Hello everyone...I have decided to try and build my first bow. I have a lot of questions because I am clueless on where to start. What do you suggest to be the best way to start. Is a one piece easier hybrid long bow a good place to start? Do I call Binghams or Fedoras or another source..? I know I need forms,oven lams wedgies etc...I am a complete newbie, but I love bows and it looks like a great hobby to do with my kids, and spend time at home.
thank you!
First thing I would do is research the build alongs! Tons of info! I personally started with self bows, but I recently built my first glass bow just by following advice of the build alongs and the great people of Tradgang! You have definatly come to the right place! Don't be intimated to dive in and ask questions. We all started somewhere !!! Good luck and keep us updated and post lots of pics!!!!!
a one piece fiberglass lam bow would be your easiest to build and your chance of success on the first try will be greater. Not hard at all, dive in and enjoy your first bow build.
So ya need some wedgies aye? :laughing:
Sorry, but ya better be able to give and take some ribbing if youre gonna hang out here. Roy does the best wedgies btw. If i had the desire to fool with fiberglass id order a kit from binghams and then start a thread called "what now?"
Build what you want to shoot..when I got started building I liked 58" one piece recurves, so I got the Binghams plans for one piece recurves. A year later I bought KennyM's hybrid longbow plans..now I want to build some ILF limbs and 2 piece hybrid bows. Bingham's has some nice plans and DVD's.
Welcome to the sickness maxfit, if you would like to start off with something simple, a straight limb longbow is the easiest. A nice straight 2x6 and you have your 'mold', you dont need a hot box necessarily, most anything with some reflex/deflex (curve), and you will be spending some time on the mold, getting the curves even on both sides, making sure they are square and such.
If its a project with the kids, their age will usually determine their attention span, sure does with mine anyway.
Bingham is a good place to start, they have videos which will walk you through the process.
Thanks for the posts..I have been looking at all kinds of stuff..wow..its intimidating....
Naw! It isn't real tough. There are build-alongside on here that will take you all the way through the process.
I suggest 4est trekker's build-along.
Good luck! And welcome!
Ok..where do you all suggest I buy my materials from?
I know binghams has kits..but any other sugggestions?
I see custom king has a begginers build kit with a form..i think?
Also.. I found plans to make a heat box...easy enough..but the forms..where to begin?
Is this a good place to start?
http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/Laminated-Kits-Parts/products/132/
I used the bingham takedown recurve kit. The bow came out great.
Instructions were pretty clear, except when it came to limb twist. Forums on here filed in the blanks.
All I did was take my time, measured twice, rechecked measuremnts, ensure squarness, and enjoyed the process.
I liked how bingham sent the lams. They were wrapped together in correct order with the wedge in place. However, their video went over the lam stack order too.
Side not I have younger kids, none stuck it out throughout the process except Emma. She loves shooting and hitting the range.
I've ordered stuff from kustomking and can't complain. I've heard their glass isn't great, something about streaks, but that is just what I've heard.
That link for Kustom King is for a non glass tri lam bow.