If someone were to start out with a goal of making a bow, what tools would be needed to get the job done? I would like to try building one next winter. I would like the bow to be around 45-50 pounds and for it to shoot arrows where I am looking for the most part. It does not have to be a longbow or recurve, what ever is the easiest to cut my teeth on. So what should I make, what kind of wood, and what books are worth getting?
Are you talking about an all wood bow, selfbow or a glass lam bow?
As far as shooting where you look, that comes with using the properly spined arrows and practicing, practicing, practicing. The bow just flings the arrow. Everything else is up to you and the arrow.
I can think of no better teacher than Dean Torges' book "Hunting the Osage Bow". Bowyer\\'s Edge (http://bowyersedge.com/)
If you don't have access to osage, you can use hickory or maybe ash just make them longer and/or wider.
If you don't want to take the time to read the book, you could make a board bow. Here's some instructions for that. Ferret\\'s Board Bow Instructions (http://sticknstring.webs.com/ferretsboardbow.htm)
I highly recommend the Bowyer's Bibles Bois D Arc Press (http://boisdarcpress.com/) Particularly the design chapter in Volume 1.
There's not time like the present. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
There is a great build along just a few items lower on this page. You can get to it here: board bow build along (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=002064)
I second Dean Torges' Book "Hinting the Osage Bow", not only is very informative but it is a great read. After I read it I felt like I was in the shop hangin out with Dean.
all four Bowyers Bibles are great and one That Pat B told me to read before I read Deans book is Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick", Very good book as well.
No sense in waiting till next winter, I got about five or six bows going all at a different stage now.
As far as tools, if your gonna work a stave a good draw knife is a must. Any other wood bow you'll need a few good rasp and in my experience a good set of scrapers is an absolute. Really other than that just a few basic tools.
The board bow build along posted here by 4est trekker is awsome and would be a great place to start.
good luck and remember if you ain't breakin you ain't makin.
Have Fun, Kris
If your interested in the fiberglass and wood laminates, check out www.binghamprojects.com (http://www.binghamprojects.com) they have a wealth of information that is free for looking. At any rate have fun.
Mike