Selfbow building??

dallas alice · March 10, 2011, 11:39:00 PM

I am fairly new to trad archery and am not a wood-worker by no means but I have been kicking around the idea of building my own bow, a selfbow. Being I have had no experience in doing such, what would be the best place to start? Books, DVD's any suggestions would be very appreciated. Thanks, JB

Roy from Pa · March 10, 2011, 11:43:00 PM

Start right here, read as many threads as you can and ask questions.

scrub-buster · March 11, 2011, 05:56:00 AM

Books - The Traditional Bowyers Bible vol. 1 and The bent stick.

DVD - Rattlestick, by Gary Davis

And what Roy said, lots of help and info on this site. Good luck.

kodiakkid · March 11, 2011, 06:05:00 AM

All of the Bowers Bible have good info in them.

Like Roy said, you can learn alot right here at the Bowyers bench

okie64 · March 11, 2011, 08:27:00 AM

The bowyers bibles and Hunting the osage bow by Dean Torges.

PEARL DRUMS · March 11, 2011, 08:56:00 AM

I dont own a book and just recently got a dvd. Everything I know I learned from others, or making fire wood in my shop! The books would be a great investement if you have the money to spend, if not stick around here and I bet you will be bending wood in short order. Plus, I betcha' there is somebody closer to you than you realize already making them that would help you get started.

George Tsoukalas · March 11, 2011, 09:11:00 AM

Here's some info too. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/
John Scifres will be along shortly to post his site. I don't have it. Jawge

John Scifres · March 11, 2011, 09:23:00 AM

I love books so I would start there. Dean Torges' "Hunting the Osage Bow" and the "Trad Bowyer's Bible Volume 1" for beginners.

I would also spend all the time you can here on the Tradgang Bowyer's Bench reading old threads. This topic comes up several times a month.

Chris Grimbowyer · March 11, 2011, 10:02:00 AM

When I started building bows... September of last year I was just watching youtube videos on it and heard someone mention the Traditional bowyers bible and I searched through 3 giant bookstores until I found 1 hidden in the bottom shelf under all the compound bow books in the archery section in a Barnes and Noble. That book was in my opinion better for all around selfbows than Hunting the osage bow. I still think Hunting the osage bow is a good book but Dean Torges kindof has his own way of doing things and you only learn about them in his book, In the traditional bowyers bible there are several different authors that all have slightly different inputs so you can choose which one you prefer. I also learned alot on this forum, I asked several questions and got tons of answers.

SEMO_HUNTER · March 11, 2011, 10:59:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
I dont own a book and just recently got a dvd. Everything I know I learned from others, or making fire wood in my shop! The books would be a great investement if you have the money to spend, if not stick around here and I bet you will be bending wood in short order. Plus, I betcha' there is somebody closer to you than you realize already making them that would help you get started.

Plus 1 on what Pearl said. I do read quite extensively, but I have not purchased a single book. You can read the Bowyers Bibles for free on Google books. I have the original one saved as my favorites and have only skimmed through certain sections. It's a good read, but I get bored with the reading and feel the need to get out in the shop and make some yeller shavings!

:D

I'm more of a hands on kinda guy and have taught myself many things through watching and listening to others, asking questions here, trial and error, and of course plain old bull headed determination.

Get yourself a good board or a stave and start making some shavings. Check back in here, ask questions, post pics of your work, and ask for advice. You don't have to be a woodworker to build a bow. I couldn't build a cabinet myself, but my father sure can. I actually hate wood working, but I love building bows.......go figure. :rolleyes:

mike mccaw · March 26, 2011, 04:01:00 PM

The bent stick is an excellent source for the first timer.I am building my first right now,using it's guide lines/suggestions.

b.glass · March 26, 2011, 04:15:00 PM

I was making bows before The Bowyers Bench but I started making better bows since. I'm really learning how to tiller here. I was afraid that learning to tiller would take alot of one on one teaching but that isn't the case after all.

shamus · March 27, 2011, 11:14:00 AM

QuoteBooks - The Traditional Bowyers Bible vol. 1 and The Bent Stick.

Agreed. To start, read those two books. Most of your questions will be answered right there.

vampire · March 29, 2011, 08:49:00 PM

Thanks for asking that question. I am also looking for the best reference books on selfbows.

StoneAK · March 29, 2011, 09:12:00 PM

The Traditional Bowyers Bible vol. 1 and 2
Great books. Also talk to Jawge up there he has a lot of great info on his site to get you going. He will help you through out the build as well very nice guy.

Stiks-n-Strings · March 29, 2011, 09:37:00 PM

Dallas I have made some great friends here and these guys taught me most all I know about building bows.

So sit back a spell read all you can here and ask any questions regardless of how crazy they may seem and get to making some shavin's.

paoloi · March 29, 2011, 10:19:00 PM

I just got the new Gary Davis dvd from 3 Rivers, "Rattlestick", and I like it a lot. It's nice to see work being done, and he covers harvest to putting on skins(if you want them).I also have Hunting the Osage Bow, it's a good read but leaves you with questions. I want the Trad. Bowyers Bible, maybe my next purchase.