Bow-Making course!!

[Jon]

Is this the right section for this topic?

Anyway sorry I haven't been around recently and shall not be for another month or so... i do have an evening to give you an update however so..

Me and my sister are back in the UK for a holiday and as my very delayed 15th BD present I got to go on a bow-making course in west sussex woodland.
The guy running the course was Ray Mears' chief instructor (he basically tells ray what to do!).

We walked a mile or so into the heart of a wood where we camp to a very rustic base camp. He told us we had 1/4 hour to set up camp. We had the whole woods to choose from.
I understood from day 1 that it really was survival of the fittest!

Not wasting a minute, he gave us a brief history of bows that first evening, then we had hot soup and tea!

The next day i chose my stave, a maple and walnut laminate and got to work straight away. I decided to make a flatbow, and everyone else chose a longbow. It was very well explained and the first day was easy enough, just carpentry really. FInished the general shape by day 2, then started on the tillering stage. This was the really complicated part! (or so it seems to me). An arduous day of constantly checking the tiller and cabinet scraping. possibly a total of 1200 cabinet scrapes!!

Once it finally had the right curve i finished the handle and finished it off, fletched some arrows.

We also learned how to make the bowstrings, etc.

I still need to put a finish on the bow. Linseed oil and beeswax.


Anyway it was a great learning process and I *should* be able to make them myself now. It definitely felt like I learned alot of stuff, I just have to try hard and remeber them!!

Pics: unfortunately I do not have to means to upload the pics from my phone yet, but as soon as I get home, I'll do it. Guaranteed.

[Peter Remling]

Sounds like you had a great time and that was a great Birthday present.

Looking forward to the pictures when you retun.

[Jon]

Apologies ladies & gents, here they are

My tent!!



The camp!!




My workbench!!



Batonning out the wood on the belly of the bow

[Jon]

and more...




gradually taaking shape




other guys working




John explaining tillering



John showing us how to fletch



he was a scacry guy

[Jon]

... and even more!!!

sanding the bow







And finally.. THE BOW.!! sorry the pics arent that good, and i still cannot draw it fully.




now here the tiller IS even , but the bow wasnt straight in this photo nor was the phone :/

[robinhoodsghost]

What a fantastic present, the gift of knowledge. Thanks for sharing the adventure. So what is the poundage on your new bow?

[RangerKellen]

RHG, that's exactly what I was going to ask!

[Willrett]

looks like a great time I need to find somthing like that around me.

[kaelln]

Awesome job! Congratulations!

[Mirimaran]

Very proud (and envious!) of you, Ranger

Well done and I am glad that you had fun!



Ken

[Dinendir.]

Yes, very envious ... All in all, it looks like you had a blast. Congratulations, you made a very beautiful bow.

[Ringulf]

It is thrilling to see what a focussed and talented Lad you are!
I have the utmost respect for you as a Ranger! Keep it up sir!
You are an inspiration!

[Ernildir]

Impressive! Well done.

[Jon]

thanks for the comments guys! much appreciated.

@RHG, I'm not sure, I haven't actually measured it yet, but it feels around 60lbs. I cant quite fully draw it, and I know it is dangerous and can develop bad form, But my I have previously jumped from aroun 25lb to 50 lbs.. and it worked!
I will not be able to take it back on the plane however, so it'll have to stay here for a year until we move back. I should be stronger by then.

[Manveruon]

That looks fantastic! Well done! I'd love to do something like that!

And as for drawing it, your picture seems to show you drawing it to full and anchoring, so as long as you can do that a few times in a row, you should be good. Maybe just try shooting a few arrows a day with it for a couple weeks, if possible. That should build those muscles up pretty quickly.