Youth bow length ?

[Dreamcatcher]

Hey

   Building a bow for my nephews.  2 are 10 and 2 are 5,  i would like both to be able to use it.

 What would be the ideal length for a bow for kids ??

any help would be appreciated

[TimZeigler]

What kind of bow?  What draw weight and draw length are you shooting for?

48" would probably work for both ages.  Maybe 20#@22 would fit the bill for weight.

[Jerry Gille]

I build youth longbows to give them away.  Most of my bows are 48 inches.  My children are 10, 7 and 5.  They all shoot the 48 inchers just fine.  Weights range from 15 pounds at 20 inches to 20 pounds at 20 inches.

Don't know if it's "ideal" but it has worked for me.

[Dreamcatcher]

OK,  THATS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.   JERRY,  THE POUNDAGE SOUNDS FINE AND I WILL GO WITH A 48".

AFTER I CUT MY WOOD, DO I HAVE TO LET IT DRY ???   I WAS SHAVING MY OAK SATVE AND THIS MORNING IT HAD DEEP SPLITS IN IT,  ANY IDEAS?

THANX SO MUCH GUYS

[Jerry Gille]

The wood definitely has to be dry.  And that can be tricky on your own.  Air drying it takes time, about a year per inch is a fair estimate.  Checking is always an issue with lots of different kinds of wood.  

I build glass backed kids bows.  I glue them up on two inch forms and cut them down the middle to get two bows out of each glue up.  That saves on money for me.  

Are you building wood bows, or laminted glass bows?  Either way, the wood needs to be dry.

[John Scifres]

Kid\\'s Bow Tutorial