I've wanted to build a bow for several years and even went as far as ordering all the supplies several years ago. This year I decided I was gonna pull the trigger and make time to get it done. I decided to start out with some kids bows so I can outfit my little girl and three budies sons in time for Christmas.
I did my first glueup using fire hose method on Friday and what an experience trying to keep everything where I wanted it. I succeeded in keeper my everything lined up but I had one glue joint on the belly ramp not turn out well. I've realized that my form needs some changing. I made a 1" wide form and 48" long. I think that was my first mistake as I should have just gone with a 1 1/2" form so I could of better managed the material during the glue up. I also spaced my form pieces to far apart resulting in the fire hose not being flat enough. My lams and glass ended up just narrower than my form and I chased them all over the place. I've ordered some locktite to try and fill the crack. I finished the bow out to practice all the other facets of building and now am close to ready for finish. It finished out 10lbs at 20" and actually slings an arrow really well. If I can get better on the glue up the next will hopefully turn out better!

That looks very nice..

Cool!

awesome
for Christmas
Keep it up

Excellent, great job!!

Really nice little bow. Some awesome character on that bocote

What chackworth3 said X 2.  Good looking bow      

Great looking bow- that bocote is outstanding!

Thanks for the kind responses everybody. I'm happy that my first attempt turned out a shooter. I sprayed it this past weekend and it's ready for one of the kids to shoot the heck out of it!

I've ordered the components for the next three Christmas bows and am getting my risers sized. One thing I didn't account for the first time was I sized my riser profile to my form without considering that there was going to be a tapered lamination under it.

Great looking bow!  As others have said, that Bocote is beautiful!

Wow; when you start that good where are you going to go from there? Nice work.

Hi,

What is that riser wood?  Great looking bow!

Bocote

Got another one glued up. This is actually my third attempt now as my second one didn't turn out as the top of my form flexed and the hose blew out when it was in the oven. Pictures are with my first one.





Two more to go before Christmas.