If you're dying to build a bow, but just don't think you have the tools or skills yet, then you might consider buying a U-Finish bow or a floor tillered stave. U-Finish bows come tillered and ready for you to sand, finish, and set up to your liking. Floor tillered staves are not quite as finished as U-Finish bows, but bow limbs are at the stage where they are bending fairly well. You must tiller these staves both for balance/even bend in and between the limbs as well as for draw weight. You also must sand, finish, and set them up. Both options only require a bare minimum of hand tools which you undoubtedly have and involve considerably less time than building a bow from scratch. Plus, these options are a lot less expensive than you might think.
For example, I bought the U-Finish horsebow below from a reputable dealer a few months back. I don't plan on building glass bows, namely because I enjoy working with wood and I don't want to purchase, build, and store the extra tools necessary to work with glass. BUT, I did really have a hankering for a short, fast, unique, glass/wood bow that I could use in tight quarters (such as small ground and brush blinds.) I couldn't afford to buy a finished or custom bow, and the tools I would need to actually build the bow from a kit or scratch would have exceeded the price of the U-Finish bow.
I tweaked the draw weight and tiller to my liking, finish sanded, applied a finish, wrapped the siyah butts and handle, installed the arrow rest and pass, built a custom string (although it did come with one), and I was in business. Waiting for the finish to dry was the longest process!
Did I build the bow? Well, not really. But did I learn some stuff? You bet! Did I have fun? Tons! Is it a custom bow? Absolutely! It's set up to MY shooting style and taste. Actually, I just finished my wife's horsebow. She liked mine so much she had to have one, too! Yet with the combined price of our bows, we're still under the average price tag for building a single glass bow from scratch!!!
Unbraced profile:
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3525.jpg)
Braced profile:
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3526.jpg)
Front profile:
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3527.jpg)
Siyah; wrapped with hemp soaked in Titebond III
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3521.jpg)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3523.jpg)
Handle:
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3518.jpg)
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3519.jpg)
The "bow maker's" signature (SSHHHH! Don't tell!):
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/HPIM3522.jpg)
Thats a beauty 4est. Great job...how does it shoot?
where did you get the U finish horse bow? looks like a great winter project
Brad: It shoots very well...with proper arrows. It doesn't have any handshock to speak of. It stores a LOT of energy from the get go, but draws smooth as butter with no stacking due to the string angle at the siyahs. However, because it's short, it is less forgiving of draw and release inconsistencies. But man, it's fast for no bigger than it is, and it's LIGHT!!! You can't feel the thing in you hand.
Jerry: PM sent
please send me a pm of where you bought the U-finish bow as well. thanks
thats a beauty by the way. i have always wanted to build one of those, but I think you went about it the right way for the first time.
I'd also like to know where you bought the bow...thanks much.
Bob
-great job BTW!
Very nice bow , I love this style . Could you please send me the info also. Thanks Drew
like the bow alot, please send me some info also, thanks, bub
Heck, send it to me too!
Yep Send me the info if you would please.
I'm finally gonna cut out that board bow today LOL Waiting on some osage to dry.
Kris
Nice job! I love those Magyar style horsebows really spit an arrow and just plain fun. They make great hunting bows.
not sure if anyones watching this thread or not but was wondering where the horsebow came from also. any info would be much appreciated.
Nice bow!
nice lookin bow could you pass the info to me too
nice lookin bow could you pass the info to me too
Great finish Job!
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Glenn
Enough people are interested in locating this bow, so why don't you ask the mods if you ca post the name of the supplier. I would be interested in looking into one.
"Enough people are interested in locating this bow, so why don't you ask the mods if you ca post the name of the supplier. I would be interested in looking into one."
What he said.
I'm with Razorback & Jeff on this one.
My first attempt was just OK - would love a confidence booster
I am with the others. Very interesting, and neat looking bow. Would like to have the information, too.
Me too - please send info or post it here
Here's a fulldraw picture of the bow. That's the string that came with it. It's canted just a touch toward the camera, so sorry. Also, no comments about my right elbow! I know it's high.
(http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Horsebows/Horsebow5.jpg)
Nice job on the bow. I am also interested in this. Can we have more info?
Well if no one will post, then I will.
Both Rudderbows and Attilasarchery carry U-finish horse bows. Both kits come in under 200 bucks.
Good luck.
Frank
Per the regulations on this site, I don't want to mention the dealer until they are listed as a sponsor. I've contacted him and given him the info, but he's not gotten back to me yet. Sorry for the inconvenience.
All who requested info should have gotten a pm by now. If not, let me know.
Thanks for the info. Shoot stragit!
I could do with a PM as well. Thanks!
Great looking bow BTW, that turned out great!
4est send me the PM too please
Yup, I'm in for a PM too! I planned on one of these for awhile!
Thanks
Thanks for the info 4est.
Okay, all. I want to clear up one piece of info I sent in the pm to some of you. I told you that the siyahs were both epoxied and pinned with a flush-cut screw, and that that made nervous. Well, read this recent post by SiegWorks, who is currently making some horsebows for a TV series. Looks like that just might be the best way to go afterall. He had this to say:
Originally posted by walkabout:
the siyahs made me nervous, even though i braced it and drew it before doing anything.
SiegeWorks' response:
That was one thing that scared the heck outta me when i first started building these type of bows. I have seen a 50# throw a tip THROUGH a tin wall of a shed and go about 30 feet. I personally had a 60# blow both tips off at full draw cutting the top of my left hand. One of the tips landed about 100 feet away the other we never found. If the tips are not pinned (if you got the bow from atilla they are pinned) pin them AND wrap them!!! Some cheap insurance in doing that.
Hope this helps!
Please send me a pm of where your got your bow.