I have been thinking about trying one of the kits that bingham offers. Any recommedations for a first time builder? Curious to see which kit would be the easiest for the firsttime builder?
I just finished my first bow using Bingham's stuff. I changed a few things up a little from their design, but the process is exactly the same. I built a 64" r/d longbow and it turned out great. See my build thread on this board. I had a little help from guys on the board here when I had questions (many thanks again Greg). I bought the Bingham video and plans and watched and read them several times before starting. Depeding on your access to tools a straight longbow might be easier due to having less curvy pieces to make (risers and forms). I say pick the one you like and go for it. I am in the process of setting up my work area a little better in preparation for my next one now.
KennyM here on the board also sells all the supplies and plans you would need to build a bow. I used his pattern cutting router bit method to make my form and it turned out
great. I think I will build one of his new 58-60" longbows for the next one I do for myself, it is an awesome design.
Good luck with your project.
For me- any of the longbows are easier to layout and finish compaired to the recurves- that R/D longbow bignham's has looks interesting- KennyM's R/D longbows are the bomb. No matter what you chose you can end up with a shootable bow. I started with one piece recurves- then TD recurves and then both one piece and TD longbows.Maybe the longbows seem easier because of the recurve learning curve I went through.
Have fun and build a few.
I will echo the sentiments above, The longbows are easier to layout because their flatter than the recurve. I struggled with the first bow being a recurve, still made a shootable bow, but the RD Longbows are now far easier. If I had known the difference at the time being a novice I would have utilized the easier Longbow form. (I did not have tradgang at the time)
Best of Luck
Shoot straight
Mike