Ok this is gonna be a long one. First I am new to this but am willing to learn. One of my buddys had some older trad archery mags and give them to me, one had a flimish bow string builder made from a 2x4 and some 6penny nails and a dowl rod. I am a powerlineman by trade so this weaveing process I think is the same thing. This is something I really want to do, also make my own arrows ,is the next big thing any and all help will be great. Will any dowl rod work as far as getting started like can i go to lowes and buy some to try just to shoot though my 40# bows also the string jig if some one has a better one show me some pics and info thanks Mike
the String jig should be fairly standard, they work well and I have made a few strings By following a similar set of plans Watch some Videos online.
As far as using Dowels form Lowes?
Risky at Best!! if you don't have a spine gauge and the spine of these arrows are to light for the 40# bow you could end up shooting your own hand!
I would not advise on using the wood dowels. Read up on a Spine Guage and possibly Use one of them then use the dowels.
I saw a spine gauge is there a way to make one I like to make stuff that has to do with archery.
Google "james hill spine tester" Easy build!
Lots of good arrows have been made from store bought dowels but you have to go through lots of bad ones before you get good ones. Grain runoffs or drastic grain changes should be avoided.
My site will help with some of those questions. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/