, you could make it shorter, especially if you’re working with better woods like Osage or Yew.
Can you do this without the raw hide?
Great tutorial as always with your "how to" series!! Volume was a bit low on this one, but great content.
thanks, I'll check on that.
Your videos are well put together, really helpful and informative. I'm going to buy the book as a Christmas present to myself.
Thanks much
I m curious. Would it be possible to make a Longview from a red oak branch???
Could a piece of the extra board be added to the handle section and shaped to suit
yes it could.
Howdy Clay, been away awhile..love your tutelage..
Was wondering what a good quality bow scale would be, don’t wanna buy a poor one.
I just use the orange one from 3Rivers.
you already lined me out with the rawhide backing for protection, and sinew backing for performance. many 'brick staggered' small strips of backstrap sinew, or wide flat 'sheets' staggered? and would you do rawhide over the sinew to protect that as well?
More of a brick pattern. You could do rawhide over sinew. I like snake over sinew best.
Is it easier to start your tillering with the block plane than farrier's rasp? Seems like it may be more efficient.
On a bow like this,I do all the tillering with a plane and scraper.
Hi! Two parts. What is the width and thickness of the board that you started with? Second, does the growth direction of the growth rings matter in determining the back and the belly of the bow? e.g side where the growth rings start from, would determine the belly side? Thanks !
These are sold as 1x2 boards but the true dimensions are .75x1.75 inch.
Great video thanks
thanks
Could you add a block handle to this bow
I've followed you for a while now and I'm considering making a board/self bow for "Primitive" 3D competitions. In the mean time I've purchased a second hand bamboo laminated 'primitive' bow that has moderate string follow. I've never dealt with primitive bows before. Can I remove some of that set by carefully (little at a time) stringing the bow backwards and letting it set for a few days at a time? My gut feeling says no but thought I'd ask. Thanks...
No. Never bend a bow backwards!
Fantastic build. How would you reduce the draw weight. Would you taper the limbs further down. If you had to remove material to lessen the draw weight would you do it just at the far end of the limbs or equally through the length of the limb.
Thanks. I'm going to start one this month.
To reduce weight, continue to remove wood from the belly while maintaining the proper arc. Go slowly, weigh comes off fast toward the end of the process.
What type of knot are you using when you tie the bow down before adding backset?
I can’t remember. Probably a truckers hitch.
@@clayhayeshunter Wow, thanks for responding. I'll try that knot out.
What should i be looking for when selecting wood from these sources like home depot or Lowe's ?
I think I talked about that in the first video.
what's your thoughts on carbon fiber backing?
Does the rawhide serve a purpose? Or is it just for looks?
It absorbs the tension stress on the bows back.
Awesome thanks for posting !
thanks
Awesome video series, looking forward to the next installment .. thank you for sharing your knowledge :) Have a good one
will do.
Will red oak work for a bow. Missed where you are using maple
It’ll work
🎉
Really interesting content. More bow building would be great. Good video.
More to come.
Hey, I'm beginning to make my first bow and I was wondering if it's mandatory to have the jig setup for testing the bow? Also, thanks for all your videos! They really help when making your first bows.
I assume you’re talking about the tillering rack. It isn’t absolutely necessary but super helpful.
Great video. btw, why did you back the bow with rawhide?
rawhide helps protect the back against tension cracks
Good stuff
Is it possible to build a contoured handle on the belly? (glue on some wood and shape it on the belly side)
Jim Dussias sure I've done it but I think this bow is supposed to bend thru the handle. The same tight bond glue will work fine.
You can build up the handle area,on a bendy handle,with cork or leather and it will still function as a bendy..You can contour the cork or leather...
Actually,,What Clay is making here,is a working handle bow...A true bendy,works equally through out...But,,this works as well,on either..
Why would one want it to bend through the handle? As opposed to having a handle section with a small shelf.
Several reasons...With a bending handle,one can build a shorter bow,for the same draw length...Some find them much easier to build and tiller..Usually you can build them narrower,so many staves can be used for a bendy,that would otherwise be useless for a static handled bow..You can put a small shelf,on the outside,of a bendy,,you just have to be more precise with arrow spine,but they will shoot,just as accurate,when the right spine and or arrow is used..In the History of archery,,the shelf,is a relatively new concept and was developed after archery,became a form of recreation,rather than a tool of serious survival.....
Clay do you think this would be a good choice for a small kids bow say in the 10 pound @ 16" draw range?I have only built bows out of staves and this would be more economical and save time as well.
Sure, you could turn the board edge ways so it’s only about a half inch wide.
In your opinion ,would there be any benefit to adding a riser to a board bow like this?
Only if you want a stiff handle which would allow you to cut an arrow shelf in.
When you said you took off a 1/8" on each side what did you mean?
I narrowed the bow by 1/8 on each side.
@@clayhayeshunter sorry if I am being overly meticulous but did you take off 1/8" in thickness or in width?
can this be done without backing it and still make a reliable bow?
Anybody happen to know the type of block plane used here? Looking to pick one up but unsure of size and a decent manufacturer
First of let me say I really like you videos. You break it down in plain English without a bunch of technical jargon that sounds like a foreign language to those of us that don't do this everyday. My question is; would there be an advantage to more than one layer of backing? Or would that be a waste of time?
If you're talking sinew then yes. Otherwise, it's just added mass which you don't need.
@@clayhayeshunter Thanks
Love the videos! Keep them going!
will do
How you doing clay thank you for all your videos It's helped me with all my archery Specially with my shooting in my shot cycle I have a problem with my long bow The limb tips will you hook up your string is very sharp And it's been tearing up my bow strings was in aware of it at 1st but when they start looking at it my strings were being cut in their life expectancy with short By looking at it seems that I have to file it down in round it out a little bit but to be honest with you and the can of afraid it was a gift to me And I love that bow now my problem is how can I fix it your advice is valued maybe you could help me out if I have to send it down in put a finish on it so I don't damage it can I do this myself I hope you understood everything I said I appreciate your time I hope you could help me Can make no mistakes so when you explain it to me 20 to me like if I was a 14 year old OK so I understand I hope you get back to me on this And keep in videos going they've helped me quite a bit
Efrain From Pennsylvania
Check out the video I did on nocks and tip overlays.
Great video Clay thanks. I notice your rawhide appears quite thin. Would rawhide from an unwrapped large dog chew work ?
It would but it's a little thicker than I like. Thick rawhide just adds mass and will slow a bow down a little.